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Fifth United Nations International UN-SPIDER Bonn Workshop on Disaster Management and Space Technology: “Strengthening global synergies through knowledge management, portals and networks”

Introduction/ Background

In its resolution 61/110 of 14 December 2006 the United Nations General Assembly established the "United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response – UN-SPIDER", as a programme of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs to provide universal access to all countries and all relevant international and regional organizations to all types of space-based information and services relevant to disaster management. Since its establishment the programme developed and implemented the Knowledge Portal as a gateway to access relevant space-based information and solutions to support disaster-risk management and emergency response.

The 5th International UN-SPIDER Bonn workshop brought together decision-makers and experts from the space technology and disaster management communities representing national, regional and international organizations, knowledge transfer and academic institutions, as well as internationally active private companies to identify knowledge management strategies that will enhance access to and use of space-based information as a way to enhance the resilience of nations. Taking advantage of the facilitating role that UN-SPIDER plays at the international level, the aim of the workshop was to develop a roadmap, based on a set of objectives and tasks, needed to enhance synergies among institutions and mechanisms that generate this type of information and those institutions that use it in all phases of the disaster management cycle. The UN-SPIDER Knowledge Portal was presented as a reference system to discuss information dissemination practices and novel applications to enhance access to and use of this type of information.

Workshop Topics

The main topics of the fifth international workshop included:

1. Knowledge management in the context of space-based information - enhancing the resilience of nations through the use of information: presentations and discussions on the challenges and critical needs faced by institutions that promote the use of space-based information to support all phases of the disaster management cycle and by those that need to use it.
2. The role of Portals and Gateways as platforms to access space-based data and information to support all phases of the disaster risk management cycle: presentations regarding the UN-SPIDER Knowledge Portal and similar portals and gateways will open the forum to discussions regarding innovative ways in which regional and international organizations are developing their internet-based portals and gateways to streamline access to geo-spatial data and information.
3. Synergies among international support networks and mechanisms: presentations and discussion on how to enhance synergies among networks, mechanisms and voluntary technical communities that generate space-based information to support government agencies in their tasks related to disaster risk management and emergency response.
4. Novel IT tools and infrastructure to support disaster-risk management and emergency response: presentations and discussion on novel geospatial tools and infrastructure including geo-viewers and web-based mapping tools to assist disaster-risk managers and emergency responders in their tasks.
5. E-learning environments. Presentations and discussions on e-learning environments as tools to enhance the skills of professionals and practitioners on the topic of space-based information for disaster-risk management and emergency response.

Outcomes

Outcomes of this workshop include:

• A road map to strengthen synergies among institutions that target the use of geo-spatial and space-based information to enhance the resilience of nations. The road-map should outline objectives and tasks to overcome critical challenges and opportunities available to reach this goal.
• Clearer directions and priorities for action regarding the operation of portals and gateways as tools to enhance access to and use of space-based information to support all phases of the disaster management cycle, and as tools to enhance the performance of regional and global networks.
• A review of novel applications of geo-viewers, web-based mapping tools, and other novel IT applications and infrastructure with particular emphasis on enhancing the use of space-based information in the areas of disaster-risk management and emergency response.
• A community of IT experts who can support the development of new applications in the UN-SPIDER Knowledge Portal.
• A review of innovative uses of e-learning environments to support capacity development and institutional strengthening.

Please find here the agenda of the workshop and the list of participants.