GISdevelopment.net ---> AARS ---> ACRS 1989 ---> Education and Training Remote Sensing and natural resources training and research activities at AIT-Bangkok Bertrand Fleutiaux Asian Institute of Technology Remote Sensing Laboratory P.O. Box 2754, Bangkok 10501111-Thailand Abstract At Asian Institute of Technology, the Remote Sensing component, Remote Sensing Laboratory is incorporated within the Interdisciplinary Natural Resources Development and Management Program. Academic Programs: The natural resources 20 months masters degree program admitted its first students in 1988. Approximately twenty scholarships per year are available. A masters degree option in Remote sensing and GIS technology is being developed. Short Courses: Both the Natural Resources (GIS) and the Remote Sensing 4 months short courses continue to be offered respectively once and twice a year. Scholarships are available for these training programs. Seminars, workshops and training courses: In 88 a total of 149 persons have been trained or have participated in these events at AIT, Laos and Indonesia. In 1989, one seminar, three workshops and three training courses have been organized in the field of Remote Sensing, GIS and applications at AIT, Nepal, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. In 1990, the same kind of events will be organized by AIT. Research and application projects: One regional pilot project and four in Thailand are in progress and four others are under negotiation in the region. The principal themes are : deforestation monitoring, narcotics area detection, urban planning, resources assessment and regional development. New facilities: There are now 15 image processing workstations available in the Remote Sensing Laboratory. New technology in the RSL: is being developed in the field of GIS (mini and macro based), 3D processing, AVHRR data processing. Introduction The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), founded in 11959, is an autonomous, international, post graduate technological institute located in Bangkok. AIT offers academic programs in engineering and science and allied fields such as Natural Resources. The Remote Sensing component at AIT is incorporated within the Interdisciplinary Natural Resources Development and Management Program (INRDM) . The INRDM program and within it the remote sensing laboratory (RSL) have been created on May 1987 taking the place of the former Asian Regional Remote Sensing Training Centre (ARRSTC). The program pursues the goal of introducing improved methods for land use planning and management of natural resources through educational and research activities. Training activities in natural resources, Remote Sensing and GIS. The INRDM program, supported by the Remote Sensing Laboratory, organizes, administers and presents specific training programs and regular programs. Specific Training Programs (Table 1) Under specific request, INRDM/RSL organizes at AIT and in Asia/Pacific countries, workshops, training courses, seminars in specialized topics with the sponsorship of donors such as international organizations, Asian governmental agencies, the cooperation agencies of developed countries.... Over the last two years, 173 workshop participants were trained in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS). The average workshop length was 2.6 weeks. To date, workshops have been held in Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Table 1 Regular Programs (Table 2) In addition, the INRDM/RSL also has a regular schedule of advertised training and degree programs at AIT. Workshops (3 weeks) Image processing using micro computers Geographic information systems using micro computers 122 participants have been trained since July 1984. Short courses certificate (4 months) Natural Resources Information Management Applied Remote Sensing 379 trainees have graduated since September 1982 Masters degree (20 months) Natural Resources Development and Management 20 students enrolled since May 1988 The INRDM program does not offer a doctorate. However, a candidate in any of the AIT academic division may elect a minor study in Natural Resources Development and Management. Table 2 Scholarships Many donors give regular scholarship grants for the above training and regular programs. A non exhaustive list among the most active donors is given below : International organizations : UNDP, FA0, ADB, AIFM,................ National agencies : CIDA, FRENCH GOVERNMENT, USAID, SIDA, FINNIDA,.... Private sponsors : CDG, ROCKEFELLER...... The normal deadline for applicants receiving scholarships from AIT is 8 months before each intake for Masters degree and doctoral programs, and 3 months before the beginning of each certificate program and workshop. Remote sensing laboratory The remote sensing laboratory (RSL) is the key unit which permits the accomplishment of the heavy training program and research activity of the INRDM program. The goal of the RSL is to help promote natural resources assessment analysis and monitoring activities in the region through the use of remote sensing and geographic information system. A lot of facilities and the implementation of updated and new technology permit to achieve this goal. Research Facilities The RSL incorporates three technological units : The Digital processing laboratory has no less than 15 image processing workstations 2 on DEC MICROVAX II (MICROVIPS) : Pericolor 2001 (512 x 512) and Geode (1024 x 1024) 2 on IBM 3083 Main frame (DIMAPS) 3 on NEC APC IV micro computers : 2 ERDAS (512x512) and 1 MULTISCOPE (1024 x1024 to be installed in the following months) 8 on NEC APC IV (micro computer classroom) : DRAGON tutorial system The Photographic laboratory has specialized equipment for : Production of B&W or color master transparencies from digital images with the optronics color plotter digitization of any hard copy image with the optronics color scanner. B&W and color processing and enlargement in a wide range of formats upto 30"x40", with Wing-lynch film processing and Kreonite print processing equipment. The Visual Analysis laboratory contains 26 workstations for stereoscopic examination of aerial photography, drafting tables, light tables and layout tables plus a B&L zoom transferscope and kail photogrammedtric plotter. Technology During the last two years a great effort has been made to create new technologic capabilities or to improve the existing ones in the RSL : Geographic information systems : Four different systems are now available : MAGELLAN on MICROVAX II ARC/INFO on NEC APC IV ERDCAS GIS on NEC APC IV PAMAP on NEC APC IV 3d Processing (creation and use of digital elevation model) a complete processing chain is now available including functions such as : digitization of elevation contour lines generation of DEM visualization of DEM and by-products 3d image perspective viewing geometric correction using DEM radiometric correction using DEM Low Resolution data processing : The development of an image processing chain for the NOAA/AVHRR data available in the region is in progress. Research and application projects (table 3) INRDM/RSL carries out research and demonstration projects using remote sensing satellite data in any country of South East Asia. The aim is to : develop new methodologies specially adapted to the needs of the region in the field of land and water resources planning and management. help potential users in mastering remote sensing applications through pilot projects which meet their needs. During the last two years, RSL's ability to support research and demonstration projects has increased through the donation of new equipment (see above), the grants for projects and the development of new methodologies (see above). The projects already undertaken or under progress in the INRDM/RSL are in several domains such as : Water resources : surface water evaluation (NE Thailand) Environment effect of deforestation and agricultural landuse on water quality (Chiang Mai, Thailand) Rural development Narathiwat province (South Thailand) : HRH Princess Sirindhorn drought hit area Nong Song Hong (NB Thailand) : King's project survey of narcotic plantations using SPOT data (North and North East Thailand) landuse of the Valentine plain (Laos) The RSL also provides services (Photographic and digital processing) to assist users in the region. This activity is limited to requests for small amounts of production. Future of Remote Sensing at AIT Following are the major trends envisaged for the development of remote sensing and GIS activities in the near future. Evolvement of a "Remote Sensing and GIS Masters degree" A feasibility study is starting now to assess the appropriateness, the possible content and funding of a Masters degree program in Remote sensing and geographic information system at AIT. This program, unique in the region, is applications-oriented and aimed at computer scientists and natural scientists. This degree should enable them to acquire the desired level of competence for the creation of national remote sensing centres in the region and develop the insertion of remote sensing in the governmental agencies, the Universities and the private sector. Development of new technology To be attractive to the region, every course of this Remote Sensing and GIS masters degree will be created on the basis of new and updated technology associated to the relevant equipment. The priorities will be : Remote Sensing fundamentals GIS concepts and applications Microwave and radar remote sensing (to prepare the use of ERSI and RADARSAT data) digital image processing photogrammetry and topographic mapping using satellite data forest monitoring and mapping satellite crop monitoring/crop yield forecasting environmental monitoring water resources assessment equipment and software packages for Remote sensing and GIS Regional Remote Sensing/GIS Centre In the longer run, as the RSL continues to develop and maintain a leading regional position in the applications of the new technologies, it will eventually expand into an independent Regional Centre at AIT. Conclusion More and more there are indications providing that we are about to enter the era of operational use of remote sensing in the region. Activities which were pure research and demonstration in isolated cases have to become effective and operational remote sensing and GIS technology (methodologies and equipment) applications in the S.E. Asia and Pacific countries. AIT will play an important role in this endeavor. Along with the already existing workshops, short courses, seminars, AIT may also provide the relevant advanced education (masters degree) which is essential at the executive level for understanding, choosing, installing, operating and developing this new technology in the Asian countries.