Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Remote Sensing as a Catalyst for Global Sustainability
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) topic at ACRS 2025 highlights the pivotal role of remote sensing in monitoring, implementing, and achieving the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. This theme demonstrates how geospatial technologies provide critical data-driven solutions for balancing human development with environmental protection, with particular emphasis on land use, water resources, biodiversity, and clean energy.
1
Land Use & Sustainable Cities (SDG 11, 15)
Monitoring terrestrial ecosystems and urban growth:
Land Cover/Land Use Change
High-resolution mapping of deforestation, urban sprawl, and agricultural expansion using Sentinel-2 and Landsat time-series.
Smart Urban Planning
Integration of LiDAR and nighttime lights data to optimize infrastructure and green spaces.
Soil Degradation Assessment
Hyperspectral imaging for tracking desertification and soil health in arid regions.
Indigenous Land Rights
Supporting cadastral surveys with UAV and satellite data.
2
Water Resources Management (SDG 6)
Ensuring water security and quality:
Surface Water Mapping
SAR-based flood extent monitoring (Sentinel-1) and drought impact assessment.
Groundwater Depletion
GRACE satellite gravity measurements for aquifer stress analysis.
Water Quality Monitoring
Hyperspectral detection of algal blooms and pollution in lakes/rivers.
Transboundary Water Governance
Data sharing platforms for river basin management.
3
Biodiversity Conservation (SDG 14, 15)
Protecting ecosystems and endangered species:
Habitat Fragmentation Analysis
Landscape connectivity modeling with satellite and UAV data.
Illegal Fishing Detection
AIS/VMS integration with SAR for marine protected area enforcement.
Species Distribution Modeling
AI-driven analysis of nesting/feeding grounds from multispectral imagery.
Red List Ecosystem Assessment
Remote sensing indicators for IUCN threat classifications.
4
Clean Energy Transition (SDG 7, 13)
Advancing renewable energy and climate action:
Solar/Wind Potential Mapping
LiDAR-based topographic analysis for optimal energy site selection.
Methane Emission Tracking
PRISMA hyperspectral identification of oil/gas leaks.
Energy Poverty Alleviation
Nighttime lights as proxy for electricity access (SDG 7.1.1).
Carbon Sequestration Monitoring
Above-ground biomass estimation for REDD+ initiatives.
5
Cross-Cutting SDG Synergies
Integrated approaches for maximum impact:
Food-Water-Energy Nexus
Coupling crop water stress indices with solar farm siting.
Disaster-Climate Links
Early warning systems combining sea surface temp (SDG 13) and fishery data (SDG 14).
Urban-Rural Interdependencies
Peri-urban land use change impacts on SDG 2 (zero hunger) and SDG 11 (cities).
Why This Topic Matters for ACRS 2025
The Remote sensing technology serves as a cornerstone in advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It offers universal and comparable metrics for tracking global objectives, ensuring accountability and transparent reporting on international commitments. By identifying synergies and trade-offs between different SDGs, remote sensing provides critical insights for optimizing strategies and resource allocation. Moreover, it empowers decision-making at every level, from local initiatives to global policymaking, driving progress toward a sustainable and equitable future.
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