Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha this week launched the Jammu and Kashmir Remote Sensing Information System (JKRIS), a spatial data infrastructure initiative, and g-SAM (Gram Panchayat Spatial Assets Mapper) mobile app. He said the Geographic Information System technology offers new communication tools to different sectors and makes great impact in areas like weather forecasting, urban and transport planning, security and biodiversity protection. He also released reports on the assessment of inherent vulnerability of climate change and internal monitoring of Wular Lake and its catchment area. Highlighting the significance of the GIS technology in addressing new challenges and exploring new opportunities, Sinha said the encouragement to spatial thinking, development of new GIS tools, and real-world applications are accelerating the growth in business, government and society. “GIS is playing a crucial role in the identification of forest boundaries, GI tagging, J&K green drive, conservation of wetlands, and census of waterbodies,” he said. The latest census of 2815 water bodies in J&K by the remote sensing department can be used for mapping flood risk areas and sharing information with all concerned departments in an integrated manner, he said. With the help of GIS, traffic accidents can be tackled through identification of accident locations and hotspots, the Lt Governor observed. He advised all departments to collaborate in using GIS in network design, network optimisation and data enhancement in remote areas. See also: Goa plans Drone Park cum Hub at Tuem; invites EoIsGaruda Aerospace partners with Lockheed Martin for new drone deal