MUSCAT -- Oman Geospatial Expo 2013 (December 9-10), which concluded yesterday at Al Bustan Palace Hotel was a big hit with the visitors, who came to see the cutting-edge advance of geospatial technology. With geospatial technology being applied in most developmental projects across various verticals, the Oman Geospatial Expo 2013 helped create a channel for the technology and user community to network and interact in order to keep abreast of the latest developments. Brig Yaqoob bin Said al Toobi, Head of National Survey Authority (NSA) said over the past couple of decades, spatial technologies have made massive advancements and evolved a great deal to become an inseparable part of our daily lives. Technologies such as GIS (geographical information systems), GPS (global positioning systems), RS (remote sensing) and other earth observations, location based services and navigation systems, which were considered discrete and disconnected up until a few years ago, are now more connected and well integrated into a variety of developmental activities.
Geospatial technology affects almost every aspect of life, from navigating to law enforcement. The world is so interconnected today, and everything is based on spatial relationships. Geospatial technology refers to equipment used in visualisation, measurement, and analysis of earth's features, typically involving such systems as GPS, GIS, and RS. Its use is well-known and widespread in the military and in national security, but its influence is pervasive everywhere, even in areas with a lower public profile, such as land use, flood plain mapping and environmental protection. The National Survey Authority, established in October 1984, participated in the Oman Geospatial Expo 2013. The National Survey Authority (NSA) was established in October 1984 with responsibilities for all survey activities in the Sultanate and for assembling and maintaining the Oman's geographic archives. NSA has a full range of map production capabilities, from survey instruments for collecting details of natural and man-made features on the ground, to a large format, four colour printing press for printing the final maps.
An increasing emphasis is being placed on digital Geospatial techniques throughout the map making process as map production technology is leading to greater automation of routine manual processes. NSA is the sole authority for the production and supply of Geospatial Data of the Sultanate of Oman and it is willing to advise on all matters regarding topographic mapping of the Sultanate and will endeavour to assist where possible in the provision of maps, data, information, services and expertise. NSA is fully committed to providing these services within the bounds of current policy and within the limits of the resources available to it. Along with an exhibition displaying the latest advancements in the field of geospatial technologies, the Oman Geospatial Expo 2013 also included workshops, technology tracks, and product demonstrations. The exhibition was designed to offer visitors a chance to influence and network with major geospatial professionals, government authorities, users, consultants, developers etc.
The Oman Wastewater Services Company (Haya Water), established in December 2002 as a closed joint stock company, attracted a big visitor turnout. The company was awarded the concession right to operate the sanitation sector in Muscat Governorate by virtue of the Royal Decree No 69/2005 in order to develop the sewerage system in Muscat Governorate. The company is taking steady steps towards the implementation of one of the most complex and largest engineering projects of its kind in the water reuse sector, as Haya Water is committed to achieving its main objective of "Making Muscat a Better City" through the enhancement of the health level for all its inhabitants through eliminating all causes of pollution resulting from the traditional sanitary drainage systems that cause diseases and epidemics, in addition to protecting the ground water resources against contamination as well as preserving the water resource which is considered as a national treasure that has to be preserved for the sake of the generations to come.
Currently, the quantity of treated effluent is around 80.000 m3/day, produced by the company through 12 treatment plants spreading across Muscat Governorate. And in order to increase the production capacity to become 220.000 m3 /day of treated effluent by 2018, the Company is in the process of building 5 new state-of-the- art treatment plants to replace the existing old treatment plants.
© Oman Daily Observer 2013
