From klance_remote at yahoo.com Wed Oct 1 08:53:12 2008 From: klance_remote at yahoo.com (Kate Lance) Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2008 05:53:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SDI-Africa] Russians agree to launch South African Sumbandila satellite, but uncertainty remains Message-ID: <681118.46064.qm@web53605.mail.re2.yahoo.com> http://johnhelmer.net/?p=504 Russians agree to launch South African Sumbandila satellite, but uncertainty remains Russia?s space agency Roskosmos has agreed to launch? at the Baikonour cosmodrome the South African Sumbandila satellite with multi-spectral imager. The timing is likely to be between December 25 of this year and March 25, 2009. In September 2008, Roskosmos sources?confirmed earlier statements by Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma that an earlier controversy over launch agreements between the two governments for rocketing both a civilian and a military satellite into space had been resolved. One mystery remains, however. According to sources in Moscow, in the negotiations to resume the Sumbandila launch, the SA government agreed to permit the establishment of a Russian telemetry receiving and rocket tracking station on SA territory. However, the sources now say there is no agreement on this station, and it is not clear why. See also: SA satellite finally ready for blast off, http://mybroadband.co.za/news/General/5335.html SumbandilaSat, http://www.sunspace.co.za/programmes/ZA002.htm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.gsdi.org/pipermail/sdi-africa/attachments/20081001/0cf06392/attachment.htm From klance_remote at yahoo.com Fri Oct 3 07:03:19 2008 From: klance_remote at yahoo.com (Kate Lance) Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 04:03:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SDI-Africa] DoD sets end date for codeless/semi-codeless GPS access support Message-ID: <362419.94619.qm@web53610.mail.re2.yahoo.com> DoD sets end date for codeless/semi-codeless GPS access support [Source: POB eNews - October 1, 2008 - Editor's Note] On Sept. 23, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) published notice that it will discontinue support of codeless/semi-codeless access to GPS on Dec. 31, 2020. "This is the first action, in the history of GPS, which will render a massive amount of GPS equipment obsolete," said Eric Gakstatter in GPS World magazine on June 5, 2008. What does that mean to land surveyors? According to Gakstatter, a GPS consultant, it's land surveyors and those in the engineering, construction, deformation-monitoring and high-precision GIS industries that are going to be affected the most. "In real terms, this means that any dual frequency receiver not designed to use L2C will essentially become a paperweight after December 31, 2020," he said, noting that this includes most dual-frequency receivers designed from the 1980s to the early 2000s. The end date, which was based on projected budgets and current launch schedules, is dependent upon the availability of at least 24 GPS satellites broadcasting the second and third coded civil GPS signals. The DoD will reassess the transition date if significant GPS program delays arise, the Federal Register notice states, http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-22197.htm. The DoD wants-and expects-users to transition to new equipment over the next 12 years. If you don't, there is no guarantee that GPS equipment using codeless/semi-codeless techniques will work. "After the planned transition date, the characteristics of the L1 P(Y) and L2 P(Y) signals transmitted by any or all GPS satellites broadcasting two or more civil-coded signals may change without further notice and may preclude the use of P(Y) coded signals for high accuracy applications," the notice states. Regardless of whether it makes sense from a technology standpoint, this transition is going to hurt financially. According to Gakstatter, thousands of small- to medium-sized business owners depend on codeless/semi-codeless dual frequency GPS technology. "It's hard to swallow that my $40,000 system has a date with the trash bin," Gakstatter said. You can?read Gakstatter's full article, "Is Dual-Frequency GPS - As We Know It - Becoming Obsolete?" http://sc.gpsworld.com/gpssc/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/521868 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.gsdi.org/pipermail/sdi-africa/attachments/20081003/827be04e/attachment.htm From klance_remote at yahoo.com Mon Oct 6 08:16:56 2008 From: klance_remote at yahoo.com (Kate Lance) Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2008 05:16:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SDI-Africa] Conference on Climate change in the Maghreb: thresholds and limits to adaptation Message-ID: <206017.13142.qm@web53607.mail.re2.yahoo.com> http://www.ucam.ac.ma/ccam/ccamaccueil.html Conference on Climate change in the Maghreb: thresholds and limits to adaptation? 25-26 November 2008 Marrakech, Morocco? Abstract deadline: 10 October 2008. Workshop Themes: Theme 1: Understanding ecosystem thresholds in climate change in the Maghreb Theme 2: Adaptation Catalyst Metrics; indicators for measuring the effectiveness of adaptation Theme 3: What are the institutional changes required to address climate change? Theme 4: Free thematic areas ? The CCAM Workshop will provide travel assistance to a limited number of workshop participants who are in need for financial assistance to attend the workshop. These partial awards may cover some (but not all) of the following items: travel to Marrakech, hotel, and per diem. The applicants are expected to be able to finance their own expenses and or receive support from another organization to cover at least one element of the mentioned expenses. Funding available for travel assistance is limited and will be given on need base and will require acceptance of an abstract and active involvement in the workshop activities. Priority will be given to: Researcher scientists, students, advocates, educators, regulators, and practitioners from the Maghreb countries; Participants with accepted workshop abstracts.? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.gsdi.org/pipermail/sdi-africa/attachments/20081006/ddca5fbe/attachment.htm From klance_remote at yahoo.com Tue Oct 7 06:58:56 2008 From: klance_remote at yahoo.com (Kate Lance) Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2008 03:58:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SDI-Africa] position with Nile Basin Initiative, Kinshasa, DRC Message-ID: <805848.94869.qm@web53612.mail.re2.yahoo.com> http://www.nilebasin.org/index.php?option=com_jobline&Itemid=64&task=view&id=32 Confidence Building and Stakeholders Involvement CBSI Project National Coordinator, Kinshasa, DRC? Deadline for applications: 14 October 2008 The Nile Basin Initiative represents an effort by the countries sharing the Nile Basin waters (DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda, and Eritrea) to implement a shared vision of achieving socioeconomic development through the equitable utilization of and benefit from the common Nile Basin water resources. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.gsdi.org/pipermail/sdi-africa/attachments/20081007/7f6ae34d/attachment.htm From klance_remote at yahoo.com Tue Oct 7 06:59:56 2008 From: klance_remote at yahoo.com (Kate Lance) Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2008 03:59:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SDI-Africa] consultancies with Nile Basin Initiatives - Applied Training Project Message-ID: <233874.22372.qm@web53601.mail.re2.yahoo.com> http://atp.nilebasin.org/ The Applied Training Project of the Nile Basin Initiative is advertising for a consultancy for the development of teaching materials for short courses. Terms of Reference, http://atp.nilebasin.org/images/stories/File/TOR__dev_%20teaching_matetial_short_courses08.pdf? Short Courses List and Delivery Topics, http://atp.nilebasin.org/images/stories/File/Short_courses_list08.pdf? Interested training institutions that are based in the basin or consortia are invited to submit their expression of interest technical and a sealed financial proposal for the consultancy for development of teaching materials for Msc in IWRM Curriculum to the address below by 24 October, 2008. Address: Regional Project Manager, Applied Training Project, Nile Basin Initiative, C/O RCTWS 1st Street, 4th Industrial Zone, Zip Code 12566, 6th October City, PO Box 58, Cairo, Egypt Email: ATP at nilebasin.org http://atp.nilebasin.org/ The Applied Training Project of the Nile Basin Initiative has announced a consultancy for development of teaching materials for Msc in IWRM Curriculum. Terms of Reference, http://atp.nilebasin.org/images/stories/File/TOR_development_teaching_matrial.pdf? Msc Curriculum, http://atp.nilebasin.org/images/stories/File/ATP_MSC%20Curricula%282%29.pdf? Interested training institutions that are based in the basin or consortia are invited to submit their expression of interest technical and a sealed financial proposal for the consultancy for development of teaching materials for Msc in IWRM Curriculum to the address below by 24 October, 2008. Address: Regional Project Manager, Applied Training Project, Nile Basin Initiative, C/O RCTWS 1st Street, 4th Industrial Zone, Zip Code 12566, 6th October City, PO Box 58, Cairo, Egypt Email: ATP at nilebasin.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.gsdi.org/pipermail/sdi-africa/attachments/20081007/cff886b6/attachment.htm From klance_remote at yahoo.com Tue Oct 7 07:00:28 2008 From: klance_remote at yahoo.com (Kate Lance) Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2008 04:00:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SDI-Africa] consultancies with Nile Basin Initiative - Water Resources Planning and Management Project Message-ID: <283037.56351.qm@web53611.mail.re2.yahoo.com> http://wrpmp.nilebasin.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=72&Itemid=55 Project: Nile Basin Initiative - Water Resources Planning and Management Project Services:? Individual consultant to provide technical advisory support to the WRPM project in the development of the Nile Basin DSS. Major emphasis in this assignment shall be on the development of the complex software system that makes up the NB DSS. World Bank Grant #: NBTF 053906 NB? Project ID No:? PO75946? Date of Posting: 02 October 2008 Submission Date: On or before 20 October 2008,16.00 hours (Addis Ababa time) http://wrpmp.nilebasin.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=55 Individual consultant to provide technical advise on Large River Basin Modeling of the NB-DSS? Project: Nile Basin Initiative - Water Resources Planning and Management Project Services:? Individual consultant to provide technical expertise and support for the Nile Basin DSS with respect to the design and development of Large River Basin Modeling component. World Bank Grant #: NBTF 053906 NB? Project ID No:? PO75946? Date of Posting: 02 October 2008? Submission Date: On or before 20 October 2008,16.00 hours (Addis Ababa time) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.gsdi.org/pipermail/sdi-africa/attachments/20081007/1137e49a/attachment.htm From klance_remote at yahoo.com Tue Oct 7 08:39:51 2008 From: klance_remote at yahoo.com (Kate Lance) Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2008 05:39:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SDI-Africa] job: GIS Specialist, Kinshasa, DRC (deadline 9 October) Message-ID: <912767.62080.qm@web53605.mail.re2.yahoo.com> http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-7JTNUU?OpenDocument GIS Specialist, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo UNDP-DRC's Fight against Poverty unit?(Lutte Contre la Pauvret? -?LCP) is looking to hire?a GIS Specialist. S/he will ensure, with a GIS technician, the coordination of capture, formatting, analysis and presentation of all the geographical data managed by UNDP in DRC. As UNDP is a primary?institution of development in DRC, it has to lead the identification of area to focus on and draw the guidelines for developing strategies. However, lack of accurate geographic data in DRC and absence of information over remote areas prevent from having global vision necessary for local planning. In that context, it is necessary to collect raw data, to structure and georeference them, so as to develop planning tools adapted to various development initiatives. Fluency in French (written and spoken) is a must as well as in English. Contact: recrutement.rdc at undp.org Deadline: October 9, 2008 The maintenance of a referential geographical data base is an essential prerequisite for this undertaking. With a lack of operational State structures with the ability to collect and manage this information, various actors involved in one way or another in the production of geographical data in DRC have come together, under the initiative of the UNJLC (UN Joint Logistic Centre) and of OCHA (Office for the coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), so as to constitute a uniform geographical data base. For three years now, work groups have been formed which have allowed exchanges and harmonisation between existing databases. A Shared Geographical Referential (RGC) has thus been instituted, allowing each user to dispose of compatible and comparable information, but without guaranteeing the absolute trustworthiness of the information, its exhaustiveness or its accuracy. Updating and improvement of information remains the main issue. The coordination of the activities of the RGC work group, which meets monthly, has now been entrusted to UNDP. This coordinating activity is essential to the survival of the RGC, itself necessary in relation to any GIS and cartographic production in DRC. Furthermore, the systematic localization of development projects in DRC would enhance the ability to track and to support them. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.gsdi.org/pipermail/sdi-africa/attachments/20081007/7bb2c8f8/attachment.htm From klance_remote at yahoo.com Fri Oct 10 10:43:37 2008 From: klance_remote at yahoo.com (Kate Lance) Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:43:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SDI-Africa] Ban on commercial use of GPS in Egypt has consumers frustrated Message-ID: <512859.92035.qm@web53608.mail.re2.yahoo.com> http://www.dailystaregypt.com/printerfriendly.aspx?ArticleID=16972 Ban on commercial use of GPS in Egypt has consumers frustrated Technology lovers and modern car owners in Egypt consider themselves unlucky because of a government ban on the usage of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. Telecoms Law 10/2003 outlaws the import of GPS-equipped mobile phones, and retailers found selling them could lead to the confiscation of their entire stock. The same applies to any kind of commercial use of GPS technology, which includes cars equipped with GPS devices. Mobile phones like the Nokia N95, N82 as well as iPhones and some 3G phones are banned in Egypt, leaving the market deprived of the latest technology and features that are fast becoming standard in the new generation of mobile phones. GPS helps users navigate to their destination inside cities and in remote areas. It also functions as a guide for places of interest as well as hospitals, police departments and businesses. Source: GIS Development; Daily News Egypt, 9 October? 2008 See also: http://www.amcham.org.eg/publications/businessmonthly/June%2008/indepth(mobilehandsetmakersurgeendtogpsban).asp Mobile handset makers urge to end GPS ban (June 2008) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.gsdi.org/pipermail/sdi-africa/attachments/20081010/860ca671/attachment.htm From klance_remote at yahoo.com Tue Oct 14 07:58:40 2008 From: klance_remote at yahoo.com (Kate Lance) Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2008 04:58:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SDI-Africa] =?iso-8859-1?q?3=E8me_Forum_de_Previsions_Climatique?= =?iso-8859-1?q?s_Saisonnieres_en_Afrique_Centrale?= Message-ID: <383587.29305.qm@web53608.mail.re2.yahoo.com> http://www.acmad.ne/fr/climat/annonce_PRESAC-03_fr.doc 3?me Forum de Previsions Climatiques Saisonnieres en Afrique Centrale 24 Octobre 2008 Bangui,?R?publique de Centrafrique Th?me: Pr?visions Climatiques Saisonni?res, Gestion des Ressources en Eau, Agro Foresterie, Sant? Le Centre Africain pour les Applications de la M?t?orologie au D?veloppement (ACMAD, http://www.acmad.ne/?), en collaboration avec la Direction de la M?t?orologie Nationale de la R?publique de Centrafrique, avec le soutien de l?Organisation M?t?orologique Mondiale (OMM), du programme ACCA d?adaptation aux changements climatiques du CRDI et la participation de ses partenaires en Pr?vision Saisonni?re, organise le 3?me Forum de Previsions Climatiques Saisonnieres en Afrique Centrale (PRESAC-03), sur le th?me : ? Pr?visions Climatiques Saisonni?res, Gestion des Ressources en Eau, Agro Foresterie, Sant? ? ? BANGUI, R?publique de Centrafrique, le 24 Octobre 2008. Le PRESAC-03 est programm? pour pr?parer les pr?visions saisonni?res de pr?cipitations pour la saison pluvieuse 2008 en Afrique Centrale et ?valuer leurs impacts sur les activit?s socio-?conomiques de la r?gion. Cet atelier? 2008 sera constitu? de trois composantes principales, sous forme de pr?sentations d?un panel d?experts et de discussions : 1.?Pr?sentation des pr?visions saisonni?res de pr?cipitations pour la p?riode Octobre-Novembre-D?cembre 2008 par les pays participants et les centres internationaux et pr?sentation de la pr?vision climatique saisonni?re consensuelle pour la r?gion. 2.?Discussions sur l?utilisation et les impacts de la pr?vision climatique saisonni?re par des usagers sp?cifiques.???? 3.?Strat?gie pour am?liorer les applications et la diffusion des produits de pr?vision climatique jusqu?aux usagers finaux ? Communications sp?cifiques des usagers, de la communaut? du d?veloppement, de la recherche et des media. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.gsdi.org/pipermail/sdi-africa/attachments/20081014/d77d1e60/attachment.htm From klance_remote at yahoo.com Wed Oct 15 07:26:15 2008 From: klance_remote at yahoo.com (Kate Lance) Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:26:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SDI-Africa] AARSE Conference program Message-ID: <436307.46688.qm@web53608.mail.re2.yahoo.com> http://www.aarse2008.org/? 7th International Conference of the African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment (AARSE)-2008 Tentative Conference Programme http://www.aarse2008.org/documents/programme_book.pdf Special Sessions: Disaster Management & Early Warning System (Within the framework of the University Network for Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa -UNEDRA & UN-SPIDER) Supporting African efforts towards an African Water Observation System (within the framework of Tiger) GEO-AFRICA Sessions I & II Advancing ICT for Disaster Risk Management in (AiDA) Youth Forum http://www.itc.nl/news_events/archive/general/thematic_sessions_at_AARSE.asp ITC ? KNUST Thematic Sessions at AARSE ( http://www.aarse2008.org/?) Session I: Geo-information for infrastructure: building on experience from GISNATUREM Wednesday (29 October 11:00 am ? 12:40 pm) Session II: Meeting the needs of the sector: relevance and finance of joint course programs (29 October 14:00 am ? 15:40 pm) http://www.aarse2008.org/workshops.html GEOSS Workshop for Water Security and Governance in Africa -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.gsdi.org/pipermail/sdi-africa/attachments/20081015/91bc1a3d/attachment.htm From klance_remote at yahoo.com Mon Oct 20 08:18:28 2008 From: klance_remote at yahoo.com (Kate Lance) Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 05:18:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SDI-Africa] Call for papers: Remote Sensing for Africa, Special Issue - deadline extended Message-ID: <284972.17743.qm@web53610.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Call for papers: Remote Sensing for Africa, Special Issue The International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation?invites authors to submit scientific papers for a Special Issue, focusing on Remote Sensing in Africa and under African circumstances. Submission deadline (extended): 20 November 2008. The primary motivation for this issue is that the issue?editors have noted?that the number of contributions from African authors and focusing on African problems is underrepresented in the journal and in scientific journals in general. Second, more and more satellite attention is focusing on Africa, with its special and specific questions, its own set of conditions, and its particular type of problems. Third, it is a primary aim of the journal to focus on developing countries, and for this particular reason we like to focus on remote sensing for Africa, in the widest possible sense. That means that?the editors?would like to receive papers from all important applications fields and fields of methodology throughout African problems. One may think for example on biodiversity, water scarcity, global change, deforestation, oil spills, urban sprawl, road development and agricultural problems. Various issues of scale and resolution could be addressed, and the focus may range from a practical application to decision support. It is important to have contributions also from satellites that are specifically designed for studies in African circumstances. Finally,?the editors would?like to receive manuscripts from as many different countries and institutes as possible, from Morocco to South Africa, and from Somalia to Senegal. As this is a special issue of an exploratory nature,?the editors?aim to restrict the size of the manuscripts to 3000 words, 3 figures and 2 tables maximum. Dr. Tsehaie Woldai (ITC, Enschede, The Netherlands, Managing Guest Editor) and Dr. Harold Annegarn (Johannesburg, South Africa, Guest Editor) will serve as guest editors.? Papers can be submitted through http://ees.elsevier.com/jag/default.asp. Authors: please be sure to select Special Issue: Remote Sensing for Africa when you reach the ?Article Type? step in the submission process. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.gsdi.org/pipermail/sdi-africa/attachments/20081020/d80da813/attachment.htm From HASSELT at unhcr.org Fri Oct 24 02:39:03 2008 From: HASSELT at unhcr.org (Michiel van Hasselt) Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:39:03 +0200 Subject: [SDI-Africa] Crisis Mapping Message-ID: <490197B7.8451.006D.0@unhcr.org> FYI http://irevolution.wordpress.com/2008/10/18/future-of-crisis-mapping/ From klance_remote at yahoo.com Sun Oct 26 06:39:49 2008 From: klance_remote at yahoo.com (Kate Lance) Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2008 03:39:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SDI-Africa] Kenyan remote sensing specialist as UN Volunteer in Sudan Message-ID: <538581.34916.qm@web53611.mail.re2.yahoo.com> http://www.unv.org/en/current-highlight/peacekeeping-2008-ii/doc/david-walter-odede-oremo.html David Walter Odede Oremo, Kenya, Remote Sensing Specialist, UNMIS - description of his experience as a UN Volunteer in Sudan (17 September 2008) http://www.unv.org/en.html United Nations Volunteers For information about your volunteer options, qualifications for becoming a UNV volunteer, and how to apply to UNV or to other volunteer organizations in your country, visit http://www.unv.org/en/how-to-volunteer/unv-volunteers.html? Also, the Online Volunteering service ( http://www.onlinevolunteering.org ) connects development organizations and volunteers over the Internet and supports their effective online collaboration. If you are interested in volunteering online, you can?visit UNV's Online Volunteering service at http://www.unv.org/fileadmin/docdb/pdf/2008/FINAL_UNV_How_to_volunteer_-_English.pdf -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.gsdi.org/pipermail/sdi-africa/attachments/20081026/a18d39c7/attachment.htm From klance_remote at yahoo.com Tue Oct 28 03:03:24 2008 From: klance_remote at yahoo.com (Kate Lance) Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:03:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SDI-Africa] Info-Activism Camp: 19-25 February 2009, Bangalore, India (deadline 1 November) Message-ID: <498121.43139.qm@web53602.mail.re2.yahoo.com> http://www.informationactivism.org/home Info-Activism Camp: 19-25 February 2009, Bangalore, India Are you interested in using mobile phones to reach out to your community but don't know how? Do you produce reports full of crucial data but feel like the right people aren't reading them? Do you know that using the internet and mobile phones for your advocacy work can create security vulnerabilities but don't know how to protect yourself against them? Do you want to learn how to use digital advocacy to create change? The Info-Activism camp will bring together 120 rights advocates from the global South with technologists, designers and activists for a week long hands-on workshop to share skills, tools and tactics in digital advocacy. Info-Activism is an approach to advocacy that recognises the artful use of information and communications as a primary tactic in successful campaigns. If you are interested in applying for the camp, write to infoactivism at tacticaltech.org to receive an application form, or complete the application information at http://www.informationactivism.org/howtoapply#pagetop? and send by email. Deadline for applications:?1 November 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.gsdi.org/pipermail/sdi-africa/attachments/20081028/63ef64af/attachment.htm