With this contribution, the UAESA emphasises the importance of international solidarity and cooperation in the face of natural disasters.
As part of the international efforts to manage the earthquake crisis in Morocco, the Geospatial Analytics Platforms team from the Space Data Center, in cooperation with Bayanat, contributed to submitting analytical reports to the International Charter for Space and Disasters. This contribution supports the UAESAs belief in the importance of international cooperation and solidarity in the face of natural disasters.
Among other reports from national and international space agencies, the reports offered by the International Disaster Charter contributed to assessing the extent of damage caused by the earthquake, planning rescue and relief operations, and monitoring the situation after the disaster. These efforts show the achievements that can be made using space technologies and affirm the Charters role in serving humanity in times of disaster.
The partnership agreement between the UAE Space Agency and Bayanat to develop and operate a geospatial analytics platform for the Space Data Centre is one of the transformational projects announced by the UAE government. This agreement seeks to facilitate the utilisation of satellite data, harness space technologies for the betterment of humanity, and create solutions to tackle both national and worldwide challenges through the creation of space data applications and value-added services (VAS).
Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi, Director-General of the UAE Space Agency, said: Natural disasters know no borders. International cooperation is essential to assist in disaster management as it requires immediate coordinated responses among stakeholders, regionally and globally.
Al Qubaisi added: Utilising the Geospatial Analytics Platform of the Space Data Center space in international relief efforts for Morocco shows the importance of this cooperation. The platforms reports enabled Moroccan authorities and rescue teams to assess the extent of the damage and plan relief operations efficiently and effectively.
Al Qubaisicontinued: The use of space data and technologies is crucial to reducing the impact of disasters. Time and careful coordination based on data and analysis can contribute to saving lives.
The UAE, represented by the UAE Space Agency, became a member of the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters, thus becoming the first Arab and Islamic country to receive this membership. It aims to provide a unified system to obtain space data and submit it to countries affected by natural or man-made disasters.
The UAE Space Agency signed a deal with Planet Labs, a pioneer in Earth data and insights, to build a satellite data-driven loss and damage atlas for global climate resilience. The agreement aligns with the UAESAs vision and strategic objectives as it actively supports transformative initiatives and projects aimed at combating climate change.
