The seminar and workshop on application of Satelite Images for Plantation agriculture development and vehicle tracking fleet management service was held this week. Managing Director Geoinformatics (Pvt) Ltd., Sudarman Siripala said this seminar was in large part an exercise in land use and future land management and placing strategic options in their correct perspectives. Facilitation for better transfer of technology and to enhance the right to develop given tracts of land would form basics of this seminar he said. Land mapping would further enhance exposure to professionalise what experts would impart during 2 days of discussion and exchange of views.

He said that all plantation companies had been informed to attend but despite specialist influences of experts in relevant fields there were only 6 persons from as many companies present. That too having had confirmation that 60 would attend.

However There were others from other disciplines present.

Experts from Digital Globe Inc., USA, National Remote Sensing Agency India, Thales navigation Inc., France, Pakistan Upper Atmosphere Research Commission of the Government of Pakistan, and earth Resource Mapping Inc., Australia were expected to deliver presentations in applying remotely sensed data for the enhancement of plantation agriculture and productivity. The seminar conducted over 2 days would climax at the launch of the Vehicle Tracking Fleet Management service on day three, said Siripala.

Director General (Formerly Agriculture department) Dr. Sarath Weerasena chaired the first working session with expert Ganesh Kumar Channel Manager Asia, ER Mapper, J. Alwis (Retired ) Secretary, Ministry Coconut Development, and Bertie Buddhisena (Ret) Secretary General, Ministry of Lands, and Project Director Land Titling of the Land Ministry were in attendance. Project was funded by the World bank.

ER Mapper, presented by Ganesh Kumar, outlined land mapping in its broadest application which facilitated future land management options including planning and crop projections.

Additionally soil conditions could also be determined to ensure planting cross crops to suit both soil and topographical conditions.

He said holistic applications could include planning details of crop options, weather parameters, terrain, soil variations, and perhaps interminable possibility for wide cross section of land management.

Other applications Included aerial mapping and projection of requirements for overall management of large tracts of land.