The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), organizes the International Forum on Artificial Intelligence in Remote Sensing for Epidemic and Natural Disasters Management, on June 12-16, 2022, in the Sultanate of Oman, in partnership with Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in the Sultanate of Oman and Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in cooperation with the Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (GRSS) and a number of international partners.

The forum, which brings together a host of researchers and specialists in the field from 24 countries, includes practical training sessions that are held in Muscat, the Sultanate of Oman, and theoretical presentations that are held via videoconference. It aims at exchanging knowledge and experience on the integration of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, remote sensing and geographic information systems, into every aspect of human life, and providing a practical understanding of geospatial techniques and risk management applications to provide practical solutions in this field.

In his intervention, Dr. Foued El Ayni, Expert at ICESCO’s Science and Technology Sector, noted that the Organization attaches particular importance to promoting understanding and leveraging emerging technologies, particularly space science applications, to improve human life, and reviewed ICESCO’s future programmes in this respect.

The forum features open, public sessions, training workshops, field visits to SQU’s Earthquake Monitoring Center (EMC) and the National Multi-Hazard Early Warning System, lectures on the use of artificial intelligence in disaster risk reduction and management, and healthcare, remote sensing mechanisms, and examples of the use of modern technologies in the management of dust storms, Cyclone Shaheen, and the COVID-19 pandemic.