KARACHI, Dec 11: Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) is organising five-day international seminar on “natural hazards monitoring” from Jan 7 in Karachi.

The Inter-Islamic Network on Space Science and technology (ISNET) and Islamic Development Bank (IDB) would also collaborate with SUPARCO in holding the auspicious occasion. The seminar is aimed at bringing about awareness to the decision-makers and the users of satellite remote-sensing data for a better management of natural resources, monitoring and mitigation.

The seminar would provide a forum to engineers, scientists and researchers from Islamic and developing countries to present their diverse views, discuss new developments and techniques on significance of navigation satellites and the satellite-based search and rescue programmes

The role of space technology, specially that of earth observation polar orbiting and geostationary satellites in saving the lives and property or at least minimising losses, is being realised world-wide.

The sources of disasters are natural hazards, such as torrential rains, floods, cyclones, earthquakes, forest fires, fog and drought.

Further in a medium and long-term perspective, satellites dedicated to the study of the earth’s surface, land, oceans and atmosphere can keep on monitoring various environmental/ecological/ climatic changes that could trigger off or aggravate disasters.

Damaging processes like deforestation, erosion, atmospheric and marine pollution, can be monitored by the satellites and the information derived to take timely measures to avert future catastrophes.

Communication satellites can relay related information instantaneously to prepare concerned agencies for the emergency.

Environmental satellites could monitor floods, fire, landslides etc, so that relief measures could be carried out effectively.

Navigation satellites and the satellite based search and rescue programme can help locate ships, aircraft, vehicles etc, in distress enabling rescue operations to be executed efficiently.

With continuing developments in space and other associated technologies, satellites are expected to play an increasingly important role in disaster assessment, monitoring and mitigation efforts.—APP