Need of Advanced Curriculum for Geoinformatics Education A.P. Krishna Remote Sensing Department Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, India Email: apkrishna@yahoo.com R. Sivakumar Remote Sensing Department, Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra M.S. Nathawat Remote Sensing Department, Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra Geoinformatics is playing a major role in all development and planning activities. The technology includes the integration of geographic data base along with attribute data generated through remote sensing, GPS, GIS etc.. It allows spatial model building including multi overlay operation for spatial decision support systems (SDSS). The requirement of qualified graduates in the field of geoinformatics is increasing tremendously. Also, it requires special training in the field of digital photogrammetry, advanced image processing, microwave and thermal remote sensing etc. Such trained manpower are essential for geoinformatics database creation and be able to design the basic framework of geodatabase. Considering these facts, there is an urgent need to increase the technical manpower in the field of geo-informatics internationally. Going by such trends, there is a need to develop an advanced curriculum and fast learning systems to overcome the problem of availability of trained manpower. Such education shall fulfill the needs of technically sound resource persons who can think geographically as well as be able to develop SDSS for planning and monitoring activities. Many Universities/Institutes are coming forward to introduce geoinformatics as an elective subject. Such Institutions also need qualified manpower to teach these electives. Well qualified technical personnel are required in the government sectors as well as Central, State and Local level in various Ministries and Public Sector Undertakings for full utilization of this technique for better e-governance. In addition, Private Sector Companies also require specialized manpower in geoinformatics for various utility based works. Designing of curriculum in the field of geoinformatics should be technology and application specific like urban geoinformatics, disaster geoinformatics, hydro-geoinformatics, land geoinformatics etc and also various applied aspects like utility, telecom, power applications. Also, the infrastructure developed for normal class-room teaching should be utilized for distance learning programmes as well in a cost-effective manner. Many academic and research organizations are coming forward for capacity building through various programmes. Domestic market of GIS in India itself is estimated as 350 million US$ per year. Growth of GIS industry globally has been estimated as 1751 million US$ in 2002 which increased to 2020 million US$ in the year 2004. A major challenge over the next decade will be the capacity building in the field of geoinformatics. There is need to have very well planned courses/curriculum in geoinformatics for low, middle and upper level professionals. An appropriate geoinformatics education and curriculum development plan has to be drawn to fulfill the above objectives. Therefore, the paper highlights the need of advanced curriculum development in geoinformatics education with special reference to India. Also, discusses the initiatives of Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi in geoinformatics curriculum development at national and international level for better capacity building.