With aerial photos
dominating the walls behind them, officials from the Science Ministry’s
Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency discuss how to
get a better grasp on environmental changes affecting the kingdom by
watching the country from space.
Theerarak Suthathiwong
Thai officials are hoping to get a better grasp on environmental
changes affecting the kingdom by watching the country from space.
At a Jan. 25 seminar at the Amari Orchid Resort & Tower, officials from
the Science Ministry’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development
Agency provided an overview on how imagery from the THEOS satellite,
unmanned aerial drones and radar are helping scientists monitor rising
sea levels, deforestation, drought and sink holes.
GISTDA Director Anont Snitwongse Na Ayuthaya
explained that space-based cameras can have many uses and encouraged
audience members to suggest even more ways the agencies imagery and data
could be used to benefit the country.
“From the current environmental changes, elevation of sea levels,
scarcity of water resources, loses of aquatic and forest resources or
even sinking of land, we’ve become concerned over how to make our
country survive with planning for progress and financial, industrial and
agricultural development,” Anont said.
Among the projects GISTDA helped create are tsunami warning systems, a
database on water sources for communities, tourism promotion and fire
tracking.
