INDIAN INSTITUTE OF REMOTE SENSING

An Educational Tour to Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), Dehradun was organized by Dronacharya Group of Institutions, Greater Noida on 7th April 2017. 21 students of B. Tech. Second Year from different Branches who successfully completed the 19th IIRS Outreach Programme on “Remote Sensing and GIS Applications in Carbon Forestry” during 16th February - 9th March 2017 along with faculty members Dr. Somnath Sinha, Dr. Abhishek Swami and Ms. Rashmi Gupta, DGI Greater Noida visited IIRS.

The main objective of the visit was to make students aware of IIRS function and its Outreach Programs.

Dr. Puneet Swarup Saxena - Senior Scientist, IIRS welcomed the students and gave a brief of activities of IIRS. He said that IIRS, established in 1066 under Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Department of Space, Govt. of India is a premier Training and Educational Institute set up for developing trained professionals in the field of Remote Sensing, Geoinformatics and GPS Technology for Natural Resources, Environmental and Disaster Management. IIRS provides support to conduct all its remote sensing and GIS training & education programs at postgraduate level.

In his lecture, Dr. Saxena focused on India’s achievements in space. He said that India has the following 4 space systems following as:

1. India Remote Sensing Satellite

2. Indian communication & meteorological Satellite

3. Indian navigation Satellite

4. Space Science & Planetary Exploration Satellite

Dr. Saxena also discussed remote sensing satellite and communication satellite. He said that remote sensing satellites are being used for defense related purposes to detect enemy planes and aircrafts. While Communication satellites are those satellites which are being used for all sorts of communication (mobile phone, DTH or Internet facilities).

Dr. Vinay Kumar - Senior Scientist (Planetary Science Research Discoveries), IIRS described the history of remote sensing. He said that remote sensing began with the invention of photography and informed the following development:

1. 1827 - First picture of nature was taken

2. 4th October 1957 - Sputnik 1, the first artificial Earth Satellite was launched

3. 1st April 1960- First weather satellite, TIROS-1 launched by NASA

4. 1972 - Launch of ERTS-1 (the first Earth Resources Technology Satellite ,later renamed Landsat 1)

At the end of his lecture, Dr. Kumar explained the process of remote sensing with some photography and also described its future.

Dr. Harish Karnatak, Scientist - SF & Head explained about different EDUSAT and e-learning program and importance of Distance Learning Program in IIRS.

Students took keen interest in acquiring the knowledge of remote sensing as well as its working principles. The visit to IIRS, Dehradun proved to be very enriching for the students.

After the completion of IIRS visit, students enjoyed their journey back to DGI, Greater Noida through Mussoorie and Haridwar.