HTF Press Release No. 4 - 23 July

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TECHNICAL FORUM

(23 July 1999)

THE ASEMINAR ON ENVIRONMENT AND REMOTE SENSING FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT@ CONCLUDED THAT:

* Developing countries should be encouraged to focus space funding on remote sensing.

* The Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) must continue its efforts to establish regional training centres for Remote Sensing.

* An AOpen Skies@policy is needed to harness the energy of the private sector.

* The UN needs to clarify the meaning of ANon-discriminatory access@ in Principle XII of UN Principles on Remote Sensing.
 
 

(22 July 1999)

THE ASPECIAL WORKSHOP ON EDUCATION@ RECOMMENDED THAT:

* An internationally proven set of teaching methods for all levels should be drawn up and made available to interested countries.

* Broad framework for the teaching of astronomy and basic space science should be created with well-defined topics for each student.

* Nations should realize that appropriate training and equipment are essential to the effectiveness of their scientists and engineers.

THE AWORKSHOP ON REMOTE SENSING FOR THE DETECTION, MONITORING AND MITIGATION OF NATURAL DISASTERS@CONCLUDED THAT:

* International cooperation is needed to develop indicators of disaster-prone areas and mitigation scenarios.

* Research is needed into new remote sensing systems using higher resolution, more spectral bands or active sensors.

* Hazardous waste sites can only be recognized by the use of high spatial and spectral resolution.

* Insurance companies and building planners are advised to take an interest in disaster mitigation and prediction.

* Data must be released as cheaply as possible and in a timely manner.
 
 

THE AWORKSHOP ON RESOURCE MAPPING FROM SPACE@ CONCLUDED THAT:

* Data should be made available at a local level.

* Satellite images should become more available and cheaper to developing countries.

* Data has to be reliable, accurate and have global coverage.

THE ASYMPOSIUM ON THE CONTRIBUTION OF SPACE TECHNIQUES TO THE EXPLORATION OF THE UNIVERSE@ CONCLUDED THAT:

* Scientific databases are allowing more and more global participation in analysis and interpretation.

* Observations of the cosmic microwave background have and will continue to revolutionize our knowledge of cosmology.

* Future X-ray missions will demand intensive international collaborations.

* Are we alone? NASA=s plans for interferometry missions will take us a step closer to finding out.

THE ACGMS WORKSHOP ON METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITE SYSTEMS@ RECOMMENDED THAT:

* The Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellite Systems (CGMS) should strive to meet the user community=s requirements and provide even better coordination.

* Dissemination services should be standardized.

* Landmark planning that has occurred between satellite operators should be highlighted to provide assurances to the user community.