webfact Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 Thai agency to lead Asean in disaster warning and control WANNAPA KHAOPA THE NATION BANGKOK: -- A Thai agency aims to be a hub for the Asean region in terms of geo-informatics and space technology development to help the region deal with economic, social and environmental issues, including disasters. "Lots of people know us - the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) - only as an agency that helps survey disasters and provides satellite images to update disaster situations. "But, our role covers many more areas. We can help Thailand and even Asean with many issues," GISTDA executive director Anond Snidvongs told a press conference in Bangkok on Tuesday. The event, entitled Thailand Truth Untold, outlined GISTDA's mission and current projects. Under a strategic plan entitled GISTDA: Delivering Values from Space, images from the Thailand earth observation satellite (THEOS) called Thaichote, and other satellites, would be used when surveying and creating maps for natural resources and environment management. This would be useful for land use, water resources, coastal erosion and border area surveys, city planning, and pollution caused by oil leaking into the sea, Anond said. Space Krenovation Park (SKP) will be the centre for training people whose jobs or duties involve satellites across Asean. It will become the hub of information exchange for them, according to Anond. He said Thailand already swaps information about disasters with other countries in Asean, but he expected more exchange would be done after the Asean Economic Community takes effect. "Also, we aim to [attract] entrepreneurs to make use of geo-informatics and space technology and develop relevant businesses - while our partner universities will provide experts and graduate students to learn and help entrepreneurs when they conduct research together," he said. Somjet Tinapong, chairman of the executive committee of GISTDA, said 40 per cent of SKP's construction is complete. Anond expected it would begin using some buildings inside the park by next month. Helping flood control will be an important role for the project. "With help from Japan, the government and GISTDA are surveying the height of the ground in 60,000 square metre areas around 20 provinces from Phitsanulok to Bangkok. "Being familiar with different ground heights, we'll be able to predict the volume of flood waters accurately. This will help authorities manage water release more effectively," Anond said. A book titled the World of Water, featuring articles and satellite images of last year's huge floods, has been launched. Incomes from its sales will be presented to His Majesty the King to assist disaster-affected people. -- The Nation 2012-05-31 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Payboy Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 (edited) Thai agency aims to be a hub Hubba! Hubba! Edited May 31, 2012 by Payboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reasonableman Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Extensive disaster experience here in LOS. A fine choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moruya Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Where were these boys when the floods came? Thailand has satellites up there? Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Thaivisa Connect App Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzMick Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 One disaster waiting for another? i only hope this lot have no connection to Science Minister "The sky is falling!" Plodprasop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjjmmi Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 OMG please help us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjjmmi Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 HUB of disaster's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beano2274 Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Couldn't control a disaster in their own country, why the hell does ASEAN want them to lead this new agency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Payboy Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 (edited) The event, entitled Thailand Truth Untold I'm lovin' it already ! Edited May 31, 2012 by Payboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animatic Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 (edited) Couldn't control a disaster in their own country, why the hell does ASEAN want them to lead this new agency. I believe this agency did provide good satellite imaging, that did show the extent of what was happening during the floods, and tracked it during it's progress. Their work wasn't the problem, the poo-liticians not understanding or refusing to understand because of politics and greed was more the problem. Certainly knowing the elevations of the land, and the past flow of the water, will aid in ameliorating the next flood, IF, a big 'hanging chad' of an IF, the political will, minus face/greed issues, is there to act on it properly, and effectively. Hope dwindles of course in the face of the typical... Leading 'ASEAN disaster information' seems farfetched at best. Part of the network of disaster agencies sure. Edited May 31, 2012 by animatic 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gand Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Thai agency aims to be a hub LOS has yet another HUB? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyLew Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 The next disaster they will be issuing warming is the political / protesters / amnesty bill that is about to hit the fan Thailand aims to be the hub of everything The should really learn how to run a country The non stop disasters at home is really bad for Thailand's image Fake rolex's are the least of their problems Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdr Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 "space technology development" " to help the region deal with economic, social and environmental issues, including disasters" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crobe Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Where were these boys when the floods came? Thailand has satellites up there? Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Thaivisa Connect App Actually Thailand does have one satellite up there, has been in orbit since 2008, and they also take data from the American LANDSAT satellites, and have a centre (ASIAES) to process other satellite data that is the most developed in the ASEAN region. A replacement satellite for Thailand is in the planning stage GISTDA are probably the only agency that came out of last years floods with any credit, they gave the government all the information they could, and have reached out to other governments and agencies to help as they are part of a wider scientific community that does share information. The Japanese agency JAXA, has set up an office in Thailand for this. Because of this they were probably the most apolitical and objective agency, and so you did not hear much about them. Crobe 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Greer Posted May 31, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted May 31, 2012 I feel that the biggest problem, as identified by a few posting here, is that although as a country, we do have groups of dedicated people, scientists and techncial personnel, working to help resolve various problems, the data then goes to the completely untrained politicians and so-called VIPs who exhibit totally inadequate capabilities. The end result is that its a case of the blind leading the science and any positive or useful output tends to be muted by political bias and agendas that usually have little to do with resolving the problem in the first place. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagwan Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Since I no longer waste money on newspapers I may not be as well informed about the neighbouring countries as I would like. One gap in my fund of knowledge is whether Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia suffer floods, landslides etc etc with the same regularity and seriousness as Thailand. Has Thailand cornered the market in these disasters? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skywalker69 Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gand Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 "Thai Agency To Lead ASEAN In Disaster" Now that I can believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOODLOVER Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Run! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Payboy Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 "This will help authorities manage water release more effectively," Anond said I suggest they stand on tiptoes and aim for the back wall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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