The Indo-Pacific GeoIntelligence 2023, with the theme Space Infrastructure and Geoint Strategy, organized by Geospatial World opened with Lt. Gen AKS Chandele PVSM, AVSM, PhD (Retd.) giving the welcome address. He talked about how this event will bring together military, government security officials, experts from the space and geospatial domains along with industry experts and academicians on discussing the critical role and impact of geospatial technologies.
“Though the United States of America is the global military superpower. In the the Indo-Pacific region it is coinciding with the rise of China as a superpower with their wolf warrior diplomacy, making it difficult for the US and countries in the Indo-Pacific region”.
Honourable Raksha Mantri (Minister of Defense) Shri Rajnath Singh in his video address, said “Geointelligence has become a key factor and critical thought to modern warfare, with India as a nation’s endeavor to support Indo-Pacific countries in developing crucial geospatial technologies and space infrastructure”
Lt Gen Dinesh Singh Rana, AVSM, YSM, SM PhD, DGDIA & DCIDS (INT) gave the keynote address and talked about how security in the Indo-Pacific region can be best described as fragile currently. “The challenges include territorial disputes, maritime and traditional terrorism, non-traditional threats as well as climate change. China’s emergence as a serious power poses a threat to the Indo-Pacific region”.
The Indo-Pacific region is a strategic location for India with 90% of the trade that India does happening in the Indian Ocean and 50% of the trade that India does happening within the confines of the Indo-Pacific region. He emphasized having a robust civil space program in India.
“There’s a needs to focus on Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, new sensors, and advanced GIS. There also needs to be collaboration and cooperation between Data and Geographical Space Technology especially by the Quad countries in the Indo-Pacific region”.
Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru, AVSM, NM talked about how important Geospatial-Intelligence Infra is towards land-based and space-based infra. He emphasized on focusing on Geoint for marine as Maritime difficulties are very different from terrestrial difficulties. He also talked about how Geo-intelligence is enhancing situational awareness.
Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Scientific Advisor to the Defense Minister of India ended the opening plenary on the need for a collaborative approach within all the 14 countries in the Indo-Pacific region as it is much diversified in nature.
In this perspective, a comprehensive space infrastructure and Geo-Intelligence strategy for the Indo-Pacific region becomes crucial.
