GISdevelopment.net ---> AARS ---> ACRS 1990 ---> Keynote Paper Situation and tendency of application of Remote Sensing techniques in Vietnam Prof. Nguyen Thuong Hung Institute of Geography and Natural Resources NCSR, NGHIA DO-TU LIEM-HA NOI-VIET NAM Abstract In the last over ten years, remote sensing techniques have paled an important role and have had considerable effects in surveying, researching natural conditions, resources and environment in Vietnam. However the demand on social and economic development is rising day by day, with the complexity of the humid tropical monsoon climate regime, application of remote sensing techniques still remain being limited. In the next future, the application of remote sensing techniques in Viet nam will be developed according to following tendencies. Focusing on developing utilization of aerial photographs data another sensor's data. Expanding application remote sensing techniques is sea researching. Combining processing remote sensing data with GIS Setting up a National Sensing data Bank. As many other countries in the South East Asia, Vietnam is located in the humid tropical monsoon region, having a variety of natural resources. Since it has an undeveloped, economy so the promotion of surveying, researching natural conditions, resources of the country is now considered necessary and urgent. Mountains and highland occupy about 4/5 of total area, hence it requires much time and high cost in using conventional methods to study, to assess natural resources, to monitor their changes caused by economic human activities. With the purpose to limit mentioned difficulties, new remote sensing techniques, therefore, have been being applied in Vietnam. On the base of these techniques, more accurate information and knowledge on environment and natural resources are obtained faster with allowed expense. Since 1980, when there was the USSR-VIET NAM international manned space flight, the utilization of remote sensing data has been became widely and systematically. A lot of facilities studying remote sensing have established in different ministries such as ministry of water conservation, Geology, Agriculture, Foresty, Geodesy and cartography….. including scientific research centres as National Centre for Scientific Research of Vietnam (NCRS). All remote sensing activities in Vietnam are under direct leading of the National Committee For Space Research and Application (NCSRA), which was linked with scientific programmes of INTERCOSMOS. It has to take into account of that an important landmark in history of remote sensing development in Vietnam has been the foundation of several projects sponsored by NNDP/FAO. It created initial technical and material basis to approach to the new technique. Evaluating remote sensing activities during the last over ten year period, we can make following main assessment : Combining with traditional methods, remote sensing methods increase accuracy of acquired data, reduce time in studying natural conditions and resources of the different territories. Remote sensing methods have supported effectively in monitoring natural resources and environmental changes took play after human activities. Except for above mentioned advantages, applying remote sensing techniques in Vietnam has some limitations as follows : Remote sensing data lack synchronism not only in time but also space i.e. without data at the different time in the year. It is mainly due to characteristics of the humid tropical monsoon regime. All remotely sensed data were received only in the dry season. Although there are some technical equipments for processing remote sensing data but it is not synchronous and very backward comparing with that of countries in the region. Until o now, almost remote sensing data are used only in the visible zone. There are not information in thermal infrared (TIR), RADAR image and microwaves radiometry, therefore, applying remote sensing data to inventory natural resources still remains being limited in the country which lies in the humid tropical monsoon region. When comprehensive assessment is carried out for any territory, it will be such successfully when processing of remote sensing data is combined with GIS. Above - mentioned remarks perhaps are not yet perfect and systematic absolutely but they are main limitations, which much be overcame soon in the next future. The climate of Vietnam is specialized by the humid tropical monsoon feature with two separate seasons, during sic month rainy period, a bulk of images of visible bands are not able to used because of dense cloud cover, moreover this seasonal separation is ununiform throughout the country; it depends on the altitude and relief. So it's very difficult to get a series of images at the same time in the whole vast country. The needs of social and economic development increase, especially that of knowledge on natural resources and environment by compiling the thematic maps on large scale. Up to now, however in Vietnam applying remote sensing data has not yet fitted with the complexity of studying natural resources, environment as well as socio-economic issues. Except for data of visible band used as usual the collection and processing of other sensor's data are very important and urgent. Based on said-above analysis and assessment the application of remote sensing techniques will be developed in the next time in Vietnam according to the following tendencies : Simultaneously with the promotion of application of data acquired from satellite and manned space shuttled, the importance is to pay more attention to developing application of remote sensing methods by using aerial photographs with the aim and overcome foregoing limitations. Beside this, the utilization of other sensor is information in such wave ranges as infrared, thermal infrared, as well as microwave radiometry data from radars installed on aircrafts will be taken in to consideration. Developing application of remote sensing techniques in surveying researching ocean for better fishing, exploiting oil and gas, in studying sea environmental conservation. It is necessary to enhance international co-operations, particularly with the countries of the Asian-Pacific region in the remote sensing ocean field and to propose cooperative projects with Japan, Thailand and other countries in applying MOS-1, TM…… data. Improving processing remote sensing data combining with GSI in planning and developing economy in conjunction with social problems of territory, in managing utilization of natural resources and environmental conservation. Establishing a national data bank dithering all available remote sensing materials from every separate institutions in Vietnam for the purpose of expand application these data to various scientific research branches on natural resources and environment as well as socio-economic problems There are below methods needed to implement above tasks Strengthen technical basis researching remote sensing in Vietnam Promoting activities to train scientist, specialist working at different remote sensing fields in the country and outside Increasing international cooperation, especially with the countries in the surrounding region to exchange experiences of scientific specialist. Recommending regional remote sensing programme of ESCAP (RRSP/ESCAP) and Asian remote sensing association (ARSA) to have concrete plans to help those countries which must cope with many difficulties like Vietnam in approaching to the new achievements in the world though cooperative researching programs, seminars, symposiums, short-term training course, sub-projects…….. to supply possibilities or Vietnam to be able to take part in main activities of regional remote sensing program and Asian Remote Sensing Association.