MalaysiaGIS.com

Source: The Star

Kuala Lumpur: The setting up of the country's first ground receiving station will save the Government about RM4mil a year in obtaining satellite images for environmental and resource management purposes.

Science, Technology and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Law Hieng Ding said the Government was spending that amount to get data and images from international ground receiving stations located in Thailand, the United States, France and Canada.

"With the completion of the station in October, it will take a shorter time to receive the required data and images and we do not have to rely on other countries to attain the information we need," he said, adding that there were 20 such stations in the world.

Law said the new station at Temerloh would allow access to information or images transmitted from local and international satellites.

This would make it easier for the Government to monitor areas for disaster management or security and defence purposes, he said after launching the Third Malaysian Remote Sensing and GIS conference and exhibition here yesterday.

Also present was Malaysian Remote Sensing Society president Nik Nasruddin Mahmood.

Law said the images obtained would provide supplementary assistance to the Government and save on manpower.

"Information obtained from our own ground receiving station will remain classified as we do not have to share such data with other countries," he said.

But, when asked if Malaysia would consider selling the processed data to other countries, Law said the Government would consider it if there was a demand.

He said the RM81mil station was 50% completed and the private sector would also have access to image transmitted and processed.

Law said the completion of the station was scheduled earlier but due to a delay in finalising the technical requirements and specifications of the station, it had to be postponed.

On the conference, aimed at promoting awareness on the emerging remote sensing and related technologies, Law said it was good to bring together experts in the industry that would share ideas and experience for a strong foundation for a knowledge-based economy.

Nik Nasruddin, who is also Malaysian Centre for Remote Sensing director, said the station would be able to receive real-time data within a 2,500km radius.

"Images from other parts of the world can also be obtained but it will not be at real-time," he added.