Pubdate: Sat, 18 Dec 2004
Source: Chiangmai Mail (Thailand)
Copyright: 2004 Chiangmai Mail
Contact:  http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3105
Author: Alliance Francaise, Chiang Mai

SPOT Image and ONCB monitor illegal crops in SEA

Spot Image and the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) have
sealed the first successful collaboration to assess the use of SPOT
imagery for monitoring illegal crops in South-East Asia. A regional
training center has been set up under a technology transfer agreement
to benefit all countries in the region.

Located in Chiang Mai, this operational training center is funded by
the ONCB, SPOT Image and the French government. The center offers a
full program of courses, equipment, software, and documentation for
processing and interpretation of SPOT imagery.

The new center will give the ONCB statistics and maps for monitoring
illegal crops, and the capacity to accommodate and train technicians
from neighboring countries.

Satellite-based topographical information has proven a vital asset in
monitoring and controlling illegal crops in the SEA region. But it
also aids in defining priority areas or in planning and setting
information systems based on satellite data that are key policymaking
tools for local and regional authorities.

Training in processing of SPOT imagery also offers this regional
center the opportunity for Thai users to exploit data from the future
Thailand Earth Observation System (THEOS) satellite, scheduled for
launch mid-2007.

The ONCB/SPOT Imagery Image Seminar held on November 24 at the
Alliance Francaise in Chiang Mai presented the regional training
center and SPOT Image's turnkey solutions to local and regional
authorities. The seminar also focused on how SPOT imagery is used for
agricultural and forestry monitoring applications, and for
surveillance and hazard management.
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MAP posted-by: Derek