The Research and Investigation Centre of Remote Sensing and Geographic Applications (CIAF) of UN-SPIDER's Colombian Regional Support Office IGAC, met with the UK-based private company Surrey Satellite Technology on 30 May 2014, to discuss technical issues related to Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) and different applications that can be developed in the field of risk management and territorial organization. The meeting was organized jointly with the British Embassy in Colombia.
Surrey conceived the innovative and unique DMC, the first Earth observation constellation of low cost small satellites providing daily images for applications including global disaster monitoring. The constellation is coordinated by DMC International Imaging Ltd (DMCii) for both commercial imaging programmes and to provide free satellite imagery for humanitarian use in the event of major international disasters covered by the International Charter: Space and Major Disasters (www.disasterscharter.org). DMC is represented by the UK Space Agency on the International Charter board and by DMCii in the executive secretariat. As part of the mechanism's Universal Access approach, the national civil protection authorities of Algeria, China, Nigeria, Turkey and UK have already become direct authorised users of the International Charter.
