The Research Group of Methods and Applications in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (Grup de Mètodes i Aplicacions en Teledetecció i Sistemes d'Informació Geogràfica, GRUMETS), which is composed of members from the Geography Department of UAB and from CREAF and is coordinated by Dr. Xavier Pons, has received the Environment Award 2007 from the Catalonia Government (Generalitat de Catalunya) in the "Research, innovation and development" category with this actuation "Knowledge and environmental management of water by means of high resolution remote sensing: Monitoring 2002-2007 snow cover, evapotranspiration and the use of water in crops for management of water resources in Catalonia".
The Environment Award was created by the law 205/2005, from 27th of september, and its main goal is to recognize the work of people, organizations and institutions in favour of the environmental preservation in Catalonia.
The prize-winning work gathers tha main remote sensing tasks that this group has done for last years with the Catalan Water Agency (ACA), the Environment and Housing Department and the Agriculture, Feeding and Rural Action Department. The jury has recognized this project that combines the basic research -innovative and pioneer- with the transfer of knowledge and information to the society, and it emphasizes its contribution to a better planning and management of the water resources by the government and other organizations.
The awards event took place on Tuesday 5th of June at 18:30h in the Mercat de les Flors in Barcelona. In the ceremony, 18 awards and 5 mentions were given to different initiatives in research, development and protection or improvement of water quality and sustainable transport or the waste reduction and recycling.
Dr. Xavier Pons, on behalf of the Research Group of Methods and Applications in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (Grumets) from the Geography Department received the award, which fits in the category of environmental management of water.
Also on this ceremony, Ramon Folch explained that the state of the environment is no longer a value by itself but an index of the quality of the antropomorphic activities.
The Honourable Environment and Housing councillor, Francesc Baltasar, emphasized that the catalan strategy against climate change will be the motor of the environmental activities in the next years in Catalonia.
The performances of the Lanònima Imperial dance company and the Soren Chiristensen and Tatiana Halbach Rosás videocreations were alse seen in the ceremony.
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