India, 8 June 2007: The Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG) will set up an Academy of Geoinformatics in its premises near Gandhinagar in Gujarat, to promote and carry out research, impart education and training to students and professionals and also encourage the development of advanced Geoinformatics technology and applications.
The academy will be affiliated to Gujarat University and the project will be funded by the State Science and Technology Department. “We have earmarked Rs 12 crore for the construction of a new academy building, and the project is expected to be ready in a year or so. Gujarat University has already sanctioned its affiliation to the educational and research institute,” Raj Kumar, Secretary for Science and Technology said.
A senior BISAG official said eminent scientists from ISRO will be inducted in the faculty, besides an advertisement will soon be issued to recruit adequate number of faculty members from different parts of the country. Even faculty from foreign countries will be invited to the academy to help it carry out research and educational activities there.
One-year post-graduate diploma in Geoinformatics (PGDGI) course will be offered at the academy, while Doctoral (PhD) programmes in Geoinformatics, Sustainable Development, Environment, Natural Resources and Coastal Studies will also be introduced. Moreover, short-term certificate courses in Geo-informatics are also proposed to come up at the academy.
BISAG has also set up a Centre for Geoinformatics Applications in its premises. The various activities relating to remote sensing and GIS (Geo-informatics system) applications will be carried out at the centre.
“We have already got maps of all the 18,000 villages in the State superimposed on Indian remote sensing satellite images, which will provide all necessary information required for development planning related to land, water, infrastructure and environment. Now, with the new building of the centre being in place, we will soon initiate the mapping exercise for urban and semi-urban areas across the State. In fact, the State Urban Development Department has envisaged a plan to develop GIS-based systems for urban planning, and the department is in touch with us,” said a BISAG official.
In fact, the State Revenue Department had created a Land Bank based on the information provided by the BISAG through the maps of villages superimposed on remote sensing satellite images, said the official, adding that other government departments and sectors could also avail this information.
