Training Activities of ESCAP in Earth Observation
The cost of participation by delegates, except those from the host country, are shouldered by NASDA and RESTEC. The host country, on the other hand, arranges local hospitalities such as airport pickups, hotel bookings for participants, transportation from hotel to the Seminar venue or other Seminar activities, and secretarial services for registration, documentation and reporting. Table 1 summarizes the participation in this seminar by some countries. The seventh regional seminar on Earth observation for tropical ecosystem management is scheduled to take place at Dhaka from 7 to 11 December 1998.
| | Khao Yai
1992 | Sarawak
1993 | Bali
1994 | Subic
1995 | Suva
1996 | Ho Chi Minh
1997 | Total |
| China | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Fiji | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 0 | 31 |
| India | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Indonesia | 1 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Japan | 11 | 14 | 15 | 22 | 21 | 18 | 101 |
| Malaysia | 1 | 65 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 71 |
| Philippines | 2 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 19 |
| Thailand | 17 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 35 |
| Viet Nam | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 29 | 41 |
Other developing
Countries | 0 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 17 |
Other least
developed Countries | 1 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 23 |
| Other island Nations | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
United Nations
and Other organizations | 9 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 34 |
| TOTAL | 47 | 114 | 68 | 62 | 73 | 63 | 427 |
Table 1. Summary of participation in the seminar by some countries
Medium-term Training on the integrated use of GIS and remote sensing for sustainable landuse planning
Since 1994, ESCAP has been cooperating with the government of Indonesia, through the Indonesian Coordination Agency for Surveying and Mapping (BAKOSURTANAL), in conducting a two-month long training programme on the integrated use of GIS and remote sensing for sustainable landuse planning at the Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
The training course aims to: (a) provide participants with a theoretical background and practical training in the integrated use of remote sensing and GIS for landuse mapping and (b) identify the information needs of planners and decision makers for sustainable land resources development. The course is designed for junior working-level officials in engineering, cartography, geosciences and natural sciences with an orientation towards landuse mapping and/or natural resources development and management.
Held from October to December each year, this training course is a TCDC activity where ESCAP provides return air tickets to the participants, who come from ESCAP member countries. While the host country provides a daily subsistence allowance at the prevailing government rato to the participants as well as other training-related expenses. Each year, about fifteen participants, engaged in remote sensing and GIS applications inn their respective countries, are chosen for the training. Trainors come from the faculty of the university or invited from relevant local institutions. Around 60 participants - from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, Maldives, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua, new Guinea, Philippines, Sir Lanka, Thailand, Vanuatu and Viet Nam - have since been trained.
Long Term training fellowships
Since 1993, ESCAP has been providing several long-term training fellowships each year in remote sensing, GIS and satellite meteorology in cooperation with the governments of China and India. This is another TCDC activity where ESCAP provides each participant with a return air ticket and a book allowance while the host country provides a daily subsistence allowance at the prevailing government rate and takes care of other training-related expenses as well.
The Government of china has been implementing the Advanced Overseas StudentsProgramme. In partnership with ESCAP, it provides long-term (nine mounths) fellowships for training on GIS and remote sensing at the Wuhan Technical University of Surveying and Mapping in Wuhan, china. The objective of the fellowship study is to develop human resources in developing countries for initiating, developing and promoting the activities related to practical and developmental applications of remote sensing and GIS technologies and identifying the information needs of planners and decision makers for sustainable development.
The Government of India, on the other hand, has been implementing the Sharing of Experience in Space (SHARES) Programme. In partnership with ESCAP, it provides long-term fellowships for training on GIS and remote sensing as well as satellite meteorology and global climate at the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the pacific. The objective of the fellowship study to develop human resources in developing countries for initiating and promoting activities related to practical and developmental applications of space technology. The course is divided into two phases. Under phase 1, the participants stay in India for nine months to undertake core courses in the field of specialization while under phase 2, the participants return to their respective home countries and undertake a twelve-month research project. This training programme is recognized by India's Andhra University as equivalent to its Mtech or MSc degrees in remote sensing.
