UN SPIDER
The United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response , shortly UN-SPIDER (of English United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response ) is a platform United Nations that the use of space-based technologies Disaster management and emergency response mediated. It was founded in 2006 as a program of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).
Space technology and disaster management
The effects of climate change and land degradation in combination with global population growth are increasing global vulnerability to natural disasters. Earthquakes , floods , hurricanes and other catastrophic events lead to devastating human, social and ecological consequential damage every year. Such damage can, however, be avoided with the help of better information about the probability of occurrence of disasters and through adequate monitoring and early warning systems . For this reason, on December 14, 2006, resolution 61/110 was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations , which emphasizes the importance of space technology for disaster management. Earth observation as well as weather, communication and navigation technologies are of immense importance for disaster management because they provide reliable and timely information.
Organization and structure
With resolution 61/110 of December 14, 2006, the General Assembly of the United Nations established UN-SPIDER as a United Nations program with the task of ensuring “that all countries and all international and regional organizations have access to all types of space-based information develop the skills to use them throughout the entire cycle of disaster management. ”The mandate of UN-SPIDER comprises three aspects: The program provides access to relevant space-based information for disaster management and emergency measures, acts as a bridge between disaster management and space actors and promotes competence development as well as institutional Expansion.
The three locations of UN-SPIDER are Vienna , Bonn and Beijing .
UN-SPIDER is located in the headquarters of UNOOSA in the Vienna International Center and is supported by the Austrian government. Among other things, the employees are responsible for coordinating UN-SPIDER activities, fundraising , coordinating the regional offices ( Regional Support Offices ) and technical advisory activities.
The UN-SPIDER office in Bonn was set up in October 2007 with the support of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The Bonn office is responsible for knowledge management. The aim is to systematically process all relevant information and to give all participating institutions from the areas of disaster management and humanitarian aid, as well as space actors, access to this information. The focus of these tasks is the UN-SPIDER knowledge portal, which is administered by the employees in Bonn; Another area of responsibility is technical consulting activities in Latin America and the Caribbean .
The UN-SPIDER office in Beijing was opened on November 9, 2009 with the support of the government of the People's Republic of China . The main tasks of this office include technical consulting activities in the Asian and Pacific regions and the global coordination of technical consulting.
Activities of UN-SPIDER
Knowledge management
A central component of the activities of UN-SPIDER is the systematic acquisition, processing and transfer of knowledge. The UN-SPIDER knowledge portal for space-based information and solutions was therefore set up to support risk analysis processes and disaster management.
The UN-SPIDER knowledge portal, which has been accessible online since June 2009 and has been continuously improved since then, offers users the opportunity to find relevant information. At the heart of the knowledge portal is the Space Application Matrix, a comprehensive search engine that provides access to research and case studies on the application of different space-based resources across the entire disaster management cycle. The portal also contains reports on current events in the areas of disaster management and space travel, information on workshops, further training measures and details about the partner organizations of UN-SPIDER.
In addition to knowledge management, PR work is also a priority at UN-SPIDER. In order to strengthen the use of space-based information in disaster management, a lot of persuasion has to be done in order to induce changes in attitudes and behavior. Through its website, but also through events, publications and social media , UN-SPIDER addresses new and existing user communities, establishes new partnerships and can pave the way for innovative technical solutions.
Networking measures
Experience shows that a large number of authorities involved are involved in different phases of the disaster management cycle and that a coordinated approach is therefore of great advantage. With the help of the networking activities of UN-SPIDER, practical experts and specialists from the fields of disaster management and space travel are involved in promoting the use of space-based information for the entire disaster management cycle.
As part of these measures, UN-SPIDER organizes workshops, seminars and expert summits in all participating regions and supports partner organizations at similar events. The employees of UN-SPIDER also take part in relevant conferences around the world to provide information about the activities and advisory services of UN-SPIDER as well as the possibilities that space-based information offers for disaster management.
Technical advice
Technical consulting activities are a central part of the work of UN-SPIDER. In order to improve disaster management, UN-SPIDER supports member states in identifying existing capacities with regard to the application of space-based information, analyzing the institutional structures and identifying possible hurdles that make the use of space-based information difficult. This technical advice is used to help member countries overcome restrictions, for example through international cooperation, networks with regional institutions and the creation of disaster management plans. The advice covers regional aspects such as cross-border problems, emergency measures, GIS-based disaster management systems and measures to reduce the likelihood of disasters. Such advisory measures can take the form of simple telephone calls or in the form of technical support, on-site advice, training measures and workshops. The technical advisory activities are based on three aspects: technical advisory missions, competence building and technical advice in the event of a crisis.
Technical advisory missions serve to identify the needs of the member countries with regard to their capacities for the efficient use of space-based information. The missions are carried out at the request of the respective national governments and are carried out by teams of experts. To this end, the team communicates with decision-making government authorities in the fields of disaster management and development, with United Nations organizations, regional and international organizations and initiatives, and private companies. The team makes recommendations on how access to and use of space-based information can be optimized for risk analysis and disaster management. Since 2008, numerous missions have been carried out in countries in Latin America , the Caribbean , Africa , Asia and the Pacific region .
For UN-SPIDER, competence development means promoting and strengthening the competence of people, teams and authorities for the use of space-based information in the event of natural disasters and other humanitarian crises. UN-SPIDER's efforts to develop skills include four areas of work:
- Policy-making recommendations for institutions and governments on how to use space-based information to support the entire disaster management cycle
- improving access to space-based data and applications
- Training measures for improved access to and use of such data
- promoting access to relevant infrastructure , hardware , software and services for space-based applications.
Thus, the work of UN-SPIDER in this area focuses on institutions, people and infrastructure.
In the event of a disaster, UN-SPIDER offers technical support and acts as a bridge between authorities for disaster management and space agencies or special mechanisms such as the International Charter for Space and Natural Disasters . UN-SPIDER provides support through the network of regional offices ( Regional Support Office ) and through communication with space agencies.
The UN-SPIDER network
UN-SPIDER has a global network to strengthen strategic alliances and partnerships on a global and regional level. This network comprises two areas: on the one hand, regional offices and, on the other hand, national contact points.
Regional offices
A regional support office is a regional or national center for expertise that is financed and managed by the respective member state. The establishment of a network for regional offices was decided in resolution 61/110 by the General Assembly of the United Nations. Today UN-SPIDER has 17 regional competence centers worldwide. Detailed information on all UN-SPIDER regional offices can be found on the UN-SPIDER knowledge portal. In regular communication and coordination with the UN-SPIDER staff, the regional offices are responsible for the following tasks:
- Networking and skills development measures
- Horizontal cooperation (expert networks, knowledge management, contributions to the UN-SPIDER knowledge portal)
- Technical advisory activities
National contact points
As determined by the General Assembly of the United Nations, a National Focal Point is a national institution appointed by the government of the respective country that represents the networks in the fields of disaster management and space travel, such as members of space agencies or Civil protection. Communication with all countries always takes place through these national contact points.
In cooperation with UN-SPIDER, the National Contact Points pursue the following goals:
- Promote access to and use of space-based solutions related to disaster management in the country concerned
- Strengthening national disaster management plans and strategies
- Implementation of specific national activities using space-based technologies for disaster management support.
References and comments
- ↑ Main page of the UN-SPIDER knowledge portal
- ^ Space Application Matrix. UN-SPIDER knowledge portal
- ↑ Regional Support Offices. ( Memento of the original from April 29, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Knowledge portal UN-SPIDER
