Thai agency to lead Asean in disaster warning and control
BANGKOK: -- A Thai agency aims to be a hub for the Asean region in terms of geo-informatics and space technology development to help the region deal with economic, social and environmental issues, including disasters.
"Lots of people know us - the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) - only as an agency that helps survey disasters and provides satellite images to update disaster situations.
"But, our role covers many more areas. We can help Thailand and even Asean with many issues," GISTDA executive director Anond Snidvongs told a press conference in Bangkok on Tuesday. The event, entitled Thailand Truth Untold, outlined GISTDA's mission and current projects.
Under a strategic plan entitled GISTDA: Delivering Values from Space, images from the Thailand earth observation satellite (THEOS) called Thaichote, and other satellites, would be used when surveying and creating maps for natural resources and environment management.
This would be useful for land use, water resources, coastal erosion and border area surveys, city planning, and pollution caused by oil leaking into the sea, Anond said.
Space Krenovation Park (SKP) will be the centre for training people whose jobs or duties involve satellites across Asean. It will become the hub of information exchange for them, according to Anond. He said Thailand already swaps information about disasters with other countries in Asean, but he expected more exchange would be done after the Asean Economic Community takes effect.
"Also, we aim to [attract] entrepreneurs to make use of geo-informatics and space technology and develop relevant businesses - while our partner universities will provide experts and graduate students to learn and help entrepreneurs when they conduct research together," he said.
Somjet Tinapong, chairman of the executive committee of GISTDA, said 40 per cent of SKP's construction is complete. Anond expected it would begin using some buildings inside the park by next month.
Helping flood control will be an important role for the project.
"With help from Japan, the government and GISTDA are surveying the height of the ground in 60,000 square metre areas around 20 provinces from Phitsanulok to Bangkok. "Being familiar with different ground heights, we'll be able to predict the volume of flood waters accurately. This will help authorities manage water release more effectively," Anond said.
A book titled the World of Water, featuring articles and satellite images of last year's huge floods, has been launched. Incomes from its sales will be presented to His Majesty the King to assist disaster-affected people.
The Nation 2012-05-31
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