SWAC demonstrates special software for flood relief operations

Gandhinagar, May 22 (UNI) The Indian Air Force's Southern Western Air Command (SWAC) has trained its pilots sucessfully to use ''Geographic Information System (GIS)'' software during relief measures in floods and other natural calamities, when the navigational features on ground are indiscernible.

The software, developed by the city-based Bhaskaracharya Institute of Space Application of Geoinformatics (BISAG), incorporates superimposition of multiple layers and maps with locations and attributes, to help the pilots to identify the exact coordinates to proceed during floods when most navigational features on ground are submerged.

The software application was sucessfully demonstrated by SWAC's helicopters pilot in a special awareness camp ahead of monsoon -- ''Flood Relief Training and Awareness camp.'' The object of the programme was also to optimise the IAF's flood relief efforts at the grassroot levels.

The IAF has also involved the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) in the venture and the first camp was held here attempted to combine major efforts to formulate contingency plans in emergencies.

The IAF has planned to conduct similar camps in Baroda and Jamnagar encompassing participation from all the 25 districts of the state. Similar camps will also be held in Maharashtra before the onset of monsoon.

Gujarat and Maharastra witnessed unprecedented floods last year due to heavy rains and the planned camp will upgrade the local as well as IAF skills in dealing with the problems.

The Air Force has been called on several occassions in the past also and last year, the Souther Western command launched 149 helicopter sorties, airlifting 214 tonnes of relief material and rescued 29 marooned persons in Gujarat.

The awareness camps by the IAF will enhance its capability in optimally utilisation of the resources. In today's camp, the MI-8 helicopter demonstrated how to pull out stranded personnel from places where landing is not possible.

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