SUVA, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Geographical Information Systems (GIS) specialists from around the Pacific region have been urged to work together to discover innovative ways to foster geospatial solutions, a senior Fijian official said here on Monday.
Speaking at the opening of the Pacific Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing conference, Fiji's Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Lands and Mineral Resources Faiyaz Siddiq Koya said experts in the region needed to work together to utilize the available resources to share information on mapping and geographical information.
"Given the wide spread of our small population over vast areas and oceans, it is sometimes difficult for image data providers, software providers and hardware providers to visit users in remote islands," Koya said. "Therefore, coming together under one roof, such as at this annual conference, provides a nexus point for buyers and sellers to also converge and discuss ideas."
He said that the field of GIS and remote sensing was critical for island nations, development and growth particularly in a climate uncertain world.
The one-week conference has attracted close to 100 participants with the aim of sharing information in the areas of geospatial.
Experts stated that geographic information about people and the planet was critical for better decision making and using resources more wisely as this will be an indispensable element in achieving the global goals.
Geospatial, or geographic information, shows where social, environmental and economic conditions occurred, according to the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).
"The Pacific can greatly benefit especially from the collective wisdom of the scientific and technical practitioners in remote sensing and GIS technologies," SPC Geoscience Division Director Micheal Petterson said.
