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GEO-INFORMATICS TRAINING & EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AT CSSTEAP |
Dr.P.S. Roy
Dean, IIRS & Deputy Director, CSSTEAP
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Introduction |
Technological advancements in the past few decades have made it clear that information management systems have a critical role to play in future scientific research, education and decision making, as well as public education and outreach. The urge to understand the earth and its phenomena has already started to make use of large-scale information systems in research and education. Geoinformatics has established itself as an interface between information technology and spatial database when applied after adjustment and expansion. Geoinformatics as a science deals with acquisition, management, modelling, analysis and presentation of geospatial data, thus touching the many different disciplines involved in such a task.
Continual changes in methods of professional practice require systematic integration and expansion of scientific qualifications. Capacity building in any activity involves the skilled manpower available, the necessary equipment and a suitable infrastructure. In geospatial information production and management, advances in space and information technology have improved critical capacity globally through the available geoinformatic tools
Unfortunately, it is obvious that geoinformatics education and practice in many Asian and the Pacific countries is lagging behind. Technological changes have challenged the professionals, technologists, and technicians to keep abreast with recent developments. The introduction of geoinformatics demands plenty of well trained staff for swift data transformation. The geoinformatics practitioners must be prepared to face the challenge of the new knowledge. It requires a thorough knowledge of remote sensing, mapping techniques, geospatial tools, and awareness of the many data sources for the Geographical information System (GIS), To know how to organize the data in order to analyse and update the information for solving enviormental management, land and water resource problems, is essential. These can be achieved only through a flexible curriculum . Therefore geoinformatics education and training schemes must begin immediately in order to meetchallenges in natural resource management.
The probable reasons for the lack of manpower development in the Asia Pacific and developing countries are:
- Few institutions run geoinformatics courses
- Inadequacy of curriculum andlack of modern equipment
- Rigid curriculum, without space for intake of serving personnel
- Low enrolment for the geoinformatics education from government departments
- Absence of a uniform academic standard and lack of networking to facilitate sharing of facilities
In this context, responding to the UN General Assembly Resolution (45/72 of 11th December, 1990) endorsing the recommendations of UNISPACE-82, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UN-OOSA) prepared a project document (A/AC. 105/534) envisaging the establishment of Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in the developing countries. The first of such centers called the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTEAP) was established in India in November 1995, with the appropriate facilities and expertise through the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), Space Application Centre (SAC) and Physical Research Laboratory (PRL).
The centre is an education and research institution that is capable of high attainment in the development and transmission of knowledge in fields of space science and technology. The emphasis of the centre has been on in-depth education, research and application programmes, links to global programmes/databases, execution of pilot projects, continuing education, awareness and appraisal programmes. A set of standard curricula developed by the United Nations and reviewed by several academic/research institutions is adopted for the education programmes. The centre is affiliated to the United Nations and its long term education programmes are recognized by Andhra University, India. The required geoinformatics education and training programme is geared towards researchers, resource management, professional staff and technical support staff.
Since its inception in 1995, CSSTEAP has organized several theme-specific courses in Geo-informatics in addition to the regular Postgraduate Course on Remote Sensing and GIS, through one of its host institutes Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun. These courses are on Environmental monitoring and management, Natural resources management, Biodiversity assessment and conservation.
To achieve rapid manpower development in geoinformatics in Asia and the Pacific, CSSTEAP is playing an essential role in placing education networks at national/international network and international levels with the latter evolving from developing countries. Such institutions facilitate the training, education and retaining of personnel at various levels in order to bridge another divide between developed and developing countries. |
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