### MLS University Launches 21-Day Training on Geospatial Technology

Udaipur,  Dr. Prakash Chauhan, Director of the National Remote Sensing Center, ISRO, Hyderabad, highlighted the crucial role of geospatial technology in every aspect of human activity. He emphasized its applications in assessing the physical landscape, land, water, solar energy, and developmental activities. Dr. Chauhan was speaking at the inaugural session of a 21-day training program on the use of geospatial technology, organized by the Geography Department of Mohanlal Sukhadia University under the aegis of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

Dr. Chauhan stated that the "Geospatial Technology Policy 2023" introduced by the Government of India has democratized the use of geospatial data, previously restricted. This policy has paved the way for its broader public utilization. He further explained that in a geographically vast country like India, where the annual growth rate is around 7%, geospatial data is a reliable and critical resource for evaluating the availability, consumption, and demand of resources amidst rapid developmental changes.

Dr. Chauhan also noted its usefulness in diverse fields, including solar energy evaluation, agricultural income assessment by the Income Tax Department, and disaster damage estimation.

Dr. Shubha Pandey, Senior Scientist, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, remarked at the inaugural event that the government is committed to making geospatial technology an integral part of everyday life.

Prof. Seema Jalan, Head of the Geography Department and program organizer, informed that participants include government personnel, and educators from colleges and universities across five states. The training will cover GPS, LiDAR, machine learning, Internet of Things, drone surveys, artificial intelligence, and data science.

The ceremony was chaired by Prof. Digvijay Bhatnagar, Associate Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities. Earlier, the newly established Geospatial Technology Skill Center and Entrepreneurship Cell at the Geography Department was inaugurated.