A seminar on “Geomatics for Infrastructure Management” was organized by Institution of Surveyors at Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis, New Delhi on 23-24 July 2007. This program was organized by the Institution in accordance with the main objectives of the Institution to create awareness among government agencies, professionals, public, NGOs, academia and administrators on the state of the art technologies, in handling of geo spatial data. The Seminar was inaugurated byLt Gen Utpal Bhattacharyya, PVSM, AVSM, Director General (MP&PS), Integrated HQ of MoD(Army). Brig M V Bhat, Additional Director General, Mil Svy and President of the Institution of Surveyors gave a glimpse about the program. Introducing the establishing of the Institution in 1950 as a professional body by active initiative by then Prime Minister Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, Brig Bhat dealt about the object of the Institution to promote and progress the profession of surveying by dissemination of knowledge of science and practice of surveying techniques. The Chief Guest after the customary lighting of the lamp and release of Souvenir, addressed the gathering. He underlined the importance of accurate and uptodate spatial data for effi cient planning and timely execution of infrastructure projects. There were over 200 persons attending the inaugural ceremony and 157 delegates participating in the technical sessions.

The seminar was sponsored by Natural Resources Data Management System, Dept of Science & Technology and All India Council for Technical Education, Govt of India. Industry represented by Rolta India Ltd, Erdas India (P) Ltd, Bentley Systems(P) Ltd, Elcome India (P) Ltd, Leica Geosystems who are the leaders in GIS and related activities demonstrated their capabilities and latest technologies in exhibition.

Survey of India and National Remote Sensing Organisation exhibited trends in map making with latest technologies and different types of satellite imageries and their use in infrastructure planning. Media represented by Coordinates and Geospatial Today covered the proceedings.

Government may consider to sharing of spatial data like heights, gravity, geophysical etc. with private agencies which are very essential for exploration of resources for accurate positioning and speedy execution of projects.

Policies may be framed speedily to allow private partnership in data acquisition using sensors and aerial platforms to infuse new techniques and technologies available in the private sector in the country/ abroad.

Interoperability must be maintained in techniques, applications and data sets developed by different agencies both in private and government sectors.

Awareness programs must be conducted for the stake holders frequently to familiarize about the intricacies of spatial data, policies governing generation and sharing of data and technology transfer to users etc.