Governor Baby Rani Maurya along with Agriculture Minister Subodh Uniyal released Land Use-Land Cover of Uttarakhand, Remote Sensing And GIS Based Applications in Agriculture Sector, Geospatial Techniques for Forest, Ecology and Climate Change Sector of Uttarakhand and An Atlast of Snow Cover Studies of Uttarakhand published by the Uttarakhand Space Application Centre (USAC) on Wednesday.
On the occasion, Maurya said that space technology is very important for scientific research in Uttarakhand considering the state’s geographical conditions. She commended USAC for compiling its scientific works and publishing the same in the form of books. The maps and data in these books will prove useful to the linear departments in the state. She said that while USAC is working for the conservation of the state natural resources, the general public will also have to come forward for this.
Uniyal said that while India had achieved position among the top few nations in space technology, since its formation USAC too has done commendable work by completing various projects. Citing the value of space technology in the agriculture sector, he said that it helps policy makers and administrators in finalising important decisions related to import-export.
Science and Technology secretary RK Sudhanshu said that using satellite and field data on various natural resources of Uttarakhand, USAC is preparing maps of various scales. The information contained in the four publications brought out by USAC will prove useful for linear departments in developmental works and policy formulation.
Earlier, USAC director MPS Bisht informed that apart from completing various projects funded by the Centre and State in past years, the centre is currently working on various projects. The land use-land cover atlas contains land use/ land cover geo-database and maps of 13 districts. These show details of the various natural resources and basic infrastructure of the state. Remote Sensing and GIS Based Applications in Agriculture Sector contains 2018-19 satellite data-based evaluation of area and production of various crops in different districts. Study of changes in agricultural land in Dehradun and Almora districts using multitemporal satellite data has shown that in the past 27 years 41.84 square kilometers and 122 square kilometers agricultural land in Almora and Dehradun respectively have transformed in to construction areas. An At last of Water and Snow Cover Studies of Uttarakhand is a compilation of three studies. By studying glaciers and major sources of water in the state through remote sensing and GIS, this atlas is intended to provide accurate information to the various departments concerned, said the USAC director.
