November 15, 2012 Thurssday
Survey Department holds seminar in
conjunction with 60th anniversary
Ishan Ibrahim
A section of the attendees at the seminar. - ISHAN IBRAHIM
The Permanent Secretary (Administration and Finance) at the Ministry of
Development, Awg Hj Muhammad Lutfi bin Abdullah has underlined the
fundamental importance of geospatial development in the role it plays in the
development of the nation.
He was speaking at the opening session of the Basic Land Surveying Seminar
Development (UTAP) based on the theme 'Geospatial for Sustainable Development'
that was organised by the Survey Department and supported by the Brunei Institute
of Geomantics (BIG), at the Rizqun International Hotel on Wednesday.
The information extracted from the analytical information is a foundation for
construction projects, and the relevance is high for those involved, such as
stakeholders, in making decisions that are fast, accurate and effective, he further
explained.
Awg Hj Muhammad Lutfi added that the technology utilised in the analysis has
various aspects such as in environmental disasters, land usage, planning and others.
He added that the Survey Department has prepared geospatial information for
nation-building purposes such as aerial photographs, LIDAR (Light Detection and
Ranging), topographical maps and more.
The information, he said, has been compiled into the Survey Spatial Data
Infrastructure (SSDI) launched the previous month and furthermore the Ministry of
Development will integrate the information with other departments under the
ministry before disseminating it to other government agencies. The completed
system will be called the National Spatial Data Infrastructure.
Consequently, he urged all government agencies to work closely together in the
sharing of geospatial information, such as disseminating the information to the
general public and stakeholders through meaningful dialogues and discussions.
Earlier, the Acting Surveyor General of the Survey Department, Awg Hj Ali Bakar
bin Hj Kasim said that nine working papers will be presented by the participants. He
said that such information should be shared between relevant agencies for further
utilisation according to needs, and underscored the importance to keep abreast with
the latest technology.
The President of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), Mr Teo Chee Hai
also said his organisation is focussed on ways to collaborate and to ensure that the
disciplines of surveying meet the stated requirements. He further elaborated on the
usage of geospatial information in devices such as geographical and temporal
context.
The seminar was aimed at introducing new projects launched by the Survey
Department, to identify projects in development by other government agencies,
dissemination of geospatial information and the sharing of invaluable experiences
amongst the participants.
Organised every two years, the UTAP seminar began in 1985 and this year's session
was held in conjunction with the Survey Department's 60-year anniversary.
The seminar encompassed two sessions. The first session was entitled 'Geospatial
Readiness' and was facilitated by Awg Newas bin Ukoi, while the second session
was entitled 'Geospatial Application' and was facilitated by Pg Hj Matusin bin Pg Hj
Matasan.