Dear readers,
We're glad to share with you the January 2019 UN-SPIDER Monthly Updates.
Our latest Data Application of the Month provides a short overview of existing web mapping tools for flood monitoring. We also expanded our portofolio of step-by-step procedures on mapping hazards - our so-called Recommended Practices - by adding information about how to map burn severity with Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 data in Google Earth Engine.
Below the updates, you'll also find an events calendar with upcoming conferences, workshops and seminars organized by the community. If you're interested in training opportunities, make sure to visit our external in-person training opportunities and online training opportunities overview pages.
Enjoy the read!
UN-SPIDER at a glance
As part of the technical advisory support it provides to countries worldwide, UN-SPIDER carried out an Institutional Strengthening Mission to Nepal from 17 to 21 December 2018 upon the request of the government. The mission was a follow-up activity to the Technical Advisory Mission (TAM) to Nepal in July 2017 that assessed use of space-derived information in all aspects of disaster management and offered recommendations and action plan to strengthen the disaster risk management... Read more
News from the community
The Central Asia Hydrometeorology Modernization Project (CAHMP), funded by the World Bank and co-financed by United Nations agencies and other development partners, receives new funding after reinforcing weather forecasting and early warning efforts... Read more
24th postgraduate programme in remote sensing and geographic system commences this summer at CSSTEAP
The Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTEAP), which is affiliated to the United Nations, will run its 24th postgraduate programme in Remote Sensing & Geographic System (RS & GIS) starting this July. The two-year programme open for 20 participants will be held at the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS),... Read more
The Japanese government is preparing to test a disaster early warning system that uses one of its Quasi-Zenith’s satellites this year. The system aims to better predict disasters in the Asia-Pacific region.
Through the new early warning system, the Government of... Read more
The International Charter “Space and Major Disasters” has been activated for floods in Brazil following the collapse of a mining dam. The activation was requested by the Brazilian Disaster and Risk Management National Centre (CENAD). The country’s Ministry of Regional Development is acting as project manager for the activation.
A dam at an iron ore mine in the south-eastern town of Brumadinho collapsed, releasing a torrent of tailings. The large volume of sludge that spilled out of the dam then swept south west to... Read more
A new Earth observation satellite developed by Viet Nam, which aims to enhance the country’s ability to respond to disasters and climate change, was launched into space on 18 January 2019. The MicroDragon satellite was put into orbit via an Epsilon-4 rocket, which lifted-off from the Uchinoura Space Centre in Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan.
The satellite is designed to monitor the quality of water in coastal areas, locate fishery resources, and observe changes in the ocean to assist Viet Nam’s aquaculture sector. MicroDragon will locate and... Read more
The Pest Risk Information Service (PRISE), developed by the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International development charity (CABI), combines temperature and weather data provided by satellites with computer models to predict when pest outbreaks are most likely to occur, giving farmers time to prepare.
Farmers are currently notified of pest forecasts through an existing network of so-... Read more
The International Charter “Space and Major Disasters” has been activated for floods in Brazil by the Brazilian Disaster and Risk Management National Centre (CENAD). The country’s Ministry of National Integration is acting as project manager for the activation.
Mudslides and floods triggered by sudden rain over the western area of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul have caused the Ibirapuita, Ibicui and Uruguai rivers to break their banks and cause widespread flooding.
The rains have swept... Read more
The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have teamed up to offer GEO member agencies and research organizations from developing countries access to cloud services. Selected organizations will receive AWS credits to host, process and analyze big data about the Earth to support sustainable development efforts.
The deadline for applications is 31 March 2019. Applications are welcome for non-commercial projects that address the GEO Work Programme and, in particular, support the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk... Read more
Twitter
