Women in Fiji have contributed immensely to enhancing and progressing the geoinformation system (GIS) and remote sensing tool in Fiji, says Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources permanent secretary, Raijeli Taga.

Ms Taga had opened the Pacific Geospatial Conference at the University of the South Pacific yesterday.

With the theme “Use of Digital Platforms, GIS and Remote Sensing to anticipate and manage impacts of global warming”, the annual conference brings together GIS users, companies, and scientists to share their knowledge and expertise.

Ms Taga said geospatial science was a new field for Fiji, but it had been useful in decision making processes and development.

“We have women in geospatial science with development partners who has also contributed to development in the government and also in private sectors,” she added.

GIS expert Dr Wolf Forstreuter said it was crucial that women were involved in GIS and remote sensing.

“About 80 per cent of women are part of the Pacific Geographic Information System (GIS) remote sensing council in the region,” he said.

About The Conference
In opening the conference, Ms Taga said it was events like the Pacific Geospatial Conference that fueled the fight against global warming in the Pacific.

Founding council member Wolf Forstreuter said the conference is designed for participants from the Pacific to share their knowledge and help each other in areas that they needed improvement on.

Council’s chairperson Salote Viti said the conference was a significant event for the GIS and remote sensing users in the region because it provided a platform where a great circle of experts and emerging professionals united to share their skills and experiences on geospatial technologies, research, and science developments.

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