'Policies for sharing remotely sensed data with nat'

Panaji, Nov 12: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman G Madhavan Nair today called upon nations for evolving policies so that the remotely sensed satellite data on earth observation could be shared, analysed and utilised on real time basis for mutual benefit with an integrated approach.

The ISRO chief also pleaded with the scientists to develop high-resolution sensors/detectors for placement on earth, ocean and skies to collect data to monitor depletion of rare gases like Ozone and Nitrous Oxide that leave a signature on the imminent atmospheric changes for sharing.

''Unfortunately, many governments do not allow sharing of the real time data collected from the satellites and other monitoring mechanisms. We need to evolve policies that allow us to share the data on earth observation for various purposes including drought, cyclones and weather monitoring,'' Dr Nair said while delivering the keynote address at the inaugural session of the fifth biennial Asia Pacific symposium on ''Remote Sensing for Resource Management and Disaster Warning and Mitigation'' here.

The symposium, organised for the first time in India at the prestigious National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) under the aegis of the International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE), USA, was attended by 600 delegates from across the world.

The scientists included Dr Upendra Singh from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), USA, and several others from Japan, China, Australia, Russia, France, UK, Germany, Sri Lanka and India.

It was sponsored, among others, by the ISRO, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan, National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration, USA, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Japan, National Polar-orbiting Operation Environmental Satellite System integrated Programme Office and Science Tecnology Corporation, USA.

The ISRO chief said the final phase of the development of the National Disaster Management Support System, now underway, would be completed this year so that data through dedicated and secure systems becomes available for use in disaster management operations. At the same time, Dr Nair called for upgrading technologies through analytical models for earth monitoring so that data on droughts, cyclones and other disasters like the recent tsunami could be obtained on real time basis.

The ISRO, he said, had contributed significantly for space research with applications on many aspects of life, over the last 25 years through launching of its INSAT series of satellites.

The efforts were being stepped up in the realm of earth observation from space platforms, the importance of which had increased recently for analysing data on national natural resources that help in understanding climatic changes for disaster mitigation, he said.

Inaugurating the symposium, Governor S C Jamir urged authorities to make available the satellite images cheaper to help the governments and even NGOs plan for national and regional level development.

He also called for developing simple devices that could best be used in all educational programmes.

Dr A S Kiran Kumar from the electro optical systems department at Ahmedabad-based Space Applications Centre, informed that the 58th International Astronautical Congress would be held in September next at Hyderabad in collaboration with the ISRO and the Department of Space.

Dr Upendra N Singh from NASA said the scope of the symposium includes global environmental change and its human dimensions, disaster prediction, tracking and mitigation, enabling remote sensing technologies, present and future, and natural resources management and sustainability.

The event has brought together policy makers, scientists and engineers from across the world for sharing knowledge and ideas on these issues in the backdrop of latest developments in remote sensing technologies for societal benefits and socio economic payoffs, Dr Upendra added.

UNI