A new program in AIT: Space Technology: Applications and Research
Jean-Pierre Delsol
Associate Professor
School of Environment, Resources and Development
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)
Bangkok, Thailand
Abstract
The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) has a long history in training and education to serve the Asia and Pacific region in many fields and many disciplines.
In the last decade AIT entered into the training and education in the field of Remote Sensing which followed by Geographic Information Systems (GIS) a few years later. Since the establishment of the AlT's Asian Regional Remote Sensing Training Center (ARRSTC) in 1979 various degree and non-degree courses were offered to many students, mainly from Asia as well as from other parts of the world in smaller number.
The new "Space Technology: Applications and Research" program is keeping pace with the recent Ministerial's declaration on space applications for Asia and the Pacific (Beijing 23 September 1994). Continuously observed by a large number of Earth remote sensing's Satellites (Landsat TM, SPOT 2&3, ERS 1&2, JERS 1, IRSl, NOAA, MOS...) the region records an important flow of data. Receiving stations - seven actually functioning in the region and two others planned- provide data every day. A huge number of users (geographers, cartographers, decisions makers, planners, geologists, soil scientists, hydrologists, foresters, urbanists, agronomists ) become more and more numerous and are, day after day, deeply concerned by the applications of satellite data in their respective fields of action.
The "STAR Program" will encompasses two technically oriented field of study namely: "Remote Sensing and Geo information Science" and in 1997 "Photogrammetry and Computer Assisted Cartography". The third FOS focussed on Natural Resources Planning and Management. These two first FOS intend to give to the students basic concepts, theories, and principles, in Remote Sensing and GIS and necessary skills to apply Remote Sensing technologies for monitoring resource systems and information processing techniques for creating sustainable societal systems.
In support of this, a Remote Sensing Laboratory (visual, digital and photographic sub- laboratories) and a Geographical Information System Center (GAC), as well as internationally recognized Faculty and Staff members, are the main components to conduct and transmit education and research activities in "Space Technology: Applications and Research" for degree of Masters of Science (MSc) and Ph.D.
A brief description of corresponding two technical FOS as well as existing facilities and Faculty and Staff is made in this presentation.
1. Introduction
The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), founded in 1959 as SEATO (South East Asia Treaty Organization) Graduate School of Engineering, is an autonomous, non- profit international post-graduate technological institution located 42 kilometers on Paholyothin highway, north of Bangkok, Thailand.
The Asian Institute of Technology's mandate is to provide the necessary and relevant training and education to the new generation of the Asia and Pacific region.
Educational programs are in four broad academic disciplines: the classical civil engineering subjects, natural resource technologies, planning, and management.
The programs of study in AIT lead to the degrees of Master or Doctor, or to the award of the Institute's Diploma or Certificate.
The Institute has 1,100 students from 30 countries and an equally diverse faculty and research staff of over 200. The Institute operates on a term basis (4 months), whom intakes are in January, May, and September for various programs of study.
The Asian Institute of Technology has 4 different schools in which similar programs of study are operated, namely, School of Advanced Technology, School of Civil Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development, and School of Management.
Space Technology Applications and Research (STAR) Program is among other programs within the School of Environment, Resources and Development.
3. The Space Technology Applications and Research (STAR) Program
The Space Technology Applications and Research (STAR) Program is among one of the programs teached in the School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD) and is focussed on addressing problems using remote sensing technics, Geographical Information System and Systems analysis.
This program has been built gradually from the Environmental Remote Sensing and Geo-information for Development introduced at AIT in January 1993 under the former "Natural Resources Program (NRP)".
2.1. Rationale
Since 1972, year of the launching of the first earth's observation satellite, fabulous progress have been accomplished in term of sensors as well as in term of satellite products and digital image processing systems.
The development of Geographical Information System has lead to a complete integration of thematic maps and satellite data. These tools are now widely disseminated and are components of a rationale, technical and scientifical approaches for a sustainable development of renewable and non-renewable resources.
The STAR is keeping pace with the international trends in development and the recent Ministerial's declaration on space applications for Asia and the Pacific (Beijing" 23 September 1994).
This region is continuously observed by a large number of Earth's remote sensing Satellites. The flow of data transmitted to the receiving stations -seven actually functioning in the region and two others planned- is increasing every day and the potential number of users become more and more numerous.
A large community of scientists, geographers, canographers, decisions makers, planners, geologists, soil scientists, hydrologists, foresters, urbanists, geographers, agronomists is deeply concerned by the applications of satellite data in their respective fields of action and the "STAR" program intend to give them basic concepts, theories, and principles, etc. in a wide variety of environments.
The STAR Program, attempts to prepare students to apply remote sensing technologies for monitoring resource systems and apply system analysis and information processing techniques to use monitored data for creating sustainable societal systems.
The STAR conducts master's degree and doctoral programmes which encompass coursework, learning laboratory and research studies.
