Four Decades of Capacity Building in Applications of Space-Based Earth Observation and Geoinformatics at Indian Institute of Remote Sensing
- Paper number
IAC-07-E1.I.08
- Author
Dr. V.K. Dadhwal, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, India
- Coauthor
Mr. P.L.N. Raju, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, India
- Year
2007
- Abstract
Capacity building in a rapidly advancing field, such as applications of space-base earth observation data is a challenging task. The evolution of training and education programs at IIRS in past 40 years is addressed in this paper. The current programs offered include a) education at postgraduate level, i.e. Master of Technology (M.Tech) in Remote Sensing & GIS and Master of Science (M. Sc), in Geoinformatics and Geoinformatics application to geo-hazards, and b) trainings varying from 10 months PG diploma in many disciplines to 2-4 weeks specialized tailor-made courses. These cater to Indian students and professionals as well as students in Asia-pacific region under UN Centre for Space Science & Technology Education in Asia Pacific (UN-CSSTEAP) since 1996.
The major challenges in capacity building are to a) Offer most updated courses as per the latest technological advances, b) Cater to needs of a wide cross section of users such as students, academicians, researchers and working professionals, c) Provide differentiated training to various participants, d) Offer programs in new and emerging areas, viz recently offered programs were biodiversity, disaster, polarimetry, landslide studies, digital photogrammetry, agro-meteorology, geoinformatics for health, GIS for urban and municipal applications etc. and e) Training of the trainers to enhance the overall capacity building efforts in the country.
IIRS through its inter-linkages, nationally with specialized agencies (NRSA & ISRO) and internationally as long term collaboration with ITC, and short term collaborations with many institutes ensures that its staff are up-to-date and course / syllabus offered are consistent with international standards and the needs of students.
Improving the outreach has been another thrust through (a) offering EDUSAT (i.e. a dedicated satellite exclusively for distance education) - geostationary communication satellite based training on "Basics concepts of RS, GIS and GPS" for undergraduate/postgraduate university departments, (b) e-learning, an internet-based training programs to start in near future. With 6200 alumni till date who have excelled in various fields, nurturing the professional RS society i.e. Indian Society of Remote Sensing and its journals, IIRS has contributed significantly in past and with constant initiatives, hopes to continue to build the capacity in the emerging applications in this field.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-E1.I.08.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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