Between May 23rd and 24th, the International Symposium on UAV and Remote Sensing Technology Application was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The meeting, hosted by Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia (RCEECA), Research Center for UAV Application and Control, Chinese Academy of Sciences (UAV Center) and Tajikistan Academy of Sciences, organized by RECCEA Dushanbe Branch and co-hosted by Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Silk Road Special Project and Big Earth Data Special Project, was attended by over 100 people from China, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Among those, 30 Chinese representatives are from CAS Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Kunming Institute of Botany, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Institute of Hydrobiology, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCSA) and East China Normal University. Tajikistan’s representatives are from relevant research institutes of Tajikistan Academy of Sciences, Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Ecological Environment.

At the opening ceremony, Laxmi, President of Tajikistan Academy of Sciences pointed out in his speech that economic development is not possible without science and technology, while scientific and technological development cannot be separated from innovation, high and new technology. Tajikistan, as a mountainous country, has huge potential and broad prospect for the application of UAV, which will offer technological services and support for various industries and fields. He also looks forward to achieve bigger success in the cooperation with RCEECA in this field. Vice President of Xinjiang Branch, Director of RCEECA, Deputy Director of UAV Center and Professor of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography introduced the background, goal and progress of China-Tajikistan UAV Application Research Center briefly in the speech and expressed the willingness to further expand exchanges in UAV application with Tajikistan and training of professional talents so as to serve the monitoring and emergency management in natural disasters, ecological environment, agricultural production, pollution prevention, water resources and rivers and lakes in the speech; then, the basic information and application cases of CAS UAV Center were introduced in detail. Representatives from the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense of Tajikistan and the Ministry of National Defense of Tajikistan also expressed their congratulations.

The meeting conducted reporting and exchanges regarding UAV data rebuilding, mapping and simulation, disaster risks evaluation, vegetation growth, water resources management and green economy and organized participants to watch the flight drills on site. During the meeting, participants visited RCEECA Dushanbe Branch; after the meeting, they carried out professional field investigation on the landscape, vegetation, rivers and agriculture of Tajikistan.

A resolution was passed at the end of the meeting on congratulating the success of the first professional academic symposium in the field of UAV and all sides agree that this will greatly promote the technological application and practice of UAV in Central Asia, as well as the training of technical talents and strengthen the capabilities to deal with regional climate changes so as to better serve and support regional economic and social development and the construction of green Silk Road.

“China-Tajikistan UAV Application and Research Center” was founded by CAS UAV Center, RCEECA together with Tajikistan Academy of Sciences and the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense of Tajikistan on September 27^th, 2018. It aims to promote the scientific practice of UAV technology in Tajikistan and professional talents training for UAV application. Currently, China has invested 12 UAVs as well as relevant supporting and service equipment in China-Tajikistan UAV Center.

President of Tajikistan Academy of Sciences delivers a speech

Representative from Ministry of Emergency Situations delivers a speech

Chen Xi delivers a report

Conference scene

Conference photo

Visit RCEECA (Dushanbe Branch)

Watch UAV demonstration