United Nations/UNESCO/Saudi Arabia: International Conference on the Use of Space Technology

The Conference will discuss how space technology can contribute in better management of water resources, including combating desertification, ensuring access to safe drinking water and managing water-related emergencies in developing countries, with the following primary objectives:

• To increase awareness among decision makers and research and academic community of space technology applications for improving water resource management in developing countries;
• To promote educational and public awareness initiatives in the are of water resources management;
• To examine low-cost space-related and traditional technologies and information resources available for addressing water-related challenges in developing countries;
• To strengthen international and regional cooperation in the subjects.

The Conference will also feature a special session on “Space Technology for Water Management:
Linking Traditional and Ancient Methods to Modern Needs” that will consider applications of
remote sensing to detecting archaeological/ancient water systems which can be inspired for modern
day use to satisfy needs for water, especially in developing countries. Those ancient water systems
existed in many sites around the world, and they were designed to efficiently deliver large quantities
of subterranean water to the surface and to allow long distance transportation of water in hot and dry
climate conditions without considerable losses for agricultural irrigation, drinking, etc.

Deadline to send application forms is 21 January 2008.