Sharjah24: The University of Sharjah (UOS) and the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences (AUASS), organized an international symposium titled: “Disaster Management and Climate Change Mitigation in Arid Regions Using Geospatial Intelligence,” in collaboration with Delta State University, the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER), and the Jordanian Geographical Society. This three-day symposium aimed to explore geospatial resources and services useful for disaster management. It brought together a distinguished group of experts, researchers, and academics who presented their research papers at the headquarters of the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology (SAASST).
His Excellency Prof. Hamid M.K. Al Naimiy, Chancellor of UoS, Director-General of SAASST, and President of AUASS, emphasized the symposium's significance in fostering collaborative efforts to combat climate change and its environmental impacts at the local, regional, and international levels. He highlighted the need to develop advanced technologies and innovative solutions to preserve natural resources and promote sustainability. Prof. Al Naimiy also reaffirmed the University of Sharjah's commitment to strengthening its pioneering role in specialized research. He noted that the University recently launched the Sharjah Smart Centre for Weather and Climate Change Risk Management, which provides sustainable solutions and effective mechanisms to mitigate the impacts of climate change on weather, environment, and natural resources through research in fields of geography and geology.
Dr. Talbot Brooks, Director and Professor of the Practice at the Center for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Information Technologies at Delta State University, highlighted the importance of fostering collaboration and enhancing joint efforts to address global challenges posed by climate change. He explained that such collaboration supports sustainable practices and improves communities' resilience to natural disasters.
Dr. Awni Kahsawneh, Secretary-General of AUASS, stated that climate change is one of the most important environmental issues, directly impacting social and economic aspects. He emphasized the importance of strengthening international collaboration and exchanging expertise among scientists and specialists to address these challenges. This can be achieved by leveraging advanced technologies to develop innovative solutions that mitigate the impacts of climate change on society.
Dr. Sattam Shgoor, President of Jordanian Geographical Society, emphasized the need to guide decision-makers toward adopting effective strategic solutions to address environmental issues and manage disasters through joint scientific research and projects.
The symposium featured a series of research papers presented during the scientific sessions, covering topics such as the role of geospatial intelligence in crisis monitoring, remote sensing for tracking environmental changes, and the development of sustainable water management strategies. It also emphasized the importance of partnerships between governments, NGOs, and the private sector to exchange data and experiences. Additionally, the symposium explored how modern technology and innovative applications can enhance disaster response and environmental data analysis. The sessions highlighted the significance of building community capacity to manage environmental crises. Successful experiences and case studies in using geospatial intelligence to address challenges in arid regions were also reviewed.
On the sidelines of the symposium, participants toured astronomy and space exhibitions and attended an exceptional astronomical show at the Academy’s Sharjah Planetarium. The symposium was attended by several university vice presidents, officials, directors, academic and administrative staff.
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