United NationsOffice for Outer Space Affairs

Available Information
- Information Note
- United Nations Workshops on the Applications of Global Navigation Satellite System
- International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG): Information Portal 
- Programme of the Workshop ( NEW)

Introduction

Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) technologies are now ubiquitous in everyday life: they are incorporated in electronic devices and are used by the public, surveyors, and geoscientists on a regular basis. In developing countries in particular, GNSS applications offer cost-effective solutions that make it possible to foster economic and social development without neglecting the need to preserve the environment, thus promoting sustainable development.

Current GNSS include the Global Positioning System (GPS), the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) and the European Satellite Navigation System (Galileo). There are also two regional systems, the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system and the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), as well as various augmentation systems designed to improve one or more GNSS qualities, such as accuracy, robustness, and signal availability.

In addition to GNSS, other space technologies such as Earth Observation (EO) satellites or communication satellites play a pivotal role creating socioeconomic benefits. Earth Observation satellites enable continuous and detailed monitoring of Earth's surface, providing valuable data for environmental protection, resource management, and disaster response. These satellites assist in tracking deforestation, urban sprawl, and changes in agricultural lands, and offer crucial insights for managing water resources and mitigating climate change impacts. Communication satellites, on the other hand, facilitate global connectivity, bridging the digital divide by providing internet access to remote and underserved areas, thus supporting education, telemedicine, and economic development. These technologies, together with GNSS, create a comprehensive toolkit to address various challenges related to sustainable development, ensuring a coordinated and efficient approach towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

To address a wide array of GNSS and related technologies applications for socioeconomic benefits and to focus on initiating pilot projects and strengthening the networking of GNSS-related institutions, a Workshop on GNSS and related space technologies in support of urban sustainability challenges will be held virtually, from 18 to 22 November 2024.

Objectives and Expected Outcomes

The main objectives of the workshop will be to reinforce the exchange of information between countries and scale up the capacity pursuing the application of GNSS and other space technology solutions; share information on national, regional, and global projects and initiatives, which could benefit regions; and enhance cross-fertilization among those projects and initiatives.

The specific objectives of the workshop will be to introduce GNSS-based technology and other space technologies in support of urban sustainability challenges; promote the greater exchange of actual experiences with specific applications; focus on appropriate GNSS applications projects at the national and/or regional levels; and define recommendations and findings to be forwarded as a contribution to the Office for Outer Space Affairs and the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG), particularly, in forging partnerships to strengthen and deliver capacity-building on satellite navigation science and related technologies.

The expected outcomes of the workshop will be recommendations and findings on discussed topics to be adopted by the workshop participants; preliminary agreement of cooperation between countries and action plan addressing identified issues/concerns.

The discussions at the workshop will also be linked to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to its targets set out for Sustainable Development Goals, such as,

• SDG 3: Good health and wellbeing - GNSS positioning enables individual patients, staff or equipment to be monitored, and response teams directed more efficiently;
• SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy - GNSS reflectometry techniques can produce scatterometry models to assist in the optimum positioning of off-shore wind farms;
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure - GNSS signals can be used for navigation and positioning of in-orbit space operations particularly from low-Earth orbit to cis-Lunar); and
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities - GNSS is widely used for urban planning in order to pinpoint structures and reference points for cadastral and urban planning purposes.

Preliminary Programme of the workshop

The workshop programme will include plenary sessions and sufficient time for discussions among participants to identify the priority areas where pilot projects should be launched and examine possible partnerships that could be established. A half-day technical tour will be arranged by the Local Organizing Committee during the workshop. As a preliminary suggestion the following sessions will be organized:

Thematic Sessions

Session 1: Current and planned GNSS and satellite-based augmentation systems

• Programme updates on GNSS and satellite-based augmentation systems in operation and in development

Session 2: GNSS and other space-based technologies: Urban resilience and Smart Cities

• ICG activities and its role in spectrum protection and interference detection and mitigation
• Enhancing urban resilience by monitoring and management urban infrastructure
• Use of GNSS and EO for urban planning and disaster risk reduction
• Integration of GNSS and space-based data for smart transportation and traffic management
• Adoption of IoT (Internet of Things) via satellite communications for scalable smart city solutions
• Optimization of energy consumption, supporting renewable energy and smart grids using GNSS and space-based data

Session 3: GNSS and other space-based technologies: Environmental Impact and Climate Change

• Utilizing EO satellites for long-term climate monitoring and tracking climate change indicators
• Monitoring deforestation, land cover and land-use change, and biodiversity using satellite imagery
• Tracking pollution levels in air and water bodies through EO data
• Detection and analysis of urban heat island and implementing urban planning and green infrastructure solutions based on satellite data insights
• Monitoring sea-level change and coastal erosion using GNSS and satellite altimetry
• Implementing coastal zone management and protection strategies with space-based data

Session 4: GNSS and other space-based technologies: Food Security

• Utilizing GNSS for precision farming to enhance crop yields and improve resource use efficiency
• Role of remote sensing and EO satellites in monitoring soil moisture, crop health, and growth pattern
• Use of space-based information for land surveying and mapping to enhance agricultural planning and productivity.
• Incorporating EO for land degradation, erosion, and desertification monitoring
• Use of GNSS and EO for soil health and fertility for sustainable land management
• Leveraging satellite data for informed policy-making and agricultural planning

Session 5: GNSS and other space-based technologies: Water Management

• EO satellites for mapping and monitoring surface and groundwater resources
• Using GNSS for precise mapping and management of water bodies and watersheds
• Satellite-based systems for early warning and monitoring of floods
• Space-based solutions for assessing the impact of drought on water resources and agriculture
• Monitoring industrial water usage and discharge through space-based technologies

Discussion Sessions

• Issues, concerns and approaches for pilot projects/initiatives, requirements of implementing, mechanisms and resources of implementing
• Possible follow-up projects and initiatives and proposals for future workshops/training courses/technical seminars