Welcome to the website of the Institute of Geographical Information Systems (IGIS), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST).
Geographic information technologies deal with the collection and manipulation of geographic information. These are mainly classified into Global Positioning System (GPS); Remote Sensing (RS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Spatial Decision Support Systems (SDSS). The integration of these technologies provides a strong platform for designing and development of information systems by summarizing, querying and modeling of tabular information and editing and visualization of spatial information with storage in geodatabases. Geographic information technologies have an unmatched effect on the entire spectrum of knowledge by targeting the spatial information about “what is where” on Earth's surface and making decisions easy by representing the information in a digital format which can be edited, sampled and updated in a user friendly environment.
Geographic information technologies are useful in different disciplines such as forestry, agriculture, hydrology and water resources, city and regional planning, environmental sciences, meteorology and climatology, urban design and infrastructure, geology, aerospace, public health, civil and transportation engineering, logistics and so on. However, Pakistan has been lagging behind in developing expertise in GIS/RS Significant advances in spatial sciences over the last two decades and the need for more productive planning and effective resource management in public as well as private sectors of the country, contributed to NUST's decision to establish the Institute of Geographical Information Systems to focus on the educational needs of students in GIS, RS, space sciences, and related information technologies.
The Institute presents a number of programs from basic short courses to diploma course to degree level programs like MS and PhD. IGIS offers short courses of four to six weeks in different disciplines of geographic information technologies, such as Introduction to GIS and RS, Photogrammetry, Spatial Analysis, Geostatistics, GIS Project Development, WebGIS and Geodatabases. The basic purpose of such short term training programs is to create awareness in utilization of such advanced technologies in different fields and in the benefits of GIS/RS applications in restructuring the decision making process. IGIS also provides customized training programs to different organizations. In 2005, IGIS inducted students for the first session of MS in GIS/RS degree program, first ever in Pakistan to produce the task force in GIS/RS. IGIS will start PhD Program subsequent to relocation to its new campus in H-12 Sector of Islamabad in 2008.
The Institute is in its infancy, yet it has successfully conducted several short courses, seminars, conferences, symposia and workshops. The titles of conferences and symposia include: (a) Advances in Space Technologies; (b) MODIS data in Natural Resources Management; (c) Remote Sensing in Disaster Management and Rehabilitation. IGIS Scientists have presented a number of papers in international conferences. The Institute has greatly progressed in the practical application of geographic information technologies within a short life span. IGIS has carried out several research projects in facility management, mapping, solid waste management, urban infrastructure and industrial management. One of the commercial projects, recently completed, was titled “Mapping of Donor Interventions in Education Sector of Punjab Province”, and funded by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The website has been designed to provide information about the Institute, its departments, faculty, academic programs, admission procedures, employment opportunities, student affairs and various facilities . If you need more help or have suggestions, please contact by phone, fax or email.
Sincerely,
Prof. Dr. Umar Khattak
DG, IGIS-NUST
