CHANDIGARH: 14 October 2011: The Department of Geography (CAS-UGC) Panjab University
Chandigarh is hosting XXXI INCA International Congress organized by Indian National
Cartographic Association (INCA) on October 15-17, 2011. The theme of Congress
is “Cartography for Disaster Management”. The inaugural function will start at 9:30 am
on October 15, 2011. Sri Anil Kumar Sinha, Vice Chairman, Bihar State Disaster
Management Authority, Government of Bihar, will be the Chief Guest. Prof. R. C. Sobti,
Vice Chancellor, Panjab University, Chandigarh shall preside over the function. Prof
Surya Kant, President, INCA shall deliver the presidential address.

On this occasion, publications of National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organization
(NATMO), Kolkata shall be released. The national level INCA Map Quiz award winners
from Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehradun, Oak Grove School Jharipani,
Mussoori Hills, Dehradun and St. Kabir Public School, Chandigarh will be awarded.
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is making a live presentation on its
activities. An exhibition is being organized to display the latest products in GIS,
Remote Sensing and Cartography by ESRI, NATMO, Inland Waterways Navigation, NRSC,
ISRO, etc.

Prof David Dickason, University of Western Michigan, USA shall deliver the Todar Mal
Memorial Lecture on “The Future of Historical Cartography”. Prof Josef Strobl,
Director, Centre for Geo-informatics, University of Salzburg, Austria shall deliver
the Prof S. P. Chatterji Memorial Lecture on “Map Interfaces for Disaster Management”.

A large number of dignitaries including Sri S. Subba Rao, Surveyor General of India,
Sri V. K. Dadhwal, Director, National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad, Maj. Gen.
(Dr.) R. Shiva Kumar, CEO, NSDI, and Head, NSDI, DST, New Delhi and officers from
Survey of India, NATMO, large number of academicians from universities and
institutions shall be present. In all, 350 delegates across the country and many from
abroad are participating in the congress. The conference focuses on various aspects of
mapping and managing disasters using latest technologies that enable in objective
policy decision to help people at large. Nearly 130 research papers shall be presented
in different technical sessions. The event is coordinated with the support of SASE,
Sec-37 and Survey of India, Chandigarh and is sponsored by NDMA, Ministry of Earth
Sciences, ISRO, UGC, DST, etc.

                                   Press Note No.425
                                                      MMK/PS