Geomatics, geospatial technologies can help determine country borders

Knowledge and expertise in data collection technology in the field of geomatics and geospatial are important, including to determine the country's boundary and address issues on overlapping claims with neighbouring countries.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) deputy vice-chancellor (Research and Development) Professor Dr Ahmad Fauzi Ismail said geospatial science should be in tandem with technology, including in terms of defending the country borders in the international court.

"The technology is already available, we have sophisticated software to decide the border with the neighbouring country. But the experts in applying the existing technology are also important.

"Through this conference, for example, we want our experts in these fields to delve deeper into the existing technology," he told reporters after launching the International Conference on Geomatics and Geospatial (GGT)) 2016 here Wednesday.

Dr Ahmad Fauzi said the preparations of geomatics and geospatial data were also important in facing natural disasters.

He said geospatial data became a crucial input to agencies involved to forecast disasters such as floods and landslides so that preparations could be made and the impact of the disasters minimised.

"Geospatial data becomes an important input for engineers, development planners, environment controllers and others in ensuring the well-being of the people and the sustainability of the national physical development," he said.

About 250 participants, comprising professionals and researchers in the related fields, from various public agencies, local and foreign universities and research centres attended the two-day conference. - BERNAMA