IMPACT OF EDUCATION AND AWARENESS ON SPACE

TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS IN PAKISTAN

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International Conference on Space (ICS) 2014

12-14 November 2014, Islamabad Pakistan

Presented by: Aisha Jagirani

Section Head - International Coopertaion (SUPARCO)

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Pakistan

Population 179.2 million

Sixth most populous and the 34th largest country in terms of area

Economy is pre-dominantly based on agriculture

Located at the crossroads of South Asia, Central

Asia, China and the Middle East

PAKISTAN

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Pakistan Located at the crossroads of South Asia, Central

Asia, China and the Middle East

PAKISTAN

Challenges Internal security

Poor agricultural productivity

Inadequate infrastructure

Food insecurity

Insufficient health and educational facilities

Depletion of natural resources

Rapid environmental degradation

Recurring natural disasters

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The key is to use technology-based

planning and not the economic-

based planning to achieve

competitiveness and efficiency

Space technology is one of the

major technologies currently being

used as the basic tool for

technology-based planning and

decision making

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Space is increasingly considered as a catalyst for economic

growth, social wellbeing and sustainable development

Communication

Infrastructures

Disaster mitigation and management

Education

Health

Agriculture

Environmental protection

Natural resource management

Others

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Is there a need for space education and

awareness

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Yes … Because

Space education and awareness helps to

understand the potential of space applications and

its benefits to society

It is important to gather stakeholders support for

attaining the objectives of space technology

programs and their sustainable development

Lack of awareness and educational opportunities is

major cause behind space sciences not being a

career choice among young generation

There is a need to develop human resources to gain

optimum benefits of modern space science and

technology

Attractive space educational programs serve as a

source of interest, imagination and inspiration

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Does space education and awareness really

helps to promote space technology

applications in Pakistan

Do you really need to focus on space

education in Pakistan

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Data collected divided in to two time frames

1970-2000

• SUPARCO Capabilities

• Education and Awareness activities

• Space Technology Applications in Pakistan

2001-2013

• SUPARCO Capabilities

• Education and Awareness activities

• Space Technology Applications in Pakistan

Research Study

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• In Satellite Remote Sensing Applications

SUPARCO’s Capabilities

• Educational degrees (bachelors, masters in space science, Remote sensing, GIG, and other, offered in Pakistan

• Professional training in Remote sensing and GIS organized by SUPARCO

• Awareness initiatives (such as seminars, conferences, workshops.

Education and Awareness Initiatives • Projects done by SUPARCO

related to space technology applications in selected sectors (that is Agriculture, Environment and Disaster Mitigation and Management)

Space Technology Applications in

Pakistan

Research Study

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Data was collected from internet, SUPARCO

official website, Publications of SUPARCO

and United Nations Office of Outer Space

Affairs (UNOOA) and newspapers

Data

Sources

1970-2000 12

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1970-2000

1970’s

• SUPARCO initiated remote sensing applications programme.

• Necessary laboratory facilities were set up

• Portable Landsat Ground Receiving Station was set up in Rawalpindi under a NASA-SUPARCO co-operative programme

• RESACENT established at Karachi

1980’s

• 1983: SUPARCO installed a main frame computer for processing of all digital satellite data indigenously

• I984: an MOU was signed between SUPARCO and the US-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for reception, processing, archiving and distribution of data (80 m resolution) from the US Landsat Satellite Systems.

• 1985: Acquired Multispectral Camera, as a part of its programme to develop aerial remote sensing capability

• 1986: a dedicated interactive, microprocessor based digital image processing system, named EBBA –II was installed for the processing of SRS data to be used in the fields of agricultural, hydrology, geology, forestry, topographic and oceanography

• 1987, an assembly of four Hasselblad Cameras was also acquired for multi-spectral photography, to be used for precision aerial photography in different remote sensing projects.

• 1987-88: SUPARCO’s Regional Remote Sensing Centers were established at Peshawar and Islamabad

• 1989: SUPARCO established its own Satellite Ground Station (SGS) at Rawat near Islamabad, to acquire real time satellite remote sensing data for its remote sensing application programme

1990’s

• 1990: a Remote Sensing Operations Division was setup

• 1993: a dedicated interactive image processing system, named ERDAS with a display monitor of 1024x1024 resolution and other I/O peripherals such as tape drive units, colour cop

SUPARCO Capabilities In Satellite Remote Sensing Applications

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1970-2000

Situation of Education and Awareness in Pakistan

Education

• The Institute of Space and Planetary Astrophysics (ISPA)University of Karachi was established in 1994

• University of Punjab started Degree program in 1990s

Short courses and training organized by

SUPARCO

• 1970s: nil

• 1980s: 01

• 1990s: 05

Awareness initiatives by SUPARCO

• 1970s: nil

• 1980s: 03 (1 exhibition + 2 seminar)

• 1990s: 02 ( workshops

• Publications: Space Horizon- Biannual research magazine

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1970-2000

Projects done by SUPARCO for different user agencies

Agriculture

• 1970s: 02

• 1980s nil

• 1990s: 11

Environment

• 1970s: 01

• 1980s: nil

• 1990s: 07

Disaster Mitigation and management

• 1970s: 02

• 1980s: nil

• 1990s: 04

2001-2013 16

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2001-2013

• Modern well equipped Remote Sensing and Geographical Information laboratories were established at SPARCENT, Karachi

• Analytical laboratory equipped with

• chemicals, air, water and soil testing instruments including Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS), UV / Visible Spectrophotometer, Conductivity Meter, pH Meter, TSS & TDS Meters, COD Reactor and BOD

• Incubators, etc were established

• Advanced image processing systems and GIS

• Web based Applications & Geo-spatial Systems

• Atmospheric Data Receiving

• & Processing Centre (ADRPC)

• Acquiring SPOT 5 (2.5, 5, 10 m) and SPOT VGT (1000 m) imagery

• SPOT Data:

• Multispectral 10 meter resolution data

• Pan 5 meter resolution data

• Pan 2.5 meter resolution data

• Multispectral 2.5 meter resolution data

SUPARCO Capabilities In Satellite Remote Sensing Applications

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Education

• Institute of Space Technology was established in 2001

• SUPARCO Institute of Technical Training (SIIT) established in 2002

• Centre for Geographic Information System (GIS) was established by University of Punjab in 2001

• NUST Institute of Geographic Information System (IGIS) established

• National Center for Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (NCRG)

Short courses and training organized by

SUPARCO

• Related to satellite remote sensing: 38

• Environment: 13

Awareness initiatives by SUPARCO

• World Space Week (WSW)

• 07 Conf/workshops

• University Collaboration

• Information to Stakeholders to facilitate farmers

• Pak-SCMS Monthly Bulletin

• SUPARCO monthly astronomy and Astrophysics Bulletin

2001-2013

Situation of Education and Awareness in Pakistan

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2001-2013

Projects done by SUPARCO for different user agencies

Agriculture

12

Environment

201

Disaster Mitigation and management

07

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Conclusion:

Lack of professional education and awareness in space

science, technology and its applications have hampered wide

application of space technology in Pakistan

With the increase of professional training and awareness,

space technology applications increased in different sectors

(agriculture, environment and disaster mitigation and

management) in Pakistan

SUPARCO’s Capabilities

Education and Awareness Initiatives

Space Technology Applications in Pakistan

Thank You

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