UAE’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Space (MBRSC) has joined Sentinel Asia, an international initiative for applying remote sensing and Web-GIS technologies to support disaster management in the Asia-Pacific region.

The centre joined the initiative as part of its support to disaster risk reduction, and will contribute by providing DubaiSat-2high-resolution data and is willing to effectively contribute through its long term Earth Observation program using future missions, such as KhalifaSat, which will be launched into space next year.

Yousuf Al Shaibani, director general of MBRSC, said: "Joining Sentinel Asia International Initiative is in line with the UAE's vision in providing humanitarian support in various forms, to face global disaster challenges. It also reflects the approach of giving and humanitarian support, in-line with 2017’s initiative - Year of Giving".

"Coordination and cooperation between the agencies and centres operating remote sensing satellites is an important step to help in the anticipation and management of potential crises." Al Shaibani said.

“What distinguishes remote sensing technique is its capability to overcome geology barriers and natural hazards, in addition to the ability to plan properly ahead, to have comprehensive preparedness to face of any disaster.

"The UAE has the full capacity to provide data and harness space technologies that support disaster management around the world, in order to accelerate the response to face and address any natural or man-made disaster consequences,” Al Shaibani concluded.

MBRSC launched DubaiSat-2 into space in 2013 from Yasny Launch Base in Russia, using the Russian Dnepr rocket. DubaiSat-2 captures high resolution satellite images (1 metre), where its camera features 1-metre panchromatic resolution and a four-metre multi-spectral resolution (colour images) and can store 512 images, each 12km x 12km in size. These images can be used for urban planning and mapping, monitoring environmental changes and disaster management. – TradeArabia News Service