1. Workshop: The Role of Remote Sensing in Disaster Management, ITU, Geneva, 10-11 December 2007 1 ITU Activities in Remote Sensing International Telecommunication Union Alexandre VASSILIEV Study Group Counsellor Radiocommunication Bureau Phone: +41 22 730 59 24 E-mail: alexandre.vassiliev@itu.int Wind Scatterometer (active sensor)

2. Workshop: The Role of Remote Sensing in Disaster Management, ITU, Geneva, 10-11 December 2007 2 Why the ITU? World Weather Watch System (World Meteorological Organization (WMO)) ITU related parts (ICT) radiocommunications telecommunications information technogies spectrum radio techn.

3. Workshop: The Role of Remote Sensing in Disaster Management, ITU, Geneva, 10-11 December 2007 3 Tsunami Detection and Prediction System Deep-ocean Assessment and Report of Tsunami Deep-ocean Assessment and Report of Tsunami (DART) system

4. ITU ITU-T Telecommunication standardization of network and service aspects ITU-R Radiocommunication standardization and global radio spectrum management ITU-D Assisting implementation and operation of telecommunications in developing countries Helping the World Communicate ITU Overview 192 Member States +700 Sector Members Plenipotentiary Conference Radiocommunication Assembly & World Radiocommunication Conference World Telecommunication Development Conference World Standardization Assembly

5. Workshop: The Role of Remote Sensing in Disaster Management, ITU, Geneva, 10-11 December 2007 5 ITU and Remote Sensing Plenipotentiary Conference 2006 (PP-06) - Resolution 136 The use of telecommunications/information and communication technologies for monitoring and management in emergency and disaster situations for early warning, prevention, mitigation and relief … to support.. the use of telecommunications/ICTs (e.g. remote sensing)…

6. Workshop: The Role of Remote Sensing in Disaster Management, ITU, Geneva, 10-11 December 2007 6 Development Sector and Remote Sensing (1) World Telecommunication Development Conference 2006 (WTDC-06) - Resolution 34 The role of telecommunications /information and communication technology in early warning and mitigation of disasters and humanitarian assistance Related Study Question ITU-D 22/2 Utilization of ICT for disaster management, resources, and active and passive space-based sensing systems as they apply to disaster and emergency relief situations

7. Workshop: The Role of Remote Sensing in Disaster Management, ITU, Geneva, 10-11 December 2007 7 Development Sector and Remote Sensing (2) ITU-D: assists developing countries in the use of remote sensing information for disaster prediction, detection and mitigation; represents ITU at different forums related to disaster management and the use of ICT; organizes seminars and workshops on the use of ICT in general and remote sensing in particular; ITU-D Study Group 2 carries out studies and develops report on the use of remote sensing for disaster prediction, detection and mitigation (see at: http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/study_groups/SGP_2006- 2010/SG2/SG2-index.html); http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/study_groups/SGP_2006- 2010/SG2/SG2-index.html etc.

8. Workshop: The Role of Remote Sensing in Disaster Management, ITU, Geneva, 10-11 December 2007 8 Telecommunication Standardization Sector and Remote Sensing Telecommunication Standardization Sector Developing Recommendations related to the use of telecommunicaiton networks for disseminating information including remote sensing data. ITU-T developed Recommendation ITU-T X.1303 (see at: http://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-X.1303/en) on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP). CAP was agreed in 2004 as an international standard.http://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-X.1303/en

9. Workshop: The Role of Remote Sensing in Disaster Management, ITU, Geneva, 10-11 December 2007 9 Bandwidth and Remote Sensing Precision Sri Lanka East Coast after tsunami 26 December 2004 Envisat Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image SARs provide Earths images (through clouds too). SAR resolution (as well as precision of many sensors) depends on bandwidth. For example - 1 meter resolution at 30 incidence angle requires 300 MHz.

10. XV World Meteorological Congress, 2007 In Resolution 3: Re-affirmed the crucial importance of RF bands for meteorological and related environmental operations and research, and for disaster risk reduction Stressed that some RF bands are a unique natural resource for passive sensing that deserve absolute protection Urged all Members to do their utmost at national, regional and international levels to ensure the availability and protection of suitable RF bands Appealed to ITU and its Administrations to ensure the absolute protection of the passive sensing RF bands, and to give due consideration to the WMO requirements for RF allocations and regulatory provisions

11. Workshop: The Role of Remote Sensing in Disaster Management, ITU, Geneva, 10-11 December 2007 11 Radiocommunication Sector and Remote Sensing (1) Recognizing that the radio frequency spectrum is a critical resource for remote sensing the World Radiocommunication Conference 2007 (WRC-07): considered (with positive results) 4 main issues directly related to remote sensing (including extension of bands for some active sensors); approved 5 new Resolutions concerning new studies relevant to remote sensing; included 4 items in the draft of WRC-11 Agenda on the use and further development of remote sensing systems.

12. Workshop: The Role of Remote Sensing in Disaster Management, ITU, Geneva, 10-11 December 2007 12 Radiocommunication Sector and Remote Sensing (2) ITU-R: allocates (through WRC) necessary radio-frequency spectrum and provides regulatory protection to remote sensing systems; carries out studies and develops ITU-R Recommendations, Reports and Handbooks (together with WMO) on remote sensing (ITU-R SG 7 – see at: http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/index.asp?category=study- groups&link=rsg7&lang=en); http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/index.asp?category=study- groups&link=rsg7&lang=en participates in different conferences, seminars and workshops on remote sensing; cooperates with other UN organizations (especially with WMO), international and national space and meteorological agencies; etc.

13. Workshop: The Role of Remote Sensing in Disaster Management, ITU, Geneva, 10-11 December 2007 13 Cooperation with Other Organizations World Meteorological Organization (WMO); United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and other UN offices; Group on Earth Observation (GEO); International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Space Frequency Coordination Group (SFCG) – international and national space agency group; International and national space and meteorological agencies/organizations Partnerships with international and national satellite organizations/operators/companies (INMARSAT, ICO, Thuraya, etc.)….. etc.

14. Workshop: The Role of Remote Sensing in Disaster Management, ITU, Geneva, 10-11 December 2007 14 Conclusion Remote sensing is the essential tool for prediction, detection and relief from natural and man-made disasters; Remote sensing systems are key global assets that serve the world as a whole; It is very important to provide and protect necessary spectrum, as well as radio and telecommunication infrastructure, for obtaining and disseminating remote sensing data; ITU plays a major role in developing technical and regulatory background for further evolution of remote sensing systems, as well as promoting their use for the interests of all countries; …