Conferences/Symposia/Workshops

ACCRA2008 - 7th AARSE CONFERENCE
Application of EO and Geoinformation for Governance in Africa
October 30 to November 2, 2008

The 7th biennial conference of the African Association of the Environment (AARSE) took place in Accra, Ghana from October 30 to November 2, 2008 and was hosted by the Centre for Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Services (CERSGIS), University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana. The main theme of the conference was “Application of Earth Observation and Geoinformation for Governance in Africa” and was held at the Accra Conference Center. The conference was co-organized by: SAMBUS CO. LTD, GEOTECH CO. LTD, RUDAN ENGINEERING CO.LTD, CTK, Aero Surveys, Ghana Survey Department and various Ghanaian Ministries, Universities and conference related agencies. Co-sponsoring organizations include: ASTRIUM-EADS, International Institute for Geoinformation Science & Earth Observation (ITC) as Platinum sponsors, UNEP, FUGRO, ESRI-SAMBUS Co. Ltd (Ghana), European Space Agency as Gold Sponsors, SOKKIA/GEOTECH, EIS-Africa (partner organization of AARSE), UNU-INRA, USAID/TIPCEE, TRIMBLE NAVIGATION, EPA-GHANA, BEAK CONSULT, Department of Science & Technology (South Africa), GEO, UNOOSA, US Department of State, ISPRS, International Land Systems, GeoEye/DATA DESIGN as bronze sponsors.

(Read More) (Accra Declaration....)

GEOSS WORKSHOP ON:
Interoperability and Application to Water Security & Governance
(24-26 October 2008)

The three-day AARSE2008 pre-conference workshop focused on human capacity building for the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) and provided the latest update on the implementation of the GEOSS information infrastructure. Special attention was on how to develop operational end-user applications and actively work with end-users for informed decision making for Water Security and Governance.

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AARSE PARTICIPATION IN GMES AFRICA 6-7 DECEMBER 2007 WORKSHOP IN LISBON, PORTUGAL

Portugal assuming the Presidency of the European Union until December 2007, through its Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education initiated an event entitled “Space for Development: the case of GMES and Africa”, with the objective to launch the process of extending GMES services to African users from the 6th to 7th of December 2007 in Lisbon. The 2 days meeting was organized in collaboration with the European Commission, ESA and EUMETSAT and attended by various European and African stakeholders including the African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment (AARSE). The objectives of this event were two-fold:

• To present the initiatives on Earth Observation in Africa that the mentioned stakeholders have underway and to stimulate their coherent long term coordination for setting a basis for the deployment of the “GMES Africa”,
• To discuss the extension of GMES services to African users, bringing together the European stakeholders and Member States and the African counterparts. (See: The Lisbon Process on “GMES and Africa” and the Lisbon Declaration on “GMES and Africa”)

GEO IV PLENARY AND MINISTERIAL SUMMIT, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Ministers and officials from over 100 governments and international organizations assembled in Cape Town, South Africa from 28 to 30 November 2007 to advance an internationally agreed plan for building a Global Earth Observation System of Systems, or GEOSS. This meeting was held to evaluate the progress of GEO after just two years (2005) of operations. As an organizational Member of GEO, AARSE was represented by Dr. T. Woldai (President of AARSE), Dr. Jide Kufoniyi (Secretary General, AARSE) and Dr. Sias Mostert (Vice President, AARSE for Southern Africa). Objective of the Cape Town meeting was to review the progress made, and reach final agreement on the Cape Town Declaration. Text can be found on http://earthobservations.org/05_Cape%20Town%20Declaration.pdf.

May 30 to 31, '07

June 1, '07

UNESCO/African Union High-Level Scientific Workshop on the Critical Role of Satellite Remote Sensing Applications for Africa's Sustainable Development

Conference Agenda , Background UNESCO Meeting, Highlights Outcome UNESCO Report
Special High-Level Session - Information And Presentation of the Workshop Results to the Plenipotentiary Ambassadors and African Permanent Delegates and UNESCO Staff  

6th AARSE Conference
Earth Observation and Geoinformation Sciences in Support of Africa’s Development
Cairo, Egypt .

Presentation on AARSE by the President

2005AFRICAGIS 2005 on: “Beyond Talk: Geo-information working for Africa.”

Conference Report , Highlight

GEOSS Architecture II, Programme Workshop, Programme Report, Highlights

AFRICAGIS Conference on: "Meeting the Information Needs of NEPAD", Dakar, Senegal.
Conference Report and Highlights.

Unesco Workshop on "Africa Stakeholders and Resourses Mobilisation Towards Implementation of the Regional Ocean Observing and Forecasting Systems for Africa (Roofs-Africa)", Johannesburg, South Africa.
Workshop Report.

Workshop: Mapping Africa for Africa, Durban, South Africa

The 4th AARSE Conference on " Geoinformation For Sustainable Development in Africa" was held from October 14-18 2002 in Abuja, Nigeria.

• Summary of the 4th AARSE Conference
• Highlights
• Nigeria-SAT1

AARSE co-sponsored the workshop on "Developments and Technology Transfer in Geomatics for Environmental and Resource Management" organised by the ISPRS WG VI/I, ISPRS WG VI/3 and the University College of Lands and Architectural Studies (UCLAS), Tanzania. The workshop took place on 25-28 March 2002. See document on the Workshop (Word document)

Besides, the Circular of the 4th AARSE Conference, is already out under the banner ABUJA 2002 "Geoinformation For Sustainable Development In Africa".

Mere recognition however, without visible and concrete achievements that allow Africa to derive benefits from these technologies is not enough. From the experience of the past 10 years and those of other continents, we have great challenge and responsibilities as leaders of AARSE, if our current gains are to be sustained.