Date:30/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/30/stories/2008033055550800.htm

Tamil Nadu

Use satellite data to provide better living conditions to people, says space official

Special Correspondent

THANJAVUR: India has come a long way with respect to remote sensing satellite and launch vehicle technologies, thanks to the vision of Vikaram Sarabhai, who laid the foundation in the 1960s, A. Perumal of National Remote Sensing Agency, Department of Space, has said.

Inaugurating a national conference on “Water and mineral resource information and environmental impacts analysis using high resolution satellite imageries in the 21st century,” organised by the Department of Industries and Earth Sciences at Tamil University, on Thursday, Dr. Perumal said India started with one km resolution satellites such as Bhaskara I and Bhaskara II. Now, it was launching satellites with less then one mt ground resolution. Indian satellites with sensors that could observe 0.85 mit resolutions were in space.

In the early 1970s and 80s, India used data from American satellites paying royalty. Now, there were 18 earth stations and countries, including the United States, paid royalty to India in order to use data from its satellites. Such was the level of growth in remote sensing technology in the country. By year-end, Chandrayan satellites — with sensors to collect hyper spectral data — would be launched. Oceansat I was launched to learn about ocean resources and Oceansat II was on the anvil.

Dr. Perumal, Group Head CB and APG, said satellite data was a tool to gather general information on natural resources such as soil, geology, geomorphology, ground water and mineral resources. They should be put to use for providing better living conditions to people.

N. Varadharaju, Regional Director, Central Ground Water Board, South Eastern Coastal Region, said image interpretation was important in remote sensing. Underground water department used the images and other inputs for targeting the best well site. Besides, the data could be used to predict about sustainability of the well and quality of water.

Mr. Varadharaju appealed to scientists to feed into the geographical information system valid information and gain expertise in interpretation of high resolution imageries.