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South Asia co-operation in GIS technologies - Some thoughts
B.L. Deekshatulu
Director, CSSTE-AP (Affiliated to UN)
Dehra Dun
Introduction
The problems of Asian countries are
similar which is characterised by high rate of population growth and less
modernisation besides, floods,cyclones, drought, deforestation, land degradation
etc. We have less per capita resources and the depletion rate is fast; therefore
optimal utilisation of natural resources is the key issue for development.
Developing countries are information poor, though lot of informations available
globally. Information is recognised as priority for defining sustainable
developmental strategies. We may realise that there is today no wealthy,
developed country that is information poor and no information rich country that
is poor and under developed. When the rate of change is more we need information
fast, reliable and open. Information and related technologies have become
important for defining, monitoring and management of natural resources. Advances
in telecommunications and the development of computers, software and
semiconductor technology will significantly impact the structure of modern
society. A glowing example is the internet resolution. Its impact on society
speaks of volume; the development of more powerful open system is an urgent
requirement. Development of more powerful computers, networks and integrated
communication systems and development of new methods of infrastructure
processing - the search for new computer paradigms, will be the major challenges
of the 21 century. GIS which is a part of the Information technology will change
the world more permanently and more profoundly than any technology so far, and
will be a market force for business and societal applications. GIS will provide
the information power and will be the value system. Human resources will have to
cope with these challenges and use positively for betterment.
GIS Systems of different ranges are being used for mapping,
analysing, planning, interpreting and decision making massive amounts of natural
resource data, socio-economic data, topographic and demographic data making this
one of the most potent tools for planners. It also provides vivid visual aids to
corporate decision making and for intelligent Managers.
What made GIS speed up
One of the major driving
forces of scientific development in the last 10 years has been the rapid
development of computers and associated software. Today, we are able to
- Handle large sets of data with rapid access. Improve
processing power (of modern m/cs) to manipulate the data.
- Condensed storage using databasing techniques.
- Display results using sophisticated graphical
technology.
It is simultaneous advances on these 3 fronts that made
Geoinformatics/GIS powerful.
Modelling also has
advanced; ex. computational statistics or spatial inter-polation techniques.. We
can use now randomised data sets, use computer intensive methods of inference
instead of assuming a particular distribution as in classical statistics.
In ecology and Agriculture Sciences one uses now, System
Theory to derive equations of interactions and create complicated mathematical
methods for biodiversity or for sustainability.
Further
interest in modelling has lead to the chaotic models in which, despite precise
knowledge of the underlying process, it has been impossible to predict far into
the future. It is possible that chaotic systems will bridge the gap between
deterministic interactions and uncertain future.
So,
given the existence of both mathematical models and GIS, it is possible to make
predictions at different points in space and time.
What
are the constraints and opportunities for the growth of GIS in South Asia
Technology has progressed faster than Institutions,
attitudes and policies. Organisations have to change their attitude towards
Information dissemination and Decision making process i.e. Information
Structures have to improve for better decision making.
Cost effective implementation. We have to unleash the true
potentialof GIS which is a part of IT for the benefit of the mankind.
Talk of personalised information systems using GIS (similar
to the PC resolution 20 years back).
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