Geomatics is scientific discipline that covers mapping, surveying, planning, land management and spatial information systems. The discipline uses state of the art information technology, navigation and imaging satellites, land measurement tools and a body of knowledge in the area of land administration and management. There are obvious applications of this in the village development activities of PDA, so the GSAP scheme has been developed to bring young enthusiastic volunteers to Thailand to produce working documents and to train PDA staff in these activities.
Many of the projects being undertaken as part of the TBIRD, SEED and CBIRD activities need to know where things are on the ground, so that plans can be made to incorporate the developments into a pleasant and efficient environment. Nobody in rural Thailand wants their district to become like Bangkok, with dust, air pollution, noise and traffic. One of the benefits of the Northeast region of Thailand is that there is still land available to be set aside for purposes ranging from the practical like road diversions and rubbish recycling depots to tennis courts and guest houses on ponds. In order for this to be planned for, action needs to be taken now. Decisions can only be based on up-to-date knowledge of the current land use and availability.
The GSAP participants use their land measurement skills to produce computer based plans of the villages under consideration. These skills naturally include the more traditional surveying activities using instruments, but also includes acquiring aerial photographs from helicopters, and using GPS navigation satellites. Then they meet with the village representatives and district officers to discuss the possibilities for development based on the needs and suggestions of the local people. Once again local participation is vital to the success of these intentions.
Following this the information is collected together and a 'planning scheme' for controlled development of the region is prepared. PDA staff then use the contacts involved in the TBIRD projects to bring about these changes.
| For more information on GSAP, the Department of Geomatics or the University of Melbourne, contact either Cliff Ogleby or John Cazanis, or follow the University link |  |
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