IN PHOTOS: EU Copernicus Programme Symposium

28 Jan 2020 1:47 PM

27 January 2020, Quezon City - The DOST- Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI) and the European Union Delegation of Copernicus Programme organized the Copernicus Symposium last 27 January 2020 to highlight examples of best practices of earth observation (EO) data utilization in the Philippines along with plans for future utilization.

The Copernicus programme is a cornerstone of the European Union’s efforts to monitor the Earth and her many ecosystems, whilst ensuring that her citizens are prepared and protected in the face of crises and natural or man-made disasters. Building on the foundations of deeply-rooted scientific knowledge and on decades of EU investment in research and technological development, the Copernicus programme is exemplary of European strategic cooperation in space research and industrial development.

The seminar is organized to primarily introduce the Copernicus EU Project to different stakeholders in the space sector and geo-information users of the Philippines. It was attended by researchers and representatives of DOST-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA), DOST-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS), DENR-National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (DENR-NAMRIA), the Department of Geodetic Engineering at University of the Philippines Diliman, and UP Resilience Institute.

Copernicus Philippines Team Leader Dr. Peter Zeil is presented the Copernicus Program and the Copernicus Project in the Philippines. He shared that the objective is to maximize the investment of EU in all policies while serving international partners. He also promoted the use of Copernicus and its access to international market to boost EU data and industry abroad.

Engr. Roel de la Cruz of the DATOS Project also presented the Copernicus/Sentinel Data Applications of DOST-ASTI. He talked about the on-going and planned [mapping] projects of the team as well as the current and future collaborations with various government agencies and state universities in the country.

After the presentations, representatives from the participating organizations shared their respective efforts and initiatives involving Copernicus data. Additional discussions include expanding collaboration within local stakeholders, educational opportunity offered by the European Union, and future data sharing activities between the organizations.

The symposium also provided inputs to the program of the upcoming Copernicus conference in February in terms of highlighting examples of best practices of earth observation data utilization in the Philippines along with plans for future utilization.