Welcome to the University of Kashmir Geoinformatics Program. I am glad you have joined the ranks of scores of visitors who daily visit our website. We are running interdisciplinary Ph. D/I.Ph.D program and professional MSc course in Geoinformatics since 2010. The University started teaching Remote Sensing and GIS since 2004 with the introduction of the PGD in RS/GIS. The master’s course is aimed to build the technical ingenuity of the student in the application of geospatial technologies for some of the most pressing real-world challenges in environmental, social and economic domains and also to match-up their skills to the growing demands in the industry for Geoinformatics. The Program emphasizes on theory, practical applications through hands-on exercises, case studies and an independent dissertation. The syllabus of the courses is as per the latest developments and trends in geospatial science and technology with specific geographic focus on the Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Himalayan region. A wide exposure and encouragement to the students and research scholars to be a part of rich knowledge exchange programs such as national and international seminars, workshops pertaining to the promotion of Remote Sensing, GIS, and GPS, have remained a key strength of the program over the years.

Geoinformatics has in the last few decades evolved into an integrating technology that encompasses remote sensing, image processing, surveying, global positioning, map-making and cartography, database development and management, computing, information and networking technologies. Applications of Geoinformatics are varied and support natural resources management, disaster mitigation and management, planning and development, environmental management, land and water management, utility mapping, climate change, agriculture, tourism, health, rural and urban development, Civil Engineering, Geology, Archaeology, among others. Thus, the innovative use of Geoinformatics, together with space-based inputs and ICT, has a tremendous potential to assist in governance, delivery of goods and services and support citizen activities.

Despite the tremendous potential of Geoinformatics applications in varied fields, the technology is yet to be uses optimally by the decision makers. Geoinformatics, will be the mainstay around which such information and decision support systems will be built. A large number of user community in government, private sector and even citizen-service providers need to be trained that would be the user base for GIS activities in the state and country. Against the availability of few thousand Geoinformatics professionals currently available in the country, Govt. of India has determined that a large number of Geoinformatics professionals would be required in the country by 2030.  Therefore, a wide program of making students well knowledgeable with geospatial technology in colleges and universities is required.

There is an urgent need of technical manpower in the field of Geoinformatics keeping in mind the increased awareness about the usefulness and applications of Geoinformatics for several development projects of national importance launched by Government of India like Digital India, Smart Cities, AMRUT, National Afforestation Programme, National GIS, National Natural Resource Management System, National Spatial Data Infrastructure, Urban Resource Information System, National Programme on GPS for Geodynamic Studies, etc. Geoinformatics has therefore a great potential of employment both in private and government sectors.

The Department has more than a dozen active research collaborations with a few reputed national and international institutes/organization and have successfully conducted more than a score of sponsored research projects during the last one decade, with the total funding of more than INR 300 million in various fields of earth and environmental science. The Department has set up state of the art laboratories and field infrastructure in the field of Geoinformatics, glaciology, hydro-meteorology and climate change including the national ice-core laboratory for studying Himalayan ice cores.

Thank you,