IMAGING

Indian govt’s plan to legalise drone use stuck in regulatory maze

The government’s plan to legalise the use of drones has hit a hurdle, with uncertainty over who will regulate these unmanned aerial vehicles that promise big commercial potential but are also seen as a threat to security and privacy by many.

The home ministry has asked the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to regulate the use of drones, but the civil aviation regulator said it will be difficult with its current resources, and unless states and police pitch in with help. DGCA had circulated among ministries a draft policy on commercial operations of drones and the home ministry’s suggestion. All other ministries have supported the plan — while the defence ministry has given a go ahead, the IT ministry is pushing hard to legalise the use of drones. http:// tech.economictimes.indiatimes.com

MIRSAC erects stone at Tropic of Cancer

Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre (MIRSAC), India has erected a stone at a place where the Tropic of Cancer runs through Mizoram. The stone was set up and a hoarding put up at Maubuang Lungsai hamlet in Aizawl district on the World Bank-funded road linking Aizawl and south Mizoram’s Lunglei town.

Mr. R K Lallianthanga, Chief Scientific Officer of the Directorate of Science and Technology, said that the Tropic of Cancer runs through 23.5 degree Latitude and the imaginary line was identified with the data of the Survey of India’s topographical map and with the help of the GPS. http:// economictimes.indiatimes.com

SIIS started KOMPSAT- 3A commercial services

SI Imaging Services (SIIS) started commercial services of KOMPSAT- 3A imagery with the world’s second highest resolution satellite from July, 5th. KOMPSAT-3A is part of the Korean Multipurpose Satellite Program developed and operated by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) for earth observation purpose.

The earth observation satellite offers clear imagery with a resolution less than 0.5 meter. KOMPSAT-3A, also known as Arirang-3A, was launched into orbit in March last year.

After more than a year of successful test operation, SIIS began the commercial services on 5th of July. It would make South Korea the world’s second country to enter the less-than-0.5-meter-resolution satellite imagery market after the USA.

With KOMPSAT-3A imagery available today with 0.5 meter resolution imagery of KOMPSAT-3 at customer’s service, decision makers have new and more options to consider for their needs. www.spacedaily.com