ADSIC announces the launch of the AD-SDI

The Abu Dhabi Spatial Data Initiative (AD-SDI) was launched last week. AD-SDI will coordinate vital data-sharing activities while leaving primary responsibility for development and maintenance of framework data with specific custodian agencies...

Imaging Radar expert Alberto Moreira to receive IEEE award

Alberto Moreira has been awarded the 2007 Kiyo Tomiyasu Award, for the development of synthetic aperture radar concepts by IEEE. His work has contributed to the design of high-resolution airborne and spaceborne imaging radar systems with enhanced capabilities for environmental, disaster monitoring and security applications.

ESRI’s Mapping Center web site helps GIS users make better maps

ESRI's Mapping Center is the place where one can find expert cartographic knowledge and unique solutions to today's mapping challenges. Ths site offers a vraiety of content like Blogs, ArcGIS Resources Forum etc...

ISRO project on Kamrup’s ecology

Sponsored by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO),the aim of the project is to produce dispersion models for Guwahati using satellite imagery and ground-based observations to reveal the environmental reality of Kamrup district...

AND and OpenStreetMap join forces to create digital maps

Automotive Navigation Data, has agreed with the OpenStreetMap Foundation to donate digital maps of the Netherlands, China and India to the OpenStreetMap community....

NSDI for INDIA...a seven step solution?The Goa Communiqué Part 3

Amidst doubts voiced by a rather concerned group about the future of the Indian NSDI, the suggestions given by entrenched professionals steered the entire focus of the gathering from being reactive to proactive. A seven step solution has been offered to the NSDI 'yagna' to rekindle the dying fires which if started, should result in an 'info rich – enterprise GIS' rather than a 'data rich – repository' . To start with -

• The NSDI committee should actually meet. The subsequent steps being-
• Establishing the NSDI-Geoportal where an uninitiated user will graduate to a 'Map' publisher with authentication and validation procedures in place.
• Release a 'Foundation' dataset.
• Implement the established 'data standards'.
• Establish an e-cadastre (which will necessitate a resurvey and also lay the foundations of the national LIS).
• Migrate from the presently (un)inhibited Map policy to NSDI policy with focus on commercialisation and practical application of the data repository...
• The outcome will be a 'large Indian GIS enterprise'.

I sincerely hope the Indian NSDI fires burn bright with Dr. Mukund Rao's suggestions. The smaller but pertinent issues of 'legacy data' (past 200 years of efforts) conversion and migration will also get ironed out in step three above.

Last week on the technology front we had TopoSys GmbH ready with its 'true digital ortho and 3-d city model' workflow using the Falcon III fiber optic linear array scanning Lidar, the third generation Harrier 56 and Harrier 24 sensors synchronised with its own TopPIT software suite. The data acquired in four optical channels along with precise height information if converted to a 3D model by Contex DESIGNmate Mx 3D printer...a sight for sore eyes.