Focusing the Future in Space Science and Technology: Experiences and Challenges of the Future University-Sudan

CARLOS M. PASCUAL, Ph.D.Professor and DirectorSPACE TECHNOLOGY CENTERFUTURE UNIVERSITY – SUDANcmpascual123@yahoo.com

UN-TUBITAK-ESA Workshop on“Space Technology Applications for Socio-Economic Benefits”

Istanbul, Turkey; 14-17 Sept 2010

Outline• Mega-trends to drive Space Science and

Technologies• Networks of Networks for Sustainability

– Role of Academia in 21st Century– Geoinformatics R&D collaborations

• Space Tech Center at FU-Sudan– Accomplishments and Future Needs

• Future Space Technology Applications• Way Forward

Mega Trends Impacts

Human and economic losses due to natural disasters continue to increase; Economic losses rose to over US$60 billion (in 2002: US$55 billion); Economic costs hazards due to global warming alone could increase to US$150 billion each year in the coming decade. Source: http://www.eohandbook.com/eohb05/ceos/part2_1.html

Mega Trends Impacts• More Than 1,200

Satellites To Be Launched Over The Next 10 Years

Source: http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/More_Than_1200_Satellites_To_Be_Launched_Over_The_Next_10_Years_999.html; 10 Sept 2010

Increasingly, data derived from Earth observation satellites is being used to contribute to the information requirements of different phases of disaster mitigation programmes, among other applications.

Mega Trends Impacts

The role of Earth observation satellites

Source: G 8 University summit lecture of Prof. Komiyama, UT President, Assoc. of Pacific Rim Universities, June 20, 2008.

Society Policy

Knowledge

• Capacity Building;

• Linkages and Partnerships;

• Exchange of faculty, scientists, and scholars;

• Collaborative research;

• etc….

Sustainable Society

The New Role of Universities

as driving engine of Movements in 21st Century

Experiences on Space Technology Applications

The combined use of RS,GIS, GPS, and Internet/Mobile

coined as geoinformatics provides an innovative tool in developing DSS, use in strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation of geo-referenced data and information in support to socio-economic benefits.

What we can see from satellite data?

http://www.eoc.nasda.go.jp/experience/rm_kiso/study_satellitedata_e.html

Brg. Magnuang, Batac, Ilocos Norte, PhilippinesOct 1994 to Dec 2002

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1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Date

NO3-

N (p

pm)

W12W15W16W20L1L2L3L4BL5L6

WHO MCL of 10 ppm

R&D collaborationsNO3-N Groundwater contamination due to intensive cropping

Temporal Vulnerable risk zones of NO3-N contamination on groundwater at 265 hectare cropped watershed during dry season.

R&D collaborations

Splash menu

Input Data Module

Graphic user interface showing splash menu and window-based modules, and structure of the DSS.

R&D collaborations

Assessment of potential Renewable Energy resources

R&D collaborations

GPS-survey of renewable energy systems

Fig. 1 Case Study: SysNet Networking in Asia (1997-2000)

GPS/GIS Mapping of Higher Educational Institutions

GPS/GIS Mapping of Educational Institutions

Capacity Building on Utilization of Geoinformatics on Web-based Early Warning Systems for Food Security and Sustainable Development in Selected African Countries

Future University-SudanProponent

Proposal endorsed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sudan and submitted to G77-PGTF, New York in April 2010 for possible funding

Space Sciences and Technologies in Education

Universities use the latest technologies to both prepare students for the 21st century as well as enhance research. It uses Space Sciences to change the way we solve problems and manage data and information.

Universities improve the basic spatial literacy of workers and researchers of tomorrow by teaching

underlying space sciences and technology applications to students.

SPACE TECHNOLOGYCENTER

Space Technology Center

The Space Technology Center was established in Computer Man College (now Future University-Sudan) in 2000 to initiate transfer and adaptation of advance technologies in the spatial information sciences and astronomy.

VisionA center of excellence in Sudan and the sub-African region for applied research, engineering and training in space sciences and ICT-based geoinformatics technologies for sustainable development.

Mission1. To conduct scientific and applied researches in the

field of space technology and allied fields of interests;

2. To provide training and consultancy services for local and international entities;

3. To provide technical support in projects and space technology infrastructure development;

4. To foster technology transfer to Sudan and others through collaborations with local and international centers; and

5. To generate resources from local and international agencies through home-grown or joint research proposals.

Training of Trainers

S P A C E T E C H N O L O G Y C E N T E RCommunity Services

Water resources detection and Assessment at Darfur Mega Lake

Land use / Urban Planning

Capacity Building and Awareness

In-House Training of Trainers

Prof. Farouk Elbaz, Dr Eman Ghoneim and Dr Abdulgadir Abuelgasim from BU-CRS conduct ed a 2-week training in GIS and RS in 2008.

3-d Cartographic Modeling project by students

S P A C E T E C H N O L O G Y C E N T E R

Community Services

Antenna Design For Weather Monitoring Using NOAA Satellite Data

NOAA Satellite Antenna

Testing

S P A C E T E C H N O L O G Y C E N T E RCommunity Services

Developments of NOAA Ground Station Pre-Amplifier

S P A C E T E C H N O L O G Y C E N T E R

External Linkages

Existing and New Programs• Existing Program

– B.S. (Honours) in Geoinformatics• New Programs• B.S. (Honours) in Remote Sensing;• B.S. (Honours) in Bioenvironmental Systems

Engineering; • B.S (Honours) in Geo-Science Engineering;• B.S. (Honours) in Seismology;• B.S. (Honours) in Aerospace Engineering; and• B.S. (Honours) in Satellite Engineering.

Coordinate and maintain linkages with other institutions

Presented a paper entitled RE-MAP: A decision support system for mapping renewable energy resources in the Philippines in Kyoto, Japan in Nov 23-27, 2007 sponsored by JAXA, Japan

Presented a paper during the Global Mapping Forum 2008 on June 5-7, 2008 at United Nations University, Tokyo, Japan sponsored by GIS Center, Japan

Coordinate and maintain linkages with other institutions

Space science and technology promotion and awareness among visitors during the National ICT Strategic Meeting held at FU-Sudan on 26 May 2010.

Coordinate and maintain linkages with other institutions

Established contacts during the UNECA Science for Africa II Conference in Addis Ababa at the FU exhibit booth on June 23-25, 2010 for future collaboration on space applications.

Coordinate and maintain linkages with other institutions

Engr. Mohamed Yousif and Ust, Fatima visited Ms. Nagat Ahmed Alhag, the head of information centre of RS and GIS, Dept. of Planning and Technical Services, Ministry of Minerals on 27 July 2010.

Ust. .Abdelkarim (Library), Engr. Mohamed (Space Technology Centre) and Mr. Osman Babikir (Student of GIS) during field work at Alsabaloka area .

Source: Department of Water and Environmental StudiesLinköpings Universitet, Linköping, Sweden, Linköping ,2007

Water quality studies in Khartoum and areas in Nile Rivers

Coordinate and maintain linkages with other institutions

Coordinate and maintain linkages with other institutions

Household groundwater water wells in Khartoum and near Nile Rivers, Sudan is threatened by contamination of human and industrial wastes and frequent occurrences of flooding in land surface areas of high health risks.

Awareness of Space Science to Young Students

Creation of Student Space Tech Club and lecture s on space technologies.

Future Space Technologies• Mining• Solar power satellite; and• Space manufacturing.

CH4 LiDAR Mapping

433 Eros is a stony asteroid in a near-Earth orbitSolar disk

Source: Prof. Widad Elmahboub, Chair of Research Center of Earth, Space and GIS Analysis (RCESG), Hampton University, VA, USA.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space technology;youtube.com

Helium 3 for power generation

CH4 in Mars

http://www.fao.org/giews/english/hotspots/map.htm

Future Space Technologies

Future Space Technologies

Source: http://www.fao.org/giews/english/spot4/eaf/2010.htm

Sudan,East Africa

Future Space Technologies

Source: http://www.eohandbook.com/eohb05/ceos/part2_1.html

Access to real or near-real time imageries and use & validation of flooding models are needed such that from NASA…

Space Tech Center at FU needs• Communication

Infrastructure (Hardware and software);

• Government and fund support;

• Capacity building of faculty and staff on new methods;

• Access and processing of data.

Way Forward • Continue capacity building, workshops, fora and

awareness on space science and technologies; • Collaborative researches on GIS, remote sensing,

GNSS and satellite communication applications (dust storm, flooding, and water quality, EWS);

• Access and sharing of resources and expertise;• Regional/national networks and international

cooperation led by UN, NASA, TUBITAK, ESA ISPRS, etc. for socio-economic development, technical support and friendship.

http://fusudan.nethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_technology