Agency wraps up cycle of Earth Observation conferences in the Algarve
The series of events “Earth Observation for Municipalities” comes to an end on March 27th in Faro, with an event dedicated to the Algarve region.
The Algarve region is the last stop on the “Earth Observation for Municipalities” conference cycle, an initiative of the Portuguese Space Agency that has toured Portugal over the last two years. The event, scheduled for March 27th, will take place at the Penha Campus of the University of Algarve (UAlg) in Faro, with the cooperation of the Marine and Environmental Research Centre (CIMA) and the ARNET aquatic research network.
At this latest conference, there will be a special emphasis on sessions dedicated to coastal zones and the marine environment. “The aim of these events has been the general dissemination of Earth observation tools for the benefit of the territories, but we try to personalise the topics of debate for the region in which we are located. For this reason, in the Algarve, the agenda will have a greater emphasis on issues and problems related to water resources and coastal zone management, with practical application examples,” explains Carolina Sá, Earth Observation Programme Manager at the Portuguese Space Agency.
“Holding the ‘Earth Observation for Municipalities’ event at UAlg reinforces the institution’s commitment to technological innovation and sustainable development in the region,” points out Sara Raposo, Director of CIMA, which stands out for its interdisciplinary approach to applying Earth observation tools towards understanding and mitigating the impact of human activities on coastal and marine ecosystems. “This approach allows municipalities to make decisions that are more informed and sustainable in terms of managing the territory and natural resources, in line with UAlg’s mission to promote the value and sustainable development of the Algarve,” adds Sara Raposo.
The Portuguese Space Agency will also reinforce the promotion of InCubed for Municipalities, a competition launched by the Agency that is looking for innovative projects that, through Earth Observation technologies, can help modernise Portuguese cities. Applications are open until June 2nd.
In Faro, the event will also seek to stimulate cooperation between local academia, industry, and public administration to develop innovative solutions. For this reason, CoLAB +ATLANTIC will once again join the Agency in organising a networking moment to encourage the exchange of ideas and knowledge between the participants.
Looking back, Carolina Sá considers that the events of the Earth Observation for Municipalities series have had a “positive impact” on local actors in each region. “We began this journey in the Northern region at the end of 2023. Over the past year, we have noted interest from the industry, academia, and public administration in using Earth observation tools to benefit their territories. We had a good turnout at all the events, which allowed us to understand local needs”, she concludes. The Portuguese Space Agency now hopes to support the implementation of these technologies in municipalities through the competition launched following this tour.
The cycle of conferences organised by the Portuguese Space Agency has taken place in five locations so far — Guimarães (Northern Region); Pampilhosa da Serra (Centre Region); Funchal (Madeira); Angra do Heroísmo (Azores); Évora (Lisbon and the Tagus Valley and Alentejo) — and had a total of around 400 participants. Furthermore, it involved more than a dozen partner organisations, including higher education institutions, research laboratories, and municipal, inter-municipal, and local government bodies.
The event’s preliminary agenda is now available for consultation here. Registration is open until March 20th.
