North-Eastern Space Applications Centre

North-Eastern Space Applications Centre is a regional space centre established in September, 2000 by joint initiative of the Department of Space, Government of India and North Eastern Council to expedite the usage of remote sensing technology to discover natural minerals uncovered in the North-Eastern states of India and to promote overall growth of North Eastern states of India using space science and technology.^[2]

North-Eastern Space Applications Centre

Agency overview
Abbreviation	NESAC
Formed	5 September 2000; 24 years ago (2000-09-05)
Type	Space agency
Headquarters	Umiam, Meghalaya, India
Motto	Space technology in the service of human kind.
Administrator	Dr. S. P. Aggarwal, Director
Annual budget	₹50 crore (US$5.8 million) (2025–26)[1]
Website	www.nesac.gov.in

History

North-Eastern Space Applications Centre was set up with a joint initiative of Department of Space and North Eastern Council in September, 2000 at Shillong in Meghalaya, India. The centre has been declared a protected area by the state government.^[3]

Objectives

The objective of NESAC is to search and utilize the natural resources present in the region using remote sensing, provide the North-Eastern states access to satellite services, and promote research in the space technology in the region by tying up with the academic institutions in the region.^[4][5]

Programmes

The centre presently focuses on Remote sensing and Geographic information systems, a satellite communication programme and space science research programmes

Facilities

The centre is equipped with modern GIS software like Erdas, Geomatica, eCognition, ESRI ArcGIS, and the like. Its equipment includes:

• Digital Photogrammetry Work Stations
• A0 size Colour Scanner
• High Quality printers and plotters
• Leica Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS)
• Visual Interpretation facilities
• Spectroradiometer
• UV-Visible Spectro-photometer, Flame Photometer
• Echo-Sounder
• Plant Canopy Imager^[6]

Projects

It has undertaken projects on the land mapping of North-Eastern States on 1:50,000 scale, and wasteland and wetland monitoring. It developed the FLEWS or Flood Early Warning System for the areas which are likely to be the worst affected by floods.^[7] It also developed touch input-based information kiosks to provide information about the state of Meghalaya.^[8][9]

Finances

The funding for the centre is divided in 50:50 ratio between Government of India and North-Eastern council. The centre has been allocated a budget of Rs. 8 crore for the financial year 2012–13 by the central government.^[10]

References

1. "DEMAND NO. 95, Demands for Grants, 2025-2026, DEPARTMENT OF SPACE" (PDF). IndiaBudget.gov.in. New Delhi. 1 February 2025. p. 5. Retrieved 1 February 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
2. "North East Space Applications Centre". SP News Agency. 20 December 2012. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
3. "Meghalaya Government Declares North Eastern Space Application Centre Permanent Complex, Umiam As 'Protected Area'". US Fed News Service. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
4. "Establishment of North Eastern Space Application Centre (NE-SAC)". North-Eastern Council. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
5. "Ushering In Ne Development Through Space Technology". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
6. "RS & GIS Facilities at NESAC". nesac.gov.in. Archived from the original on 22 March 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
7. "North Eastern-Space Applications Centre (NE-SAC)". isro.org. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
8. "DoNER Minister launches Space Based Information Kiosk on North Eastern Region, India". Kangla Online. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
9. "Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre oganises workshop on SIS-DP". mizonews.net. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
10. "North East Space Applications Centre". Press Information Bureau. 6 December 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2013.

External links

• nesac.gov.in