VIENNA, 27 June (UN Information Service) — Remotely-sensed data that
provide a view of the Earth from space for many studies that require
synoptic or periodic observations, — such as inventory, surveying, and
monitoring in agriculture, hydrology, geology, mineralogy, and the
environment, — will be the main focus of a joint Workshop for application
specialists and educators. The Workshop on Remote Sensing Applications and
Education, organized by the United Nations together with the European Space
Agency (ESA), will be held in Damascus, Syria, from 29 June to 3 July 2003.

Remote sensing is a rapidly growing technology and is one of the
important spin-offs of space applications and space science. Remote sensing
is viewed as a discipline that is integrated with other disciplines, such
as photogrammetry, cartography, geodetic reference systems, global
positioning systems, and geographic information systems. Education plays a
pivotal role in the application of remote sensing in regard to its
widespread adoption.

A fundamental requirement of UNISPACE III is to support sustainable
development while safeguarding the Earth’s environment. This requires
optimal management of natural resources, and it depends upon the
availability of reliable and up-to-date information at national, regional,
and international levels. Remotely-sensed data play an increasingly
important role as a source of reliable and timely information needed for
sustainable management of natural resources and for environmental
protection.

The Workshop is being organized by the United Nations Vienna-based
Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) under the auspices of the United
Nations Programme on Space Applications for the benefit of experts from all
economic regions. The Workshop will be hosted by the Government of Syria
through the General Organization of Remote Sensing (GORS) and will be held
at the GORS premises in Damascus.

The Workshop is part of an ongoing effort by the United Nations to make
the benefits of space science and technology available to all countries.
Workshops and training courses organized by the UN Programme on Space
Applications aim not only at making experts in the fields of space science
and technology, especially in developing countries, aware of the latest
developments in their field, but also focus on identifying the ways and
means for them to integrate these technologies into the socio-economic
development of their countries.

Over fifty experts from Algeria, Bangladesh, Cuba, Egypt, India, Iran,
Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria,
Tanzania, and Tunisia, as well as from the European Space Agency, the
International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, and the United
Nations, will participate and contribute to the Workshop.

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