India to host mega meet on mapping

Friday, 19 September 2003, 19:30 IST
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NEW DELHI: India will next year host an international meet on spatial data infrastructure (SDI), which will see experts from 85 countries exchange information on mapping. The seventh conference of Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI) will be held in Bangalore February 2-6 next year, it was announced here. Jointly organised by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the department of science and technology, it is expected to attract over 550 delegates from 85 countries. The theme of GSDI-7 would be "SDI For a Sustainable Future". The GSDI Association is an international body. It believes that for society to be informed and knowledgeable, spatial map information is a major content. Spatial mapping can be used, for instance, in watershed management - seen as a key tool in sustainable development. At the meet, the Indian SDI community will have an opportunity to interact with leading international experts. "Maps have always been around and different survey organisations have been involved in collecting spatial data," said V.S. Raamamurthy, secretary, department of science and technology. "In the last decade, remote sensing and certain airborne technologies have been used." "We are entering a new phase for the demand of such data," he said. "There is demand for such data from various sources, including governmental, non-governmental and the private sector. "Our rule is to bring in discipline in the sphere and make the data available in the public domain." Said M. Sundararaman, secretary, Indian Trade Research Organisation: "There is a need for information, transparency and sharing in this sector." He said satellite images were very useful in formulating maps. Amitabh Pande, joint secretary in the department of science and technology, said: "India can become a world leader in remote sensing." A Spatial World Expo will also be organised, which will showcase major technological advances made globally, and various national and international organisations from fields like remote sensing, networking and national mapping agencies are expected to participate in it.
Source: IANS
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