Indo-Pacific GeoIntelligence 2023 concluded with a plenary on Space Infrastructure and GeoInt Strategy, emphasizing the need to develop future roadmap through the collaboration for a holistic view of space as a sector. The panel also focused on sustainability, advancement, and innovation in space.
Moderated by Anamika Das, Vice President, Geospatial World, the session kick-started with a small note on the relevance of space technology. The space infrastructure needs to be revisited with more and more actors and development coming every other day.
Climate Positive Practices
Dr Shailesh Nayak, Director, NIAS and Board member In-Space, spoke about developing space infrastructure in accordance to the climate security.
“As of now there is no clear evidence that this kind of climate impacts are leading to any migration. There are more other reasons mostly economic for the migration as of now. The only issue is only when such things happen where already certain conflicts are in place. Then only the climate change can become a catalyst for migration.”
He added, “Climate change happens when you disturb natural habitats. For example, In Maldives, due to uncontrolled tourism, the islands have been submerged. Whereas, Lakshadweep islands, a relatively controlled tourism destination has seen very little to no effect from climate change.”
“The only way forward is through dialogue,” Shailesh Nayak was quoted saying after an audience member asked him about the various conflicts happening around the world.
Identifying Gaps in Space
Arpan Sahoo Co-founder and COO, KaleidEO talked about the effects of climate change and sustainability in the space sector.
“We are seeing so much of shift and thrust in our industry due to climate change and that should just be enough to validate the need of space-based climate sustainability,” he said.
He then opined to have a national space strategy while taking the customers, private sector, and the people of the country in mind.
“The space industry has come forward in being the pivotal enabler to bridge the gap in reducing redundancies in non-performing assets in economies worldwide. India being one of the frontrunner with the space capability and capacity in the sector, we should have a certain national white paper that defines the building of asset-driven space programs for the betterment of the country,” he added.
Expanding Space Capabilities
Brig. Gen. Datuk Abd Razak, Director, Defence Intelligence Application, Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA) charted out three points to express a way forward for the amalgamation of space and GeoInt strategy.
The three points are:
- Leveraging space infra for more resilience, collaboration, and innovation
- Maximizing the benefits of integrating GeoInt with IR4.0
- Taking full advantage of the opportunities and addressing the associated challenges
Brig. Gen. Datuk then talked about leveraging space infrastructure through “enhancing Space Situational Awareness (SSA), embracing new technologies, investing in cybersecurity, developing a National Space Regulation, advocating for arms control in space, expanding commercial innovation, increasing collaboration and cooperation, and promoting resilience and redundancy in space.”
