UN-SPIDER/NDMC/ZFL Workshop "Space-based Solutions for floods and droughts in Southern Africa"

The mission included the organization of the UN-SPIDER/NDMC/ZFL Workshop "Space-based Solutions for floods and droughts in Southern Africa". The key aim of the workshop was to contribute to the efforts conducted by the NDMC, SANSA and other institutions of South Africa in the topics of disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and early warning systems.

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UN-SPIDER/NDMC/ZFL Workshop "Space-based Solutions for floods and droughts in Southern Africa"

UNOOSA / UN-SPIDER

Center for Remote Sensing of Land Surfaces (ZFL)

The objectives of this workshop were:

  • To take stock of efforts conducted by risk and disaster management institutions in South Africa on the use of space technologies and space-based information in disaster risk management, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts;
  • To raise awareness regarding novel applications of satellite technologies in hazard mapping, early warning systems, and disaster response operations; including the Global Flood Awareness System (GLOFAS) and the Global Drought Observatory (GDO) of the Copernicus Programme.
  • To raise awareness regarding the UN-SPIDER Recommended Practices for flood mapping using Sentinel 1 radar imagery.

The conduction of the workshop successfully allowed the organizational committee to reach a large audience of representatives of a variety of government agencies in South Africa, on both national and provincial level which contribute to disaster management efforts, and to showcase examples of mechanisms established by the space community to contribute to disaster response efforts worldwide.