GeoTalks 2024
This GeoTalks on October 2024, hosted by the Chair of the UN Geospatial Network, featured Mr. Koshi Mishiro and Mr. Ulrich Schwarz-Schampera from the International Seabed Authority (ISA) on “The AREA2030 Initiative : Seabed Mapping for the benefit of Humankind". The session introduced the mandate and structure of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), including its data management strategy and policy, and highlighted key areas of work on seabed mineral resources and bathymetric mapping. It featured major initiatives such as —a spatial, web-based platform serving as a central repository for deep seabed activities data—alongside General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans () Map of the Seabed and the , which promote open, collaborative mapping of the world’s oceans with various partners.
This twelfth session of GeoTalks on 20 June 2024, hosted by the Chair of the UN Geospatial Network, welcomed Mr. Jan Burdziej, Geospatial specialist at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The topic of the GeoTalks was “Unlocking geospatial data for the children, our Future”.
The presentation showcased how geospatial data provide critical information on children’s needs and ways in which development and humanitarian resources and planning should be targeted for optimal results. Effective decisions are informed by appropriate data, especially in areas of work which are evolving fast including humanitarian preparedness, urbanization, changing migration and displacement patterns, and climate change. UNICEF is leveraging geospatial technologies in order to support evidence-based advocacy and decision-making for better results for children. To achieve this goal, we are geo-enabling our data, systems and processes to transform data into easily accessible, readily available and actionable geospatial information. This information helps us address key questions, such as: “how many children are affected by climate change?” or “where children have limited access to schools and limited access to health services?”
This eleventh session of GeoTalks on 30 May 2024, hosted by the Chair of the UN Geospatial Network, welcomed Mr. Souleymane Gueye, Chief of the Operational Data Systems Section at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The topic of the GeoTalks was “Geospatial information for refugees”.
The presentation showcased how current geospatial data capabilities help fulfill the objectives of the United Nations Refugee Agency by providing information and data through its platform to facilitate the coordination of refugee emergencies and to provide situation overviews of major emergencies.
This tenth session of GeoTalks on 28 March 2024, hosted by the Vice Chair of the UN Geospatial Network, welcomed Mr. Andrea Manara, Senior System Analyst in the International Telecommunication Union. The topic of the GeoTalks was “GeoAI for Good”.
The presentation slides focused on use cases demonstrating the usage of Artificial Intelligence to solve geospatial problems for advancing the SDGs and the current activities on GeoAI and Education at the AI for Good Summit.