A diploma programme in geodesy, the science of measuring the earth, has been launched by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. Under the Department of Civil Engineering, the programme, according to the Institute, will concentrate on three key areas: Geodesy, Navigation and Mapping, Remote Sensing and GIS.

The programme will be open to candidates from various backgrounds including civil engineering, computer science, information technology, electrical and electronics, mining, geoinformatics, physics, mathematics, Earth science, environmental science, geography, and more. The candidates who have qualified GATE can apply for the programme.

The diploma programme will add to the skillsets of working professionals from government institutions, industry, faculty members, and researchers in academic institutions involved in teaching, research and development.

Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur said: “Geodesy is an area where well-qualified technical human resources, research activities, and geodetic infrastructure are required at the national level for the fast-developing infrastructure requirements in the country today. The National Center for Geodesy (NCG) has been established to enhance expertise in Geodesy and allied areas.

The Geodesy has applications in monitoring earthquake, volcanic, landslide, and weather hazard recognition and response, soil health, water resources, and drought surveillance, climate change including monitoring the polar ice cover, oil spill clean-ups; GPS timing and autonomous vehicle development.