Monday, January 22. 2007

GIS in India - Leading from the top down

Many of the ministerial and government leaders who address the opening session of the Map World Forum in Hyderabad have a fundamental understanding of using GIS in helping to improve the economic development process in the country. The vision is being developed from the top down in India; from the Department of Science and Technology; from the head of the Space Agency down to the local level. They are affecting the way in which infrastructure projects are planned; and they are looking to democratize data so long as certain security constraints are in place. But to a large extent these decision makers are extremely tuned into the needs of the country and the limitations of their capacity to affect change. A recurring theme is that there is a lack of capacity, i.e. trained GIS professionals, and that the domestic need for GIS experts will far outstrip some of the expertise being exported to Malaysia, for example, in the coming years. Kipal Sibal, Hon’ble Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Government of India said, "Our education has not been able to keep pace with our needs…Present day teaching is totally inadequate. We must come together to create the manpower."

Quote of the day: "Knowledge in a knowledge economy is progress"

Kipal Sibal, the Honerable Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Government of India addressing the Map World Forum in Hyderabad said, “We live in a globalized world and it’s only befitting that in the years to come, the globalization processes affect data as well; a globalized world must have globalized data; And from globalized world we will have globalized products...GIS is not just a technology tool; it’s all about public good; All technology is essentially a tool to serve the public…Ultimately data is a source of information; and information in a globalized world is knowledge. And knowledge in a knowledge economy is progress."

Quote of the day: I'm sure we will map your luggage...

“The CTO of Google Earth is here…and he informed me that while he was coming here by Lufthansa he lost his luggage. I’m sure that in years to come we will have Map World Forum ‘map your luggage’ to insure that it doesn’t get lost...” Kipal Sibal, the Honerable Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Government of India addressing the audience at the Map World Forum and Michael Jones of Google.

Map World Forum - Hyderabad - Quick Take

Much of India’s mapping experts and some 1600 other delegates from around the Asia Pacific region and the world, gathered in Hyderabad to conduct Map World Forum 2007. The Department of Science and technology was a principal sponsor of the event that was organized by GIS Development, a publishing company based just outside New Delhi.

The conference opened with a review of the historical development of mapping and satellite technology in a video presentation. It also provided a futuristic perspective that included the prognostication that by 2012 we will see 40 cm satellite resolution available on Google Earth. And in 2018 there will be imagery on demand and the entire earth will be scanned every 4 hours with 10cm resolution.

The welcome address was delivered by Dr. T. Ramasami, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. “This is a special gathering of the geospatial community has gathered with a special purpose. The Map World Forum’s objective is to “link technology to policy and their use.” India is a country that is leading from the top down in terms of technology adoption and policy. It's leading scientist are well versed in GIS and remote sensing, relying heavily on the technology to map remote regions, some under adverse conditions due to political strife.

The presidential address was delivered by Y. Rajsekhar Reddy, Honorable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. It is obviously a huge deal to have the minister of the state come to deliver an address such as this but not unexpected. Andhra Pradesh, and Hyderabad specifically, have been home to the remote sensing expertise of India since the formation of the National Remote Sensing Agency and therefore quite fitting for the local state Minister to be present.

The guest address was presented by Dato’ Seri Haji Ajimi Bin Khalid, Honorable Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Government of Malaysia. It is interesting here to note that Malaysia is a huge trading partner of India where one of India's main exports to this country is "GIS expertise." Minister Bin Khalid mentioned more than once that he was greatful for India's brain trust of GIS and remote sensing knowledge.