For information only - not an official document

UNIS/MA025
Vienna, 28 August 2013

Media Advisory

The media is invited to attend the

Launch of the Report

'The Value of Geo-Information for Disaster and Risk Management (VALID): Benefit Analysis and Stakeholder Assessment'

on

Tuesday 3 September 2013, at 1.30 p.m.

at the Vienna International Centre (VIC), Room C3, Building C

The Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) will present a new report which shows the economic, humanitarian and organizational benefits of applying geoinformation to disaster management.

The report was edited by Professor Orhan Altan of the Istanbul Technical University and Member of the Executive Board of the International Council for Science. The publication aims to raise awareness and to help set priorities in research and development.

The VALID report is a follow-up publication to the Joint Board of Geospatial Information Societies (JBGIS) and UNOOSA/UN-SPIDER published 'Geoinformation for Disaster and Risk Management - Examples and Best Practices', a compilation of case studies that provides information on what can be done with geoinformation in support of disaster and risk management - methods, systems, applications, experiences. It analyses cases and offers an expert stakeholder assessment.

Speakers include:

Mazlan Othman,
Director of UNOOSA and Deputy Director-General of UNOV

Prof. Orhan Altan
Istanbul Technical University
The Chairs of the Joint Board of Geospatial Information Societies (JBGIS) and the International Council for Science (ICSU) GEOUNIONS

Robert Backhaus
United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER/DLR)

Luc St-Pierre
UN-SPIDER/UNOOSA

Presentations will be followed by a Q&A session.

Participation requires a VIC grounds pass. Media representatives who wish to attend and who are not accredited to the VIC should contact press@unvienna.org.

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For more information please contact:

Luc St-Pierre
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-4958
Email: luc.st-pierre[at]unoosa.org