Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Centre for geo-information science gets nod

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The decks have been cleared for the setting up of a Centre for Geo-Information Science and Technology at the University of Kerala – a centre of excellence designed to develop advanced capabilities in managing and analysing spatial information for scientific and socio-economic purposes.

The Natural Resources Data Management System (NRDMS), a wing of the Department of Science and Technology, government of India, is understood to have issued the formal sanction for setting up the centre and is expected to release Rs.1.45 crore as grant for this purpose, shortly.

The head of the department of Geology, University of Kerala, V. Prasannakumar, who drew up the proposal for such a centre, told The Hindu that the model for managing and analysing spatial information developed at the centre could be an effective tool in the design and maintenance of a State-owned spatial information infrastructure.

“The use of spatial data is inevitable across a range of public purposes. From laying fresh pipelines, power and telephone cables, planning new roads to data relating to people in a village, spatial information is the way to go. Data generated from a variety of sources can be collated in such a manner that a planner has a total idea of what is to be done much before the first trench is cut or the first tree is felled. We also plan to generate web-enabled models for natural resource and health management,” he explained.

For demonstration purposes the department has already started creating geo-spatial ‘maps’ on different indices pertaining to a block panchayat near the capital city. By continuously updating these maps and maintaining them in a format that can be used by any number of government agencies / identified stakeholders the full digitisation of administrative units from the panchayat upwards can be brought about. At present such kind of data is being collected by a variety of agencies including the Kerala Water Authority, the Public Works Department and the Kerala State Electricity Board. Such data, though, is exclusive to individual departments.

Another objective of the centre is to effect capacity building among identified stakeholders for spatial data management in the State. They include students, researchers, professionals, local communities and government departments.

According to the proposal submitted by the department to the NRDMS, the centre would train in a year 20 post graduates and 10 research scholars with specialisation in Geomatics, 50 end-users from panchayats and villages, 50 engineering students, five scientists working in other organisations, 15 schoolteachers, 10 decision makers involved in the planning process and 20 representatives of local bodies in managing and using spatial data for specific projects.

To be able to do this, the centre must offer courses in spatial data management. Even though the centre is now almost ready to begin operations, the university is yet to okay a proposal to offer a certificate and post graduate diploma course in Geomatics – courses that can pave the way for a full-fledged, integrated post graduate degree in Geo-Information Science and Technology.

Once the university gives its go-ahead the training for stakeholders can be done at the Geomatics laboratory at the Department of Geology which is equipped with computers and software capable to analysing remote sensing data and carrying out three-dimensional spectroscopic analysis of digital images.

The lab’s software includes a GIS package with Arc GIS, Arc View and Arc Info – packages for remote sensing data analysis and a Photogrammetry suitable for the three dimensional stereoscopic analysis of digital imageries.

The Centre for Geo-Information Science and Technology has come about as the result of a scheme of the Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment to set up centres of excellence in the State’s universities to provide qualitative boost to higher education. The Council, in January 2006, had invited proposals from universities.

From among the 16 proposals submitted four were finalised. The syndicate of the university, at its meeting scheduled on October 26, is expected to take a final decision on setting up the centre.

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