Policies needed for sharing remotely sensed data among nations: Nair

Panaji, Nov 13 (UNI) 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.

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