Key Highlights

• The training highlighted methodologies for Incorporating Morocco as an Authorised User of the International Charter Space and Major Disasters
• The training explored pathways to generating and utilising space-based data for disaster management.
• The training highlighted strategic plans for Morocco to integrate geospatial information into its national disaster management procedures and applications.

The Royal Centre for Remote Sensing (CRTS), Morocco, the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER), and the International Charter Space and Major Disasters organised a training course on leveraging space-based data for disaster response and management between 21 and 22 May 2024, at the CRTS headquarters, Morocco. In addition, the training course was conducted in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), the National Centre for Space Studies of France (CNES), and the Regional Image Processing and Remote Sensing Service (SERTIT) to reach over 30 participants from CRTS and other government agencies and universities of Morocco.  

The training course included presentations on utilising geospatial and space-based information in case of disaster response by CRTS, on the International Charter Space and Major Disasters, the procedures employed in its activations, and the use of the Charter Mapper. During the session, CRTS experts provided an overview of remote sensing’s role in disaster management. They showcased various maps developed by CRTS for scenarios like floods, earthquakes, and other related events.

Furthermore, the expert delivered a comprehensive overview of the International Charter and its activities since its inception in 2000. SERTIT experts exposed participants to the procedures for Charter activation during disasters, including the roles of authorised users, project managers, and value-added providers. They also introduced participants to the Charter Operating System version 2 (COS-2), designed specifically for this purpose.

Participants were also briefed on the connections between the International Charter and the Copernicus Emergency Management Service. An expert from ESA-PLES introduced the Charter Mapper, offering insights into its layout, distinctive attributes, and the array of tools integrated for satellite image processing across various hazard scenarios. The training featured a practical segment allowing participants to use the Charter Mapper firsthand to process satellite imagery during flood and earthquake events.

The training course is part of the UN-SPIDER/United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the CRTS’s technical advisory mission in Rabat from 19 to 23 May.