Third Seminar successfully held on 26/03/2025. The AE4RIA Research Seminar Series, a bi-weekly webinar organised by Resees, Research Laboratory AUEB and Sustainable Development Unit – ATHENA RC, hosted by Prof. Dr. Phoebe Koundouri. This series is dedicated to exploring cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research at the intersection of Economic, Social, and Natural Systems. Bringing together leading academics, each seminar aims to address pressing global challenges and provide valuable insights to guide the transition towards sustainable growth.
Date: 26 March 2025
Time: 14:00 – 15:00 EET
Format: Hybrid & In-Person at the Athens University of Economics and Business, Room A41
Topic: Earth Observation in support of SDGs: Monitoring and achievements
Presenters:
Evangelos Gerasopoulos, Director of the Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, Director of the Greek GEO Office, co-chair of GEO Programme Board
Danai-Eleni Michailidou, Research associate at IERSD/NOA, Ph.D. in Biology, Data scientist and GIS specialist
Abstract:
Earth Observation (EO) can enhance our ability to track and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, but its potential remains largely untapped by national information systems and monitoring frameworks due to challenges related to lack of technical capacity, standardized methods and data harmonization. Over the last decade, several international initiatives have pushed the streamlining of EO in support of the SDGs further. Exemplifying this, the GEO EO4SDG initiative has been consistently working with national entities to enhance EO capacity and delineate the roadmap for EO adoption in SDG support, not least through a dedicated toolkit for cities. In Europe, UNGGIM-Europe is in parallel creating robust workflows for delivering SDG indicators through EO in direct interaction with Eurostat and statistics agencies of Member States, a process that is maturing into the exploitation of EO for Official Statistics (through a relevant GISCO Task Force). The Greek GEO Office is actively participating in these efforts through capacity building activities, dissemination of best practices and key datasets, development and application of standardized methodologies, as well as case-studies to highlight the added value of EO, with emphasis on spatial disaggregation and thus, localization. The presentation will attempt to touch upon the benefits of EO, the main achievements and most impactful projects and initiatives of the EO community, as well as national implementation efforts from our Institute, within projects like SMURBS and JustRedi, with the scope being to explore further collaboration opportunities between the EO and SE communities and initiate common planning.
Access the seminar here:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83612112965?pwd=HOhGdODlTbor5qTqEpAFGEaubPFy4a.1
Meeting ID: 836 1211 2965
Passcode: 313597