Geo4SDGs: Addressing Agenda 2030
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by the United Nations in September 2015 with an aim to reach the 'furthest behind first'. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the 169 associated targets have been decided to strike a balance and integrate the three core dimensions of sustainable development namely, social, economic and environmental.
The United Nations has corroborated the significance of leveraging geospatial data for policy making, programming and project operations to realize the SDGs and its associated targets. Continuous innovations in technologies such as UAVs, sensors, satellites, big data, etc. are further enabling the use of geospatial not only towards achieving the agenda, but more crucially in measuring, monitoring and reporting the progress as well.
Geo4SDGs, first introduced in Geospatial World Forum 2018, is a platform for stakeholders to discuss the integration of geospatial data into the sustainable development agenda in a holistic manner. With the aim to bridge the gap between geospatial community, development community, policy makers, and the implementers of the Sustainable Development Goals, Geo4SDGs 2019 shall discuss pressing sustainable development issues including climate change, food security, and urbanization; and how geospatial community can contribute.
Speakers
![Megha Datta, Director - Global Development Agenda, Geospatial Media and Communications, India Opening RemarkMegha Datta, Director - Global Development Agenda, Geospatial Media and Communications, India](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/megha.png)
Megha Datta Director - Global Development Agenda
Geospatial Media and Communications
India
![Greg Scott, Inter Regional Advisor, Global Geospatial Information Management, United Nations Keynote & ModeratorGreg Scott, Inter Regional Advisor, Global Geospatial Information Management, United Nations](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Greg-Scott_trans.jpg)
Greg Scott Inter Regional Advisor
Global Geospatial Information Management
United Nations
![Kees de Zeeuw, Director, Kadaster International, The Netherlands Kees de Zeeuw, Director, Kadaster International, The Netherlands](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Kees-de-Zeeuw.jpg)
Kadaster International
The Netherlands
![Anne Hale Miglarese, Founder & CEO, Radiant Earth Foundation, USA Anne Hale Miglarese, Founder & CEO, Radiant Earth Foundation, USA](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/anne-hale-miglarese.jpg)
Radiant Earth Foundation
USA
![Prof. Chen Jun, Chief Scientist, National Geomatics Centre, China Prof. Chen Jun, Chief Scientist, National Geomatics Centre, China](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Chen-Jun-copy.jpg)
National Geomatics Centre
China
![Dr. Derek Clarke, Chief Director, National Geospatial Information, Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, South Africa ModeratorDr. Derek Clarke, Chief Director, National Geospatial Information, Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, South Africa](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Derek-Clarke.png)
Dr. Derek Clarke Chief Director
National Geospatial Information, Department of Rural Development and Land Reform
South Africa
![Sam Compton, Operations Director, GODAN, United Kingdom Sam Compton, Operations Director, GODAN, United Kingdom](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Samuel-Compton_1.jpg)
GODAN
United Kingdom
![Ivan Deloatch, Executive Director, Federal Geographic Data Committee, USA Ivan Deloatch, Executive Director, Federal Geographic Data Committee, USA](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Ivan-DeLoatch.jpg)
Federal Geographic Data Committee
USA
![Noud Hooyman, Head Policy, Geo-information, Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, The Netherlands Noud Hooyman, Head Policy, Geo-information, Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, The Netherlands](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Noud-Hooyman.jpg)
Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations
The Netherlands
![Air Commodore Ahmed Saif Al-Badi, Head, National Survey Authority, Oman Air Commodore Ahmed Saif Al-Badi, Head, National Survey Authority, Oman](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Air-Commodore-Ahmed-Bin-Saif-Al-Badi--ff-copy.jpg)
National Survey Authority
Oman
![Carolyn Savoldelli, Platform Manager, Resource Watch, World Resources Institute (WRI), USA Carolyn Savoldelli, Platform Manager, Resource Watch, World Resources Institute (WRI), USA](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/CarolynSavoldelli.jpg)
World Resources Institute (WRI)
USA
![Janusz Dygaszewicz, President, European Forum for Geography and Statistics, Poland Janusz Dygaszewicz, President, European Forum for Geography and Statistics, Poland](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Janusz-Dygaszewicz.jpg)
European Forum for Geography and Statistics
Poland
![Jake Garcia, Vice President for Data and Technology Strategy, Foundation Center, USA Jake Garcia, Vice President for Data and Technology Strategy, Foundation Center, USA](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Jake-Garcia-copy.jpg)
Foundation Center
USA
![Kent Marten, Principal Product Manager, Maps and Spatial Analysis, Tableau Software, USA Kent Marten, Principal Product Manager, Maps and Spatial Analysis, Tableau Software, USA](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Kent_Marten.jpg)
Tableau Software
USA
![Dr Adel Bolbol Fernandez, Business Development Manager | Advanced Analytics, Middle East & Africa, Esri Middle East & Africa, UAE Dr Adel Bolbol Fernandez, Business Development Manager | Advanced Analytics, Middle East & Africa, Esri Middle East & Africa, UAE](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/AdelBF_Africa_Small.jpg)
Esri Middle East & Africa
UAE
![Asha Subramanian, Head, Centre for Open Data Research, Public Affairs Centre, India Asha Subramanian, Head, Centre for Open Data Research, Public Affairs Centre, India](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Asha-Subramaniam.jpg)
Public Affairs Centre
India
![Barbara Ryan, Policy Advisor, World Geospatial Industry Council, USA ModeratorBarbara Ryan, Policy Advisor, World Geospatial Industry Council, USA](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Barbara-Ryan.jpg)
Barbara Ryan Policy Advisor
World Geospatial Industry Council
USA
![Stephen Coulson, Head of Sustainable Initiatives Office, European Space Agency, Italy Stephen Coulson, Head of Sustainable Initiatives Office, European Space Agency, Italy](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Stephen_Coulson-copy.jpg)
European Space Agency
Italy
![Yoshiaki Kinoshita, Director, Paris Office, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), France Yoshiaki Kinoshita, Director, Paris Office, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), France](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/kinoshita.jpg)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
France
![Krystal Wilson, Director of Space Applications Programs, Secure World Foundation, USA Krystal Wilson, Director of Space Applications Programs, Secure World Foundation, USA](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Krystal-Wilson.jpg)
Secure World Foundation
USA
![Mark Noort, Director, HCP International, The Netherlands Mark Noort, Director, HCP International, The Netherlands](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Mark-Noort.jpg)
HCP International
The Netherlands
![Doug Specht, Senior Lecturer, University of Westminster, United Kingdom Doug Specht, Senior Lecturer, University of Westminster, United Kingdom](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Doug-Specht.jpg)
University of Westminster
United Kingdom
![Frank Pichel, Chief Programs Officer, Cadasta Foundation, USA Frank Pichel, Chief Programs Officer, Cadasta Foundation, USA](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/frank-pichel.jpg)
Cadasta Foundation
USA
![Peter Head, Founder and Chair, Resilience Brokers, United Kingdom Peter Head, Founder and Chair, Resilience Brokers, United Kingdom](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Peter-Head-copy.jpg)
Resilience Brokers
United Kingdom
![Andrew Wickless, Marketing Director, Land Administration, Trimble, USA Andrew Wickless, Marketing Director, Land Administration, Trimble, USA](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Andrew-Wickless.jpg)
Trimble
USA
![Mirjam Schindler, Geospatial Research Institute, University of Canterbury, New Zealand Mirjam Schindler, Geospatial Research Institute, University of Canterbury, New Zealand](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Mirjam_Schindler.jpg)
University of Canterbury
New Zealand
![Pankaj Mishra, Deputy Director, Survey of India Pankaj Mishra, Deputy Director, Survey of India](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Pankaj-Mishra.jpg)
Survey of India
![Awadhesh Kumar Mishra, Deputy Director General - Field Operations Division (FOD), National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation, Government of India Awadhesh Kumar Mishra, Deputy Director General - Field Operations Division (FOD), National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation, Government of India](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/ak-mishra.jpg)
National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)
Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation
Government of India
![Aaron Addison, Founder, Kullu Consulting, USA ModeratorAaron Addison, Founder, Kullu Consulting, USA](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/aaron.jpg)
![Leida Rijnhout, Member Steering Group, SDG Watch Europe, Belgium Leida Rijnhout, Member Steering Group, SDG Watch Europe, Belgium](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Leida-Rijnhout.jpg)
SDG Watch Europe
Belgium
![Nedal Al Hanbali, GIS Manager, Spatial Data, Properties Sector, Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities, UAE Nedal Al Hanbali, GIS Manager, Spatial Data, Properties Sector, Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities, UAE](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Nedal_Al-Hanbali.jpg)
Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities
UAE
![Zach Ferdana, Geospatial Information Officer, The Nature Conservancy, USA Zach Ferdana, Geospatial Information Officer, The Nature Conservancy, USA](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Zach-Ferdana-copy.jpg)
The Nature Conservancy
USA
![Gopika Suresh, Research Scientist, Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy, Germany Gopika Suresh, Research Scientist, Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy, Germany](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Gopika-Suresh.jpg)
Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy
Germany
![Prof Dr Dieter Fritsch, Research Professor and Professor Emeritus, University of Stuttgart, Germany ModeratorProf Dr Dieter Fritsch, Research Professor and Professor Emeritus, University of Stuttgart, Germany](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Dieter-Fritsch.jpg)
Prof Dr Dieter Fritsch Research Professor and Professor Emeritus
University of Stuttgart
Germany
![Dr Manosi Lahiri, Founder & CEO, ML Infomap, India Dr Manosi Lahiri, Founder & CEO, ML Infomap, India](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Dr.jpg)
ML Infomap
India
![Remco Dost, Senior Project Manager, eLEAF, The Netherlands Remco Dost, Senior Project Manager, eLEAF, The Netherlands](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/remco-dost.jpg)
eLEAF
The Netherlands
![Yelena Ogneva-Himmelberger, Associate Professor, Clark University, USA Yelena Ogneva-Himmelberger, Associate Professor, Clark University, USA](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Yelena-Ogneva-Himmelberger.jpg)
Clark University
USA
![Melanie Eckle, Secretary of the Board, Humanitarian OpenStreetMap, Research Associate, Heidelberg Institute for Geoinformation Technology, Germany Melanie Eckle, Secretary of the Board, Humanitarian OpenStreetMap, Research Associate, Heidelberg Institute for Geoinformation Technology, Germany](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Melanie-Eckle-copy.jpg)
Humanitarian OpenStreetMap
Research Associate, Heidelberg Institute for Geoinformation Technology
Germany
![Tessa Speijer, Programme Development & Support, ZOA, The Netherlands Tessa Speijer, Programme Development & Support, ZOA, The Netherlands](/speaker/SpeakersImages2019/Tessa-Speijer.jpg)
ZOA
The Netherlands
SESSION THEMES
The SDGs, made up of 17 separate goals, targets a wide-range of global issues, from extreme poverty to climate change. Location and geography are significant to most of the issues, making geospatial data as equally important to SDGs as the demographic and statistical data. Understanding SDGs from spatial point of view is essential for governments in order to identify where the citizens are and where the root of the problem lies. Accordingly the right development strategies can be formulated. The session will feature 4 panels on the following topics:
• Geospatial Empowering the People
One key aspect of the SDG is to end poverty and hunger, in all their forms and dimensions, and to ensure that all human beings can fulfil their potential in dignity and equality and in a healthy environment. Geospatial data, paired with artificial intelligence and crowdsourcing, becomes a powerful tool to monitor and improve citizen wellbeing. The panel will discuss how geospatial technology plays a role in eradicating poverty, and in improving food security, healthcare, education quality and gender equality for the overall wellbeing of the people.
• Geospatial Insights for a Changing Planet
Another key aspect of the SDG is to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change. The panel will discuss geospatial contribution in evaluating impacts, monitor progress and improve accountability in natural resources management, including water, ocean, and biodiversity, as well as its role in climate adaptation.
• Geospatial for Economic Growth & Social Prosperity
The SDGs are determined to ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives and that economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature. Key economic areas such as energy, infrastructure, and cities rely on technology to increase efficiencies. Panel will discuss geospatial data and the critical role it plays in creating the prosperity and wellbeing of future generations.
• Policy-Data Integration for Bridging Data Gap
Geospatial technologies and services, strengthening data production and the use of better data in policymaking and monitoring, are becoming increasingly recognized as fundamental means for global development. Such data and services have the real potential of forming a new and emerging 'data ecosystem' for development with integrated information systems that are comprehensive and coordinated. With the enabling global mechanism of the 2030 Agenda, the challenge is how to most effectively transfer the available technology, data richness, and connectivity to the technology and data poor. Panel will discuss the needs for data to be more open, and platforms to be more usable and integrated, so they can reach even the poorest of the poor in the least developed countries.
When pursuing ambitious long-term targets like the SDGs, measuring progress at frequent intervals and documenting the successes and shortfalls is essential. Developing the adequate monitoring and reporting system is a challenge for many countries. Geospatial technologies offer attractive solutions in monitoring key areas in SDG such as urban development, agriculture and rural development, water resources management, climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, and more. Success stories and exemplary innovation of Geo4SDGs from various national, regional and global initiatives will be demonstrated.
A data ecosystem is crucial to the success of sustainable development goals. Integrating national statistical data along with geospatial data, earth observation data and citizen generated data and Big Data, will ensure more real-time data is available to address the SDGs. This will enable more agile, efficient and evidence-based decision-making and can better measure the SDG progress in a way that is both inclusive and fair. The session will hold 2 panels on the following topics:
• NewSpace and Data Revolution: Impact on SDGs
Geospatial marketplace is evolving rapidly due to data revolution and continuous innovations in cloud computing, machine learning and drone technology. On top of this, a number of companies and private ventures today are endeavoring the NewSpace movement, to develop faster, better, and cheaper access to space, including all its upstream and downstream technologies. The movement is largely driven by commercial values. How can SDG implementers leverage on this data revolution and NewSpace movement? Panel of experts will deliberate.
• Big Data and Analytics for Sustainable Development
Geospatial and earth observation data, if analyzed and modelled properly, can be visualized as a dynamic informative map. When layered with more attributions and information, complex issues can be understood within seconds and problem areas can be identified instantly. Insights derived from the integration of geospatial and non-geospatial data can help achieve the SDGs and help nations formulate the most effective strategic plans for action on national issues. Policy-makers, data providers and technology companies will discuss current adoption of big data and analytics in sustainable development.
TARGET AUDIENCE
- Agriculture & Food Security Organizations
- City & Urban Planning Authorities
- Climate & Meteorological Organizations
- Consultants
- Developmental Agencies
- Disaster Management Agencies
- Environment & Conservation Organizations
- Funding Agencies
- Geospatial Technology Companies
- Information Technology Companies
- Land & Natural Resources Organizations
- Multilateral Agencies
- National Geospatial Agencies
- National Statistical Agencies
- Non-governmental Organizations
- Oceanography & Coastal Zone Management Agencies
- Policy Makers
- Public & Private Geospatial Data Providers
- Research Institutions
- Water & Energy Organizations