Credent aids in Myanmar’s cyclone relief work

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After NARGIS cyclone hit Myanmar and took the lives of about 100,000, an estimated 1.5 million victims are trying to survive in midst of chaos. Credent plans to extend assistance in the cyclone affected regions by providing the related map data from available resources including local organizations and the web. The development of the maps and GIS data is currently under Credent expense. To strengthen the provision of this vital information, any funding received will greatly improve the speed of the work. www.credent-asia.com/

China to investigate Google for illegal maps

China has launched an investigation into online mapping services by Google and Sohu in an effort to protect state secrets and territorial integrity. According to vice head, State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping, authorities hope to get rid of online maps that wrongly depict China’s borders or that reveal military secrets. The government began the investigation into the problematic maps in April and will continue it until the end of the year. Min cited five areas of concern – Taiwan, the Spratlys and Paracels island chains in the South China Sea and the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea. http://afp.google.com/

Geospatial data to go online with Brunei Spatial Data Infrastructure launch

BSDI is the technology, standards, access system and protocols necessary to harmonise all of the Sultanate’s geospatial databases and make them available on the internet. It is facilitated by the Ministry of Development and led by the Department of Survey in partnership with the Land and Town and Country Planning. BSDI will publish base layers of geographic data such as elevations, transportation systems and water bodies that provide context and reference information for Brunei Darussalam. http://www.brunei-online.com

“FLAIR Act” introduced in US House

A bill to develop a current, accurate Federal cadastre to inventory all Federal real property has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, earning praise from MAPPS, the national association of private geospatial firms. The FLAIR Act authorizes the Department of the Interior to not only compile an inventory of Federal land ownership but also provides for conducting an inventory of current inventories to eliminate duplication and save tax dollars. www.MAPPS.org.

Jharkhand state in India goes online at the grassroots level
Common service centres would be set up at each of the 4,562 panchayats in the state by soon where villagers can avail services like registration of certificates, filing commercial taxes among others. According to R. S. Sharma, Secretary of IT, 3000 of such centres has already been set up. Use of GIS for digital mapping of districts shall also be done to locate the villages and also to calculate
the amount of rainfall an area receives in a year to facilitate irrigation. Water harvesting mapping using GIS shall also be emphasised. www.telegraphindia.com/

Chinese vice-premier urges scientific outlook
Chinese Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan has urged authorities responsible for statistics, surveying and mapping, food and tobacco to implement the government’s scientific outlook on development and innovate to improve accuracy and authority. Related authorities should improve their surveying and mapping work to provide a quality service for the country’s construction, he said. http://news.xinhuanet.com

Mapping center of israel to launch Geography portal
The Mapping Center of Israel (MAPI) will soon launch a new national geography portal. The new site will have 120 information levels about land, outline plans, maps, trips, sites, aerial images, and historical maps. The maps on the site were created through collaboration with various ministries and will be free. www.globes.co.il

INDUSTRY | LBS | GPS | GIS | REMOTE SENSING | GALILEO UPDATE

Satellite imaging for rail navigation
Indian Railways have sanctioned a pilot project, Satellite Imaging for Rail Navigation (SIMRAN), for real time passenger information system by utilizing GPS. This project is being carried out jointly by Research Designs & Standard Organization, Lucknow and Indian …

Vodafone, has introduced two of its Blackberry models, Curve 8310 and 8820 in India, recently. Curve 8310 is RIM’s latest innovation for customers who demand a featurerich multimedia and GPS-enabled smartphone.

VNU-HCM plans to establish the Institute of Space Science and Technology
Vietnam National University – Hochiminh City (VNU-HCM) plans to establish the Institute of Space Science and Technology (ISST) to educate and carry on research in the disciplines of space science and technology, to develop applications of space technology for socio-economy. It will also aim at collaboration with other scientific institutions. With this mission, President Board of VNU-HCM expects collaborations, supports from international institutions on space science and technology. Dr. Tran Vinh Phuoc, Associate Professor in GIS & RS of the VNU-HCM is assigned to hold the Head of the Project Establishing the ISST.