UNGSC recently completed visit to Wuhan University (5–12 November 2025), building on an already productive collaboration that has supported MONUSCO operations in Africa. The University’s research team, led by Prof. Xi Li, previously shared night-time-light analysis data that strengthened UNGSC situational awareness analysis in support of MONUSCO — a concrete example of how academic geospatial expertise can directly support field missions.
The UNGSC delegation, comprising two geographic information systems/GIS specialists, participated in the 2025 International Conference on Geospatial Information Science and the Advanced Spatio-Temporal Intelligence Training Programme. The visit included technical exchanges on how the two institutions can deepen cooperation in satellite data, analytics, and applied research tailored to UN operational needs.
The University showcased its capabilities, including Satellite Ground Station, the Institute of Aerospace Science & Technology, and the State Key Laboratory of Information Engineering in Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing (LIESMARS). Demonstrations focused on practical uses of geospatial information for crisis response, mission planning, and environmental monitoring — with particular relevance to the realities faced by UN peace operations.
Discussions centred on broadening data access, improving analytical methods and shaping a structured roadmap for long-term collaboration. Both sides agreed to work toward a cooperation framework that brings research, data, and field needs into closer alignment — a long-term roadmap that supports UN missions with more timely, trustworthy, and mission-adapted geospatial insight.
This is a partnership opportunity – a tangible way to translate cutting-edge research into operational value — supporting missions with faster insights, greater preparedness, and better decision-making across complex environments.
