State-of-art regional geodesy centre on the cards at MNNIT

Geodesy is the Earth science of accurately measuring and understanding Earth’s figure (geometric shape and size), orientation in space, and gravity

A state-of-the-art Regional Geodesy Centre (RGC) would soon be set up at Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT). Working in close coordination with the country’s first National Geodesy Centre (NGC) functioning in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Kanpur, the regional centre would undertake studies in the field of geodesy, tectonic plate motions and monitoring natural hazards such as volcanic, landslide, weather hazards, and climate change, said Dr Ramji Dwivedi, assistant professor, Geographic Information System (GIS) cell of MNNIT.

The Regional Geodesy Centre would undertake studies in the field of geodesy, tectonic plate motions and monitoring natural hazards such as volcanic, landslide, weather hazards, and climate change

Besides, it will also contribute to the core research on Earth’s shape, size and its gravitational pull, said he who is also principal investigator of this project. “Geodesy is the science of accurately measuring the Earth’s size, shape, orientation, mass distribution and how these vary with time and for setting up this regional centre, the department of science and technology (DST) has sanctioned nearly ₹2 crore grant for initial three years,” Dwivedi said.

Soon a memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed between NCG and RCG at MNNIT Allahabad. He said the regional centre for geodesy would be established in Geographic Information System, MNNIT Allahabad. “The plan is to make the centre fully functional by July,” he added.

Dwivedi said similar regional centres will also be opened as part of the central government’s initiative at IIT-Bombay, ISM-Dhanbad, IIST-Trivandrum, Anna University and MANIT-Bhopal. Dwivedi, who specialises in the field of space geodetic techniques such as GNSS (global navigation satellite system) and InSAR (Interferometric synthetic aperture radar), said the regional centre will provide information about area of mapping, remote sensing in new technology. “Various types of equipment will be procured as part of this initiative which will be used to monitor surface deformation,” he said.

MNNIT director Prof RS Verma expressed happiness over the sanction of grant for setting up of the region centre for geodesy at MNNIT and expressed confidence that its works would contribute to nation’s efforts to take a lead in the field of geodesy. Prof VK Srivastava, chairperson, GIS cell, also thanked DST for the grant.