China - International Training Course

From 18 to 23 September 2014, the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-Spider) and the National Disaster Reduction Centre of China (NDRCC) held a training course on space-based applications for use in disaster risk reduction in Beijing, China. 

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Multi‐hazard disaster Risk Mapping using space technology

Experts from UN-SPIDER, NDRCC, and Beijing Normal University.

25 participants took part in the course: Mid-level managers and technical staff of agencies involved in disaster management and hazard mapping, disaster related education, infrastructure development, disaster forecasting and warning provider, disaster response, natural resource management. Participants came both from member countries of APSCO (Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization) and country partners of UN‐SPIDER.

The training course in space-based applications for use in disaster risk reduction was held in Beijing, China, from 18 to 23 September 2014. The course immediately followed the United Nations International Conference on Space-based Technologies for Disaster Management: Multi-hazard Disaster Risk Assessment held in Beijing and was organized jointly with the National Disaster Reduction Centre of China (NDRCC). A total of 22 participants from 17 countries from Asia and the Pacific and from Africa attended the training programme. 

The training course was taught by experts from UN-SPIDER, NDRCC, and Beijing Normal University and included theoretical lectures and hands-on exercises on the following topics:

(a) Concepts in the remote sensing of drought;

(b) An introduction to spatial data access and spatial data software;

(c) Principles and methods for extracting data on vegetation affected by drought;

(d) Principles and methods for extracting data on water bodies affected by drought;

(e) Drought monitoring based on multi-data sources;

(f) Theory and application of the integrated surface drought index (ISDI); 

(g) Principles and methods relating to the use of space technology in drought risk assessment;

(h) Rapid mapping for drought monitoring and risk assessment.