Sustainable Cities and Communities

Space applications are steadily increasing in the Asia-Pacific region driven by artificial intelligence and multiple digital technologies and coupled with a surge of data from the growing fleet of Earth observation satellites and other sources. Demand is also growing as users recognize the unique advantages of geospatial data in for example developing smart cities responding to disasters managing forests oceans energy and other natural resources and reducing green gas emissions. As government and private investments rise not only will geospatial data become available to the public but their expanded breadth and scale that can be tapped to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This edition: - Presents 100 carefully selected 100 geospatial applications from East and North-East Asia a powerhouse in space applications that holds the highest share of operational satellites in the Asia-Pacific region.- Explores the opportunities to make geospatial data available accessible affordable and actionable in an era of rapid digital transformation; - Highlights examples of space applications governance frameworks to strengthen the impacts of geospatial practices on sustainable development knowledge practices and policies. - Recommends regional accelerators to ensure that all countries can benefit from the rapidly growing role of geospatial information in development. For the first time this Compendium is launched with an AI-powered tool designed to assist readers to query and generate information about specific geospatial practices available in the Compendium and beyond.

The space economy is growing at a faster pace than the global economy with the East and North-East Asia subregion making up a significant portion. This growth trajectory is expected to continue in the next decade driven by multiple technological developments including the evolution of artificial intelligence the development of 5G networks and progress in geographic information systems (Future Market Insights 2022).

The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) has introduced a range of technologies centred around digitalization connectivity and automation (Azambuja and others 2024). These technologies are reshaping distribution and production processes across various sectors significantly enhancing the application of geospatial information. They also have the potential to generate a larger volume of high-quality data enable advanced predictive analytics and enhance decision-making capabilities at potentially lower costs. Figure 2.1 shows the key digital innovations where geospatial data is being rapidly integrated.

The Jakarta Ministerial Declaration on Space Applications for Sustainable Development encouraged members and associate members to enhance substantive cooperation on space science and technology and their applications to strengthen the implementation of phase II of the Plan of Action. The Declaration emphasized four elements: leveraging innovative digital applications managing data and information more effectively engaging end users and enhancing partnerships with national regional and global stakeholders (ESCAP/ MCSASD/2022/3/Add.1).