HARSAC to handle microwave satellite data

CHANDIGARH, Dec 6: Haryana Remote Sensing Application Centre (HARSAC) - which is actively involved in application of satellite data produ...

CHANDIGARH, Dec 6: Haryana Remote Sensing Application Centre (HARSAC) – which is actively involved in application of satellite data product in natural resource management – is gearing up to handle microwave satellite data during cloudy and rainy seasons.

Disclosing this here today, Haryana Science and Technology Minister Bhim Sain Mehta said that the centre was making arrangements to handle high resolution data derived from Cartosat and Resoursat satellite missions. While Resoursat provides date for application in monitoring of water resources, land use change and ground water detection, Cartosat has the capacity of having 5.8 metres resolution, stereo viewing capability and five-day revisit. The date will be used routinely for production estimation of crops such as paddy, wheat, mustard and sugarcane.

N.K. Jain, Commissiner and Secretary (Science and Technology) said tat HARSAC – a nodal agency in haryana for all remote sensing based activities – was promoting, guiding, coordinating and aiding in research and development activities in the field of remote sensing technology. "It is also helping in developing approaches for integrated resources data management of various natural resources to become an important component in planning process of the state in years to come," he added.

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The centre has undertaken an ambitious project on integrated mission for sustainable development in several blocks of the state. The project sponsored by the Department of Space, aimed at preparing various natural resource maps like land use, land cover, hydrogeomarphology, soils and ground water quality. Besides, the analysis of socio-economic data, the maps would be integrated to derive site specific action action plan for sustainable development.

These types of studies have been completed in Mahendrgarh block and findings are being considered to implemented by DRDA, Mahendragarh. Similar type of studies are being undertaken in Hisar, Karnal, Nilokheri, Khol, Nathusari Chopta blocks and in Gurgaon district, bordering the national capital, besides Faridabad. The Forest Department has been one of the main users of maps prepared by HARSAC, which is fully engaged in preparing district level forest maps on 1:50,000 scale using the IRS data.