'Enact Space Law To Govern Use Of Remote Sensing Data

Press Trust Of India reports that the President A P J Abdul Kalam today suggested enactment of a law to govern the use of outer space and regulate the use of data acquired from remote sensing satellites, particularly of sensitive installations. “We have to have a law of space like the United States,” Kalam said addressing the 26th Congress of Indian National Cartographic Association (INCA).

 

Even today the Department of Science and Technology, and Defence officials hesitate to give a map of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, which is easily available on Google Earth, he said.

 

Seeking regulation of data from remote sensing satellites, the President suggested that violators of the law may face prosecution.

 

Kalam said a number of missions launched by the government require inputs from cartographers to accelerate the process of development.

 

“The mission of INCA should be to assist the implementation of developed India vision using their core competence in cartography in partnership with ISRO, NRSA, Survey of India and other organisations,” he said.

 

Kalam said cartographers could use the remote sensing data to generate maps of areas having potential of geothermal energy.

 

Recalling his visit to Iceland last year, he said the volcanic island meets its key energy requirments using its vast geothermal potential.

 

He suggested that cartographers map such energy resources in Andaman and Nicobar islands as well as parts of Himachal Pradesh in a time-bound manner.

 

Kalam said application of Information Technology in the form of Geographical Information System (GIS), Satellite Remote Sensing, Satellite photo-grammatry, satellite communication and Internet play a vital role in various programmes being implemented by the government.

 

He said stereo satellite images, which are available for 90 per cent of the country, could also be used for better urban planning, cadastral level information of land and water resources.

 

Suggesting six missions for cartographers, Kalam said a network of organisations and persons working in the field of mapping should provide inputs for the development of modern cartographic products required by national mission.

 

He asked them to bring out largescale maps for programmes like PURA, interlinking of rivers, survey/resurvey of cadasters, urban development, metro rail, water ways, provide inputs to drought, flood and earthquake prone areas for effective planning of disaster management delivery system.

 

Kalam said the cartographers to make available high resolution digital maps of the earth produced in India on website for easy access to citizens. He said such initiative should be backed with suitable policies and adequate security mechanism.

 

“Cartographers should come out in identifying the exact quantum of wasteland available in the country and help the government and farmers for enabling the Jatropha cultivation for bio diesel production,” he said.

 

The President asked them to focus on training and building a human resource team which can face the cartographic challenges of the twenty first century.

 

More info: Indian National Cartographic Association

 

(Source Spacemart & Press Trust of India)