Campus jottings-Kerala university

Updated on: Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Tools of Geographic Information System (GIS), remote sensing, global positioning system (GPS) and photogrammetry are increasingly playing a pivotal role in information technology and are recognised worldwide as important tools for sustainable development planning and implementation.

The use of Geo-Information science and technology is now being increasingly recognised worldwide as an important tool for business intelligence and personal utility.

It is against such a backdrop that the Centre for Geo-Information Science and Technology a joint venture of the University of Kerala, the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India and the Kerala State Science, Technology and Environment, has positioned its PG diploma in geo-information science and technology (PGDGIST); a programme that is currently unavailable in any UGC-approved academic institution in south India.

The honorary director of the Centre V. Prasannakumar told The Hindu-EducationPlus that the course aims to “provide conceptual knowledge on spatial and non-spatial data, their methods of acquisition, storage, management, analysis, application, display and dissemination.”

The course curriculum is designed in coherence with the emerging trends in the field of geo-spatial information science and the increasing needs of skilled manpower within the country and abroad, he added.

This a is a full time two semester course consisting of specialised training via lectures, focused field investigations, practical work and an independent dissertation project.

“The first batch of ten students who are expected to complete the course by the end of September 2009 have selected a range of topics for their dissertation work including ‘Geospatial analysis of vector borne diseases’, ‘Road accidents’, ‘Spatial analysis of crime’, ‘Solid waste management’, ‘Spatial analysis of health care facilities’, ‘Road transport route analysis’, ‘ Telecommunication network modelling’, ‘ ‘Delineation of groundwater potential sites’, ‘Terrain modeling and geospatial analysis of Sabarimala’ and ‘Landscape ecology,” Dr. Prasannakumar explained.

The skills acquired by these students would dovetail perfectly with the skill sets required for the proposed national-level geoportal and State level spatial data infrastructures, envisage web-based interactive spatial data management and updating.

The Centre has invited applications for the second batch of students for the diploma programme.

The last date for receipt of application is September 14. The application form and other details can be downloaded from web site cgist.ac.in.

Campus jottings-Kerala university

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