ASIAN REMOTE SENSING TRAINING CENTER

ARSTC WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE COUNTRIES OF THE REGION FOR TRAINING OF TECHNICIANS IN OBTAINING REMOTE SENSING INFORMATION. ACTIVITIES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN TWO PHASES: (1) DATA BANK AND OUTREACH FACILITY DEVELOPMENT AND (2) TRAINING AND DEMONSTRATION. PHASE ONE (FY79-81) WILL INVOLVE ESTABLISHING THE INSTITUTIONAL BASE FOR ARSTC. FACILITIES WILL BE ESTABLISHED, A COMPUTER CENTER AND LIBRARY SYSTEM HOUSING THE DATA BANK WILL BE INSTALLED, AND INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF WILL BE TRAINED. ARSTC RELATIONS WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL REMOTE SENSING INSTITUTIONS WILL BE ESTABLISHED, SERVICES OF US ADVISORS WILL BE SECURED, AND SINGLE-TERM SPECIAL REMOTE SENSING TRAINING COURSES OF A PROBLEM-SOLVING NATURE WILL BE TAUGHT AT AIT. THE ROYAL THAI GOVERNMENT"S NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL(NRC) WILL CONDUCT THE GROUND TRUTH (VERIFICATION OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS) PORTION OF THESE COURSES AND PROVIDE NECESSARY AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS AND IMAGERY REPRODUCTION UTILIZING AID-FINANCED EQUIPMENT PROVIDED IN OTHER AID PROJECTS. PHASE TWO WILL EMPHASIZE ACCELERATED TRAINING, RESEARCH, AND DEMONSTRATIONS OF ARSTC CAPABILITIES, INCLUDING ESTABLISHMENT OF A MASTER"S DEGREE PROGRAM. THE UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA(ESCAP) WILL SERVE AS A CLEARINGHOUSE FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING UTILIZATION OF SATELLITE DATA, WILL ARRANGE FOR TRAINING FELLOWSHIPS AT ARSTC, AND WILL PREPARE CURRICULA FOR LONG-TERM TRAINING. STUDENTS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO BRING REMOTE SENSING IMAGERY PROBLEMS FROM THEIR OWN COUNTRIES TO ARSTC FOR SOLUTION DURING TRAINING. THE PROJECT ENVISIONS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER TO THE ASIA REGION AT SIX DIFFERENT LEVELS: (1) SHORT-TERM TRAINING; (2) REPORTS, SEMINARS, AND SYMPOSIA; (3) INTERCHANGE OF STUDENTS, LECTURERS, AND INSTRUCTORS; (4) OUTREACH THROUGH AUTOMATED INFORMATION DISSEMINATION AND NEWSLETTERS; (5) EDUCATION OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS; AND (6) TRANSFER OF BENEFITS TO ASIAN POPULATIONS, ESPECIALLY FARMERS, THROUGH PROGRAMS APPLYING THE TECHNOLOGY.