Workshop on Integrated Risk Assessment Methods

Background and objectives

There is indisputable evidence to strong linkages between development, environment and disasters. Sustainable development (SD) can reduce pressure on the environment and result in fewer disasters and eventual impact. In turn, a well prepared disaster risk reduction (DRR) approach and/or environmental management can reduce the impacts of disasters on development and can make the development more sustainable. With climate change emerging as an important issue undermining development and worsening disaster risks, finding synergies between Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and appropriate DRR measures have been called upon.

Keeping pace with the urgency for progress on the fronts of SD, CCA and DRR, the year 2015 was a landmark year in the history of development, disaster and environment fields, where three major international frameworks were formed. The year started with adopting a new DRR framework in March 2015 in Sendai, Japan, called the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) with a time frame of 2015 to 2030. Then, there was a new set of development goals called Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) with the same time frame of 2015 to 2030, which was adopted in the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2015. Finally, the world leaders agreed on a new climate change agreement called Paris Agreement under the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), which needs to be ratified between 22nd of April 2016 to 21st April 2017.

Science and Technology for disaster risk reduction have always been there in some form in different countries. Through the advancement of scientific research, disaster risk reduction has benefitted, especially in terms of early warning systems, to identify risk at both spatial and temporal scale, strengthening buildings and infrastructure for different types of hazards etc. There is a need for proper synergy of new innovations in terms of science and technology, knowledge development and business opportunity towards sustainable development and disaster risk reduction.

The Belt and Road initiative will involve more than 60 countries, representing more than one third of the world economy and more than half of the world's population. It is an initiative that creates vast opportunities for the public and private sectors to contribute to infrastructure development and trade and economic cooperation projects and to build “people to people” relationships through cultural and scientific exchanges and partnerships. The Digital Belt and Road Initiative (DBAR) is an international research program for promoting cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road route to advocate and demonstrate the smart use and application of “Big Earth Data” in support of the sustainable development of people and economies at local, national and regional levels. DBAR is initiated by the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), given the fullest support by over 20 countries along the Belt and Road. “Disaster management” is one of the key pillars of sustainable development in the DBAR, along with coastal zone management, agriculture and food security, environmental changes, urban development and heritage conservation.

In response to the needs of developing countries in disaster risk reduction, DBAR, jointly with Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR), the International Programme Office (IPO), the IRDR China National Committee (IRDR CHINA), the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI) and the CAS-TWAS Centre of Excellence on Space Technology for Disaster Mitigation (SDIM), conducted an international research program (DBAR-Disaster) to strengthen science capacities for sustainable development and disaster risk reduction under the Digital Belt and Road Initiative.

In 2017, we will organize the International Training Workshop on Integrated Risk Assessment Methods Using Spatial and Social Vulnerability Data for Disaster Risk Reduction. With the objective of strengthening integrated spatial and social vulnerability data to enable informed decision-making in different aspects of disaster risk reduction, the workshop will provide a scientific and practical guide on DRR to the participants from developing countries along the Belt and Road.

Co-organizers

• “Digital Belt and Road” Initiative (DBAR)
• Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) International Programme Office (IPO)
• IRDR China National Committee (IRDR CHINA)
• Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI)
• CAS-TWAS Centre of Excellence on Space Technology for Disaster Mitigation (SDIM)
• The Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia (AASSA)

This workshop is also supported by: Digital Silk Road Alliance of the International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE), International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage (HIST) under the auspices of UNESCO, and Hainan Key Laboratory of Earth Observation.

Participants

• Young academics and researchers in the field of disaster risk reduction
• Young practitioners from national/local governments and civil society organizations. As the number is limited to 20 people, only those who are qualified can be selected as formal participants. Female applicants will be given priority.

Application 

1. Applicants should fill in the attached application forms and submit them to the SDIM Secretariat at sdim@radi.ac.cn or by fax +86-10-8217-8959. The application deadline is 1st October, 2017.
2. The selection group will routinely examine the applications and notify applicants of decisions. Invitations will be sent to the selected applicants for visa formalities at the same time.

Financial assistance

Those applicants who have been selected will be provided with round-trip international airfare between their home countries and Sanya (economy class) and local expenses such as board and lodging, field tour, local transportation, etc. during the workshop.

Language

The language of the workshop is English. Understanding or speaking of some Chinese will be an advantage.

Workshop awards

• All workshop participants will receive a one-year membership to the International Society for Digital Earth if an application to join the society is made by 30th November 2017.
• We will track the performance of participants and ensure that the training is accomplishing its goals. The best workshop participants will have an opportunity to be provided travel grants for attending or presenting research at future seminars or conferences to be organized by DBAR.

Note

As is customary, all participants are advised to take adequate insurance towards health, medical, accident or any other health related incidences/cases during their stay in China. We shall not be responsible for such expenses.

For more information please contact:

Ms. Ni Qingrong

E-Mail: sdim@radi.ac.cn

Tel. +86-10-82178104

Fax: +86-10-82178959

Address: No. 9 Dengzhuang South Road, Haidian District, Beijing 10094, China