6 Permanent GPS Stations by May Next Year
Digitalised map by 2016
Say survey officials
The government is going to set up six permanent Global Positioning System (GPS) stations in six districts by May next year, said officials of Survey of Bangladesh (SOB), the national surveying and mapping agency, at a seminar yesterday.
Using the technology, all maps in the country would be converted into a digital format with creation of a geo-database by 2016 under a project in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), they said.
Talking to The Daily Star after the seminar, Project Officer of SOB Major Nurul Amin Chowdhury said the SOB has invited tenders for permanent GPS stations and hoped that the stations would be installed by May next year.
The GPS uses a global network of satellites to provide accurate navigational information for surveyors, sailors, hill trekkers, and even motorists.
The stations would function as GPS receivers that would track all satellites in their range and collect data of the satellite signals, said Nurul Amin Chowdhury, adding that this data would be used to collect geographical information to create a comprehensive geo-database.
This would, in turn, help SOB produce precise, highly detailed multi-dimensional maps that would be helpful for everyone from research and development organisations and government agencies to citizens, said Colonel Mahmudun Nabi of SOB in his keynote speech.
“The technology can be used for tracking criminals, studying water bodies, planning infrastructure development worksthe possibilities are limitless,” he said.
Discussants at the seminar explained the use and advantages of using digital maps and geo-spatial data over conventional mapping systems. They said digital maps are more reliable and precise and it can be instantly updated and used for countless activities.
They can be used in the field of infrastructure development, enforcement of law and order, defence, engineering and many other things, said Defence Secretary Khondaker M Asaduzzaman.
He called upon all private and public organisations to approach SOB for topographic or geographic data required to plan and implement their projects, rather than spending time and money on doing the same things.
“This would save a lot of resources for many,” he said.
Speaking as the chief guest, defence advisor to the Prime Minister Major General (Retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique urged the private and public agencies to maintain communication with the SOB to be updated with new information and contemporary mapping technologies.
“Moving from analogue to digital is a challenge. But we Bangladeshis love challenges,” he said, “if we face this challenge in the correct way, it would bring only good things for the country.”
SOB Surveyor General of Bangladesh Mominul Haque chaired the programme. Assistant Surveyor General Md Zulfikar Haider, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Tamotsu Shinotsuka, JAICA Chief Representative Takao Toda and Geographical Survey Institute (GSI) Director Hidenori Yoshikane, among others, spoke at the programme.
The SOB launched the Improvement of Digital Mapping System (IDMS) project in 2009 to produce medium and large-scale digital topographical maps and digital geo-database for Bangladesh.
The agency would produce 1:25,000 scale digital topographic maps and geo-database for the whole country, and 1:5,000 scale maps for the divisional cities.
JICA have initiated a project titled Bangladesh Digital Mapping Assistance Project (BDMAP) to give technical and logistic support to SOB to implement digitalised mapping system.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. 
Related News
Boy found dead in Ctg monastery
5 July 2022, 18:00 PM
Crime & Justice
Eid joy marred by tragedy
5 July 2022, 18:00 PM
Bangladesh
Sitakunda Blast: Who started the fire?
5 July 2022, 18:00 PM
Accidents & Fires
Railway’s east zone reels from manpower crisis
5 July 2022, 18:00 PM
Transport
Barred from rally at Suhrawardy, BNP to hold protest across country tomorrow
13 November 2016, 07:30 AM
Politics
Comments