DR. JOSHI TO INAUGURATE FIRST MAP ASIA-2002

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Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Union minister for Human Resource Development and Science & Technology will be inaugurating the first Asian international Conference and Exhibition called Map Asia, 2002 tomorrow in Bangkok. He will also be inaugurating the exhibition being held on this occasion. This Conference, the first of its kind, will be attended by the national Mapping Organisations of Asian countries, Scientists and Technologists working in the field and representatives of industry. The conference is expected to lead to initiation of major regional level programmes in which India can take a leadership role. India has among the oldest histories of excellence in spatial data production and use, with organisations like Survey of India, being over 237 years old. Rapid advancements in Indian space technology and the emergence of a large GIS industry give India a major advantage in assuming a leadership role.

Asia has emerged as an important region in the field of application of Remote Sensing, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), GPS (Global Positioning Systems) technologies with India, China and Japan emerging as technology leaders. The Conference aims to help the Asian community redefine the scope for regional cooperation in geo-spatial Science & Technology, understand the spatial problems in a regional perspective and stimulate cooperation between Governments, academia and industry. The Conference will also provide a regional platform to share the latest development in the field of geo-informatics.

In view of the rapid advancements both in space-based technology as well as in Surveying and Mapping technologies, a delegation from India from the Department of Science & Technology, the Survey of India and academic institutions specialising in geo-spatial sciences is participating in the Conference to project India’s capabilities and pre-eminence in this field.