MalaysiaGIS.com

Source: Computimes, The New Straits Times (page 12)

According to Dataprep-Sysdeco's general manager Jamalluddin Ismail, the seminar aims to demonstrate the benefits that a sophisticated geographic information system (GIS) can bring to corporations as well as the nation.

In particular, the seminar highlighted the use of a GIS software called Tellus in building the Norwegian C31 defence system. This system was used by the Norwegian police force to manage its operations during the previous Winter Olympics.

Jamalluddin explained Tellus is an open, modular and object-oriented GIS toolset running on Unix. In the C31 defence system, it worked in synergy with other technologies such as satellite global positioning system as well as video and radio channels.

"The integrated GIS with its sub-components was a real-time tracking and mapping computer database system that provided instantaneous information on the position and movement of people and vehicles," he added.

Apart from defence systems, GIS data could also be used for other applications. The day-long seminar's panel of five speakers presented the diverse operational value of integrated GIS in a workstation environment.

The first speaker was Born Taale Sandberg, the assistant divisions director of the Norwegian defence communications and data services administration. He spoke on the use of GIS in its NORCCISS II System.

A Norwegian-based senior consultant for the government services industry, Per Ola Dropping, shared his experience in using GIS during the Lillehammer Winter Olympic games.

Eirik Josum, a research scientist at the Norwegian Electric Power Research Institute, talked about Netbas, a network information system for the electricity industry.

The fourth speaker, Johan De Poorter, who is managing director De Poorter, who is managing director of Belgium's Sysdeco BeNeLux, demonstrated the MONACO fire brigade operational support system.

Finally, Cheong Kok Keen, managing director of Singapore-based Sysdeco Asia Pte Ltd, shared his experience of using GIS in an application for water management.

The seminar entitled Command, Control, Communication and Information (C3I) System was organised jointly by Dataprep-Sysdeco and the Royal Norwegian Embassy.

Present to officiate and open the seminar were the Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Dr Abdullah Fadhil Che Wan and the Norwegian Ambassador to Malaysia, Carsten Jacob Helgeby.

Dataprep-Sysdeco is a joint venture company between Dataprep Holdings Berhad and Sysdeco Group AS of Norway. It lists the Kuala Lumpur and Johor Land Survey Departments, Defence Ministry and the forest operations of Sarawak's Samling Timber Sdn Bhd as some of its major customers.