SPACE ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM
The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) provides an effective mechanism for keeping States informed of the activities of the international, governmental and non-governmental organizations involved in this field. Within the United Nations family of specialized agencies, the FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization), the ITU (International Telecommunications Union), WMO ( World Meteorological Organization), IMO (International Maritime Organization) and UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization) have been actively involved since the beginning of the space age with satellite remote sensing technology, space communications, satellite meteorology and space science.
Other UN secretariat units, bodies, research institutes, specialized agencies and organizations which have found use for space applications are :
As space applications in other fields were developed, more organizations of the United Nations system became increasingly involved in space technology and its terrestrial applications. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank became actively involved in using space technology. Within the United Nations Secretariat, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations International Drug Control Board (UNDCP) also found use for space applications. The afore-mentioned organizations frequently engage the use of space technology for the benefit of their Member States within the fields of remote sensing of Earth from space and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), communications and navigation, meteorology and hydrology. They also apply valuable space-related or space-aided activities to basic space sciences and improvement of safety, as well as other activities related to space science. In doing so, they are able to further the United Nations aim of promoting international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.
Space related activities within the United Nations system fall into four main categories. They are :
The use of remote sensing and GIS is being utilized particularly for capacity building in developing countries. Most effective efforts are directed towards the strengthening of operational capabilities of existing institutions. Mainly, these are involved in environmental management for sustainable development, natural resource monitoring or land-cover mapping. The application of satellite technology constitutes an important element of technical cooperation in meteorology and hydrology. In addition, satellite communication systems are considered vital tools for social and economic development, as demonstrated by the Regional African Satellite Communications System (RASCOM) project. They are also used to improve communications between the headquarters and the regional offices of the UN organizations and between the regional offices themselves, as demonstrated by the Mercure satellite telecommunications system. Meanwhile, applications of space technology for land, maritime and aeronautical mobile communications are being significantly used by the specialized agencies of the UN.
Through the provision of expert services, a marine and coastal zone data information system is being developed. It will improve management of water and coastal resources and also upgrade meteorological observations by installing networks of data collection platforms (DCPs). It will also improve the meteorological telecommunication system by planning the implementation of a regional network. Reflecting the increasing awareness of global environmental changes, organizations within the United Nations system are cooperating in global schemes such as the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS), Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW), World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and the World Climate Data and Monitoring Programme. Turning to the use of space applications to improve global safety, studies have been taking place to apply space technology to establish safety and early warning systems such as the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). for the reduction of natural disasters.
Since 1997, the Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) has continued its collaboration with several African and European countries on the implementation of the COPINE project. COPINE is a satellite-based information exchange network amongst African professionals, educators, scientists and decision makers at national, regional and international levels. The project is aimed at strengthening the capabilities of African countries to better respond to various needs of society in rural and urban areas. COPINE supports information exchange needs in priority development areas such as health care and education, including tele-health and tele-education.
The United Nations Programme on Space Applications continues to make progress in establishing regional centres for space science and technology education in developing countries. The Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific became operational in November 1995 and was followed by the establishment of similar centres in Morocco and Nigeria. More centres in Africa are being developed and work continues in centres in Brazil and Mexico for Latin America and the Caribbean. The Programme also provides assistance, when necessary, to international initiatives for establishing regional centres such as in Western Asia which currently involves Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Syrian Arab Republic. The centres are expected to enhance the academic and professional capabilities and technical infrastructure in each region.
Keeping apace with the rapid expansion of the information superhighway with the aid of computer networks, an increasing number of UN organizations are establishing databases that will tremendously increase the availability of information for a larger number of users through the utilization of remote sensing technologies. In addition, meetings involving experts and decision makers as well as workshops organized within the United Nations system, provide opportunities to exchange the latest, vital information on the use of space technology.
There are currently more than 200 UN space-related projects and programmes taking place solely or in collaboration with other UN organizations or international bodies. Examples of these organizations' involvement in space technology and applications follow :
UNESCO in cooperation with Conservation International, Intel (USA) and Nippon Electric Company (Japan) has introduced the use of remote sensing and GIS technologies in biosphere reserve management. Training courses on the use of GIS are organized for managers in 25 biosphere reserves in developing countries.
ESCAP has produced distance learning materials on the circumpolar region using remote sensing imagery, in cooperation with remote sensing institutions in Canada, Denmark, the Russian Federation and the USA.
In the field of agricultural statistics, the FAO will continue to assist approximately 10 developing countries in the use of satellite imagery techniques which can be used for geographical stratification, area frame sampling, regression estimates of crop yield and area sampling surveys.
The UNDCP is assisting governments in the use of remote sensing images along with ground and aerial means, in order to estimate illicit opium poppy and coca leaf cultivation in the WA region.
UNEP, through GRID-Sioux Falls, is collaborating with NASA, USGS, EPA and the USA Forest Service and the International-Biosphere Programme in the development of a global database on land-cover characteristics using Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data with one kilometre resolution.
A three-year multi disciplinary mega-project for research and studies on advanced satellite data applications was launched by ESCAP in 1996, with 20 research teams from 15 Member States, dealing with the primary utilization of data from multiple or individual Advanced Earth Observing Satellite (ADEOS) sensors.
The ICAO is conducting activities to face new challenges concerning human resources involved in the introduction of advanced satellite-based communications, navigation and surveillance and air-traffic management. The ICAO which recognizes that an adequate number of staff should be trained or retrained in the use of new technologies, addresses human resource planning and training issues through its TRAINAIR programme.
Within the framework of the UNESCO initiative"Learning without Frontiers", which fosters lifelong education for all at all levels, a joint ITU/UNESCO pilot project on the educational application of interactive television will be implemented. The project, which supports the teaching of primary teachers in developing countries, consists of providing sound and visual images to the 'virtual classrooms'. The return path enables the viewer to communicate by voice and data channels with the broadcast site.
The Telecommunications Standardisation Bureau of ITU is continuing its work through several study groups on the application of space technology in different services, including aeronautical mobile, maritime mobile and land mobile services and telecommunication services to remote regions and weather forecasting.
The fisheries department of the FAO conducts remote sensing activities for fisheries. Satellite remote sensing, especially when combined with GIS, is increasingly being used in marine and inland fishery projects.
The WMO plan of action for the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction to upgrade the tropical cyclone warning system for the south-west Indian Ocean Subregion, has received financial assistance from the European Development Fund. The project is based on the application of meteorological satellite and microcomputer technology and on the transfer of scientific knowledge.