Experts stress on use of GIS for managing natural resources

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 19

A two-day regional seminar on ‘Geospatial Technologies in Natural Resource Management’ concluded at the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC) with the experts stressing upon the use of remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS) for managing natural resources, especially soil and water.

The deliberations during the two days were attended by scientists and officials from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Universities and various government user departments. Dr B Pateriya, director, PRSC, conveyed that the seminar witnessed a large gathering of scientists and scholars working on various aspects of remote sensing and GIS. The deliberations and interactions during the seminar resulted in useful recommendations to be passed on to the policy and decision makers in order to make geo-spatial technology an integral part of various government departments, Dr Pateriya said.

Dr AK Saraf, senior professor of the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, presided over the concluding session. During his deliberations today, Dr Saraf made presentations on the unique “False Topographic Perception” and “Prediction of Earthquakes using Thermal Band Data” which were appreciated by the delegates.

The natural resources, especially ground water has been fast depleting in central Punjab, said Dr SS Kukal, president of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, Ludhiana Chapter. Dr Kukal informed that the need for spatial and temporal monitoring of ground water resources was an important recommendation of the regional seminar.

The organising secretary of the seminar, Dr RK Setia informed that the seminar was attended by delegates from various central and state government departments, universities and colleges of north Indian states such as Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.