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Editorial Board C

M Dear Reader, Y

K In this issue, we welcome our new Editorial Board members. These new members, comprising highly distinguished personalities with extensive research and experience would broaden the scope of the magazine in the fast developing world of geomatics. We thank Prof. I.V. Muralikrishna and all the outgoing Editorial Board members for supporting the magazine from its first issue. Publishers

Honorary Editor Members

Mr. Mukund Kadursrinivas Rao joined Prof. Ian Masser retired from the position of Indian Space Research Organisation at Professor of Urban Planning at ITC in in 1981 after obtaining Master in September 2002 after four and a half years Science (Geology) degree from service. Prior to that he was Professor of Town University. He has completed his Master in and Regional Planning at the University of Philosophy in Remote Sensing and is presently Sheffield for nearly 20 years. He currently holds pursuing his Doctorate in systems design of the positions of Visiting Professor in the Faculty Urban Information Systems. of Geographical sciences at the University of Mukund Rao Currently he is the Deputy Director Ian Masser Utrecht and the Centre for Advanced Spatial (Technology & Systems), Earth Observations Analysis at University College London. He was System Programme Office in ISRO Headquarters, . Mr the Founder Chairman of the Association of Geographic Information Mukund Rao is also involved in the Systems and Technology Laboratories in Europe (AGILE) from 1998 to 1999 and President assessment/coordination for the Indian EO programme and is of the European Umbrella Organisation for Geographic Information working for the development of a 25 year strategy for the Indian (EUROGI) from 1999 to 2003. In September 2002 he was elected EO and also for repositioning National Natural Resources President of the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Association. Management System (NNRMS). He is well versed with national Prof Masser has held visiting positions at universities in Australia, and international policies in EO and spatial data and has been Germany, Greece, Italy, Iraq, Japan, Switzerland and the United associated with defining the framework of EO and Spatial Data States and at government research centres in Korea and Malaysia. Infrastructure (SDI) policies. He coordinates the NSDI activities He has also acted as advisor to a large number of national and and has been involved in the development of a Metadata Standard international agencies including the European Commission, for NSDI in . He coordinates the international interface of Eurostat, OECD, UNCRD and the World Bank. India’s EO programme and represents ISRO in many international Educated in geography and town planning at Liverpool University fora. he received his PhD in 1975 and was awarded a LittD in 1993 by His research and work experience is in the field of Spatial the same University for his contributions to the fields of planning Information Systems. He has been working on systems analysis methods, information management and comparative planning. and design and implementation of Decision-Support Systems These three interests feature prominently in his current research based on the use of Earth Observation images and of Geographical activities. From 1986-1991 he was national coordinator of ESRC’s Information Systems (GIS) tools. He has been the key person in Regional Research Laboratory initiative and he co-directed the the design and definition of the Natural Resources Management European Science Foundation’s GISDATA scientific programme System (NRIS) programme of ISRO/DOS and has completed a from 1992 to 1997. His publications include sixteen books and over number of NRIS projects in support of district planning, urban 250 contributions to conference proceedings, books and major planning, wasteland development, etc. As Programme Manager journals. of NRIS, he has been involved in furthering the scope and concept of NRIS as a natural resources information repository. Presently, he is the key design person for the National Spatial Data Mr. Rajesh C. Mathur is the President and Infrastructure (NSDI) and is associated in its strategy Member of the Board of NIIT GIS Ltd., a joint development, action plan development and implementation. venture between NIIT Ltd. and ESRI, Inc., the Mr Mukund Rao is the President (Elect) of the Global Spatial World’s largest provider of GIS software. Data Infrastructure; Vice President of the International An alumnus of IIT , Mr. Mathur has been Astronautical Federation (IAF); Vice Chair of IAFs EO associated with the IT industry both in India and Committee; Member of IAFs Education Committee; Member overseas for more than 25 years. He has handled of IAFs CLIODN Committee; Member-Secretary of the Centre assignments in General Management, for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia And the Rajesh Mathur Marketing, Corporate Planning and International Pacific (CSSTEAP) Advisory Committee and participates in many Operations. Prior to his current assignment he other international fora. He has also earlier Chaired the CEOS has worked with Wipro, IDM and DCM Data Systems in India and Working Group on Education and Training. He is the recipient of USA. the Hari-Om Ashrams Vikram Sarabhai Young Scientists Award As the head of ESRI India, India’s premier GIS products and services for 2002. company, Mr. Mathur is spearheading the growth of GIS deployment

6 May-June 2003 Geospatial Today editorial board in India. He is actively involved with various professional bodies Dr. R Siva Kumar graduated in Production associated with the Indian GIS industry. He is a Vice President of Engineering with a First Rank from Sri Indian Society of Geomatics. He is also a member of various Venkateswra University and obtained his Post committees formed by Govt. of India, CII and FICCI. Graduate Diploma in computer Methods and Programming with a Gold Medal. He was commissioned into Corps of Engineers of the Mr. K.R.Sridhara Murthi is currently Executive Indian Army in June 1977 and later seconded to Director of Antrix Corporation Limited, which Survey of India in Oct 1979. is marketing arm of Department of Space of R. Siva Kumar . He served in various He has varied experience in all aspects of capacities in Indian national space programme surveying and mapping though his specialization is Photogrammetry. for over two decades. Prior to his current position, He obtained his PG Diploma in Production Photogrammetry with he was the Scientific Secretary of Indian Space Distinction from ITC, the Netherlands. His thesis A multi-source Research Organisation in which capacity, he was digital topographic data base for India’ earned him the Ph.D from K R S Murthi responsible for overall direction and guidance for Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. international cooperation, budget and human He served in Army HQ as Director Military Survey and has been resources development, space policy and public outreach of Indian involved in framing and implementation of policies. Currently he is Space Program. Head of NRDMS and NSDI Divisions of Department of Science Joining Indian Space Research Organisation in 1975, Mr. Murthi & Technology spearheading NSDI movement. handled responsibilities in satellite programme planning at ISRO He travelled abroad widely and had opportunities to study various Satellite Centre until 1985, held key role in the Technology Transfer national mapping organizations and Spatial Data Infrastructure in and Industry Cooperation programme at ISRO Headquarters during advanced countries. He served as a member of many expert groups 1986-1990, and was Counsellor (Space) at Embassy of India, Paris, and is currently Member Secretary of the Task Force on NSDI. promoting cooperation between ISRO and European Organisations, He has been recipient of a number of honours and awards. He was during 1990-94. awarded Dolezal Prize of the International Society for Mr. Murthi holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering with post- Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) in the congress at graduate qualification in Business Administration from Indian Held in Vienna, Austria in 1996. Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He was awarded the Tat Scholarships for Study Abroad and the He was the Vice President of International Astronautical Federation, Netherlands Government Fellowship. Papers presented by him have responsible for external relations with international organizations, won prizes from the National Research and Development during 1998-2002. He had been Indian delegate to United Nations Corporation. He takes active interest in the professional Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and also a member of organizations and is a fellow of Institution of Engineers and International Institute of Space Law (IISL) and a Corresponding Institution of Surveyor s besides being a senior member of Member of International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). Computer Society of India, INCA and IME. He has several publications in national and international journals and co-author of the book “Perspectives in Communications” published by World Scientific Publishing Company, Singapore. Dr. Shailesh Nayak is currently working as a Group Director, Marine and Water Resources, at the Space Applications Centre ISRO, Mr. M.Moni is a senior technocrat of National Ahmedabad. He has obtained Ph.D degree in Informatics Centre, Government of India, Geology from the M. S. University of Baroda in currently working as its Deputy Director 1980. He has joined the Space Applications General. With more than 24 years of professional Centre in 1978. experience, he has held several prestigious He has been mainly involved in conceptualising, Shailesh Nayak assignments including sharing important formulating and executing many national level responsibilities as Principal Systems Analyst to projects related application of satellite data related coastal and the Former Finance Minister of India during marine environment. Currently, he is leading a project on ocean M.Moni 1985-88. He pioneered to establish the District colour and integrated coastal zone management and water resources. Information System of National Informatics Centre in the 520 districts of India during 1987-96. He has been member of many national committees related to coastal protection, coastal zone management formulated by the Ministry He is currently leading the Group for formulating ICT Plans for of Water Resources and Ministry of Environment and Forests, increasing productivity in Agriculture & Allied sectors and Water respectively. Resources Development. His research interests span over a wide area of agricultural economics & informatics, micro-level planning, He was awarded the Indian National Remote Sensing Award for regional and sustainable development, Information systems and the Year 1994 by the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, . networking, decision support system and fusion of technologies He is recognised as Ph.D guide by six universities and currently six for increased agricultural productivity. He is the author of more students are carrying out research under his guidance. He is member than 20 technical reports and a number of research papers. of the editorial board of the Indian Journal of Marine Science. He is a distinguished Board Member in the “Asian Federation of He is Secretary, International Society of Photogrammetry and Information Technology in Agriculture” for 2002-2004. He is also Remote Sensing, Technical Commission VII on Resource and Environmental Monitoring and Chairman ISPRS WG Vll/3 for the the Secretary General of the Bhoovigyan Vikas Foundation, which C period 2000-2004. He is representing ISRO at the International

has been founded for Earth Sciences Development, Sustainable M Development and Earth Care Policy Studies, in developing Ocean Colour Coordinating Group. He has published about 60 countries. papers in International and National journals and atlases. Y K

May-June 2003 Geospatial Today 7

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editorial board

Brig. M.V.Bhatt has obtained his B.E. in Civil Dr. P. S. Roy, is the Dean of the Indian Institute Engineering from Mysore University in 1972. He of Remote Sensing (IIRS), a premier educational

C was commissioned in Indian Army in 1973. Since and training institute in the Asia Pacific region

M 1977 he is working with Survey of India. During organising programmes on Remote Sensing and 1979 and 1985 he carried out project work for Geographic Information System techniques and Y irrigation department in Bihar and Orissa using applications in the area of various disciplines of K photogrammetry techniques. Natural Resource Management. IIRS is also a He also carried out trans-frontier mapping using host institution for organising Post Graduate M. V. Bhatt satellite imageries and aerial photography for P. S . Ro y Course for Centre for Space Science and defence purposes in 502 Photo Mapping Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific Engr.Group from 1985 to 1989. Carried out project work using (Affiliated to the United Nations) (CSSTEAP). He is working in photogrammetry and ground techniques for various projects of the field of Remote Sensing since 1977 with National Remote irrigation, mining and forest departments of Govt of Karnataka. Sensing Agency (NRSA). He is Project Director of a National Large scale surveys for coastal zone mapping and boundary project on “Biodiversity Characterisation at landscape level using demarcation for Govt. of Karnataka were done from 1989 to 2001. Remote Sensing and GIS” being executed jointly by Department He assessed different kinds of satellite imageries namely : Land of Space and Department of Biotechnology. Stat, SPOT, IRS etc. as in puts for map updation. Brig Bhatt is Dr. P.S. Roy has scientifically contributed on the use of presently Director of Survey Training Institute, imparting training Geoinformation science for forest mapping, monitoring and to departmental staff and officers, Govt. Agencies and degradation of tropical forest. He has also made research representative of industry etc. on various aspects of spatial data contribution for forest fire and risk mapping. He has been collection and use, using different techniques. He guides MSc/ instrumental on starting educational progranmies on Geoinformatics B.Tech students on project work. He has designed pilot work for for Environmental Assessment & Disaster Management for cadastral survey using modern instruments for Govt. of Karnataka. different target groups with the participation of International He presented papers on different spatial data connected activities agencies namely., International Institute for Geoinformation Science as a part of the Great Arc celebrations in Survey of India. He has & Earth Observation (ITC), International Institute for also organized Great Arc Quiz Competition for school children Infrastructural, Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering (IHE) during 2002 involving more than 8 lacs children from schools from and Wageningen University (WU). different parts of the country. He is Fellow of National Academy of Sciences, India; Academy of Agriculture Sciences; Indian Geophysical Union and National Institute of Ecology. He has been a member of various major national Dr. Nagaraja Ravoori, Head, Land Use Division, committees related to Forest/Vegetation Resource Mapping and National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Monitoring. He has been awarded for his scientific contributions Department of Space, (Govt. of India), viz., Indian national Remote Sensing Award-1991, Shri Han Om joined NRSA in 1982 after obtaining Ashram Prerit Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Research Award (in Space M.Sc. (Geography).He obtained Ph.D. from Applications)- 1993, B.P. Pal National Environmental Fellow Award- Osmania University. Dr. Nagaraja is responsible 1996 and Recognition Award 2002 by National Academy of for devising procedures/methods to use the GIS Agricultural Sciences for his scientific contributions in the area of for Wasteland Development, Tourism National Resource Management. He has made most significant R. Nagaraja Development and Land Use Change analysis research contributions proven with international research under pilot/operational projects. He has used publications on geospatial modeling for landscape analysis, wildlife microwave and optical data to study land use dynamic and its impact habitat analysis and wasteland development planning. He has also on environment. Presently he is involved in the use of multi-stage developed analytical tools for microwave remote sensing data for data for multi-purpose cadastral mapping under INDO-FRG extracting information on forest canopy, type discrimination and project. He was consultant to International Fund for Agricultural digital approach in contextual classification. He has published more Development (IFAD), Rome of United Nations body for analysing than hundred papers/articles in international and national journals. trends in shifting cultivation in NE India using Remote Sensed Data. His candidature was nominated by Secretary DOS for UN-ESA fellowship on merit for in depth training on Remote Sensing Dr. (Mrs) P. Venkatachalam received her Information System. Member ‘Data Compression Evaluation Task Master’s and doctoral degrees in Mathematics Team’ for evaluation of Data Compression techniques and from Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. She algorithms for inclusion in future satellite mission such as cartosat. received Institute Silver Medal for securing first Member for Project Monitoring Committee for NWIP and Project rank in M.Sc. Mathematics at IIT, Bombay. Since Manager/Principal Investigator for Wasteland Mapping Project at 1978, she has been working at the Centre of NRSA. Studies in Resources Engineering, IIT, Bombay carrying out research in the areas of GIS and Dr. Nagaraja received INRS award in 1999 by ISRS, Dehradun and P. Venkatachalam image processing and has over 80 research Best Scientist/Engineer Award for 1977-1998 by FAPCCI. Elected publications to her credit. She has guided a as fellow of AP Academy of Sciences in 2000. He was invited for number of under graduate and graduate students in their research FAO - UNEP expert consultation on strategies for land cover at projects. Dr.Venkatachalam took the initiative to develop an Florence, Italy during 2002. He was the Organising Secretary, indigenous GIS package GRAM with the support of Department International Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, of Science and Technology, Govt. of India. Recently GRAM has been Technical Commission VII on Resource and Environmental updated and a new version GRAM++ working on Windows platform Monitoring and Secretary ISPRS WG Vll/3 for the period 2000-2004. has been released. She has visited a number of research institutions He has about 33 research publications to credit and involved in and universities in India and abroad and delivered lectures. Her about 19 major projects in Remote Sensing are which includes five keen interest is to see that GIS technology gets penetrated across national projects. Coauthor for preparation of Five Manuals/ the country through college curriculum, in-house training and the Guidelines for use of remote sensing for different applications. As potential usage by the planners and decision makers. She feels that associate editor he has published a book on “Space Technology and a strong initiative must be taken by the research organizations and Geography” published by NRSA. academic institutes in the research and development of spatial information theory. 8 May-June 2003 Geospatial Today