Studying Earth

I am final year civil engineering student and want to pursue my career in IT. I find the field of geoinformatics very interesting, but I don’t know about the scope/ demand, job opportunities, application area, companies offering services in this field in India or abroad. Where can I study? Please give me relevant info pertaining to the field of geoinformatics (GIS/GPS/Remote Sensing/ Photogrammetry/ Cartography/ Image processing).
Prasad
Geoinformatics is a science which develops and uses information science infrastructure to address the problems of geosciences and related branches of engineering.
The three main tasks of geoinformatics are: development and management of databases of geodata; analysis and modelling of geodata; development and integration of computer tools and software for the first two tasks.
Some institutes in India offering education in the field of Geoinformatics:
* Symbiosis Institute of Geoinformatics, SIMS campus, IInd Floor, Range Hills Corner, Kirkee Cant, Pune-411020. Ph: 020-25811290/ 25811291. Web: www.symbiosisgeoinformatics.in It offers two-year Master’s of Science programme in Geoinformatics
* Barkatullah University, Bhopal, offers two-year M.Sc in Geoinformatics (special feature: GIS and GPS analysis). Web: www.bubhopal.nic.in
* Bangalore University, Jnanabharati Campus, Department of Geography, offers diploma in geoinformatics. Ph: 2321 3023. Email:buregistrar@vsnl.net
* Indian Space Research Organisation, Department of Space, Antariksh Bhavan, New BEL Road, Bangalore-560094. Ph: 3416356
* Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, No.4 Kalidas Road, Dehra Dun, 248001. Ph: 91-135- 24583
* Remote National Sensing Agency, Balanagar, Hyderabad 500037. Ph: 91-40-279572 to 76.
* Space Applications Centre (SAC), SAC PO, Jodhpur Tekra, Ahmedabad 380 053.
* Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and Pacific Region (CSSTE-AP) IIRS Campus, 4 Kalidas Road, PBN 135 Dehra Dun 248 001 Ph: (135) 740737 Email: cssteap@del2.vsnl.net.in
Some of the following institutes offer short-term courses in Geoinformatics
* Diploma in Geoinformatics (two month full-time course on GIS, GPS and remote sensing). Contact Person: Neeraj Budhari. GIS Institute, GIS Development Pvt. Ltd. G-4, Sector-39, Noida-201 301. Ph: 120 2502180 to 87. Email: info@GISinstitute.net
* AnA Geomatics Pvt. Ltd. 133A, 3rd Floor, Near Nanak Pura Gurudwara, Moti Bagh, New Delhi 110021. Ph: 011-6876273. Email: anageomatics@rediffmail.com
* Training Programme on GIS (with emphasis on Natural Resources and Disaster Management) Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Dr P.K.Garg, Associate Professor, Geomatics Eng Section, Dept of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee-247667, Uttaranchal. Ph: (01332) 85462 Email: gargpfce@iitr.ernet.in, anugarg@datainfosys.net
The scope of geoinformatics is wide. There are over 200 private companies in India. Alternate careers as software programmer can be given a thought. Central/state govt and public sector dealing with developmental work have openings. Majority of NGOs are hosting GIS/remote sensing cells. In entrepreneurship development, India being the preferred destination for GIS related work.
Some companies offering jobs in Geoinformatics include ESRI (NIIT-GIS), Reliance Digital World, Rolta India Ltd, RMSI Ltd, SPECK, Intergraph, HOPE, TCS, SIEMENS, Oracle Inc, TATA Infotech, L&T, Satyam, Hughes, Genesis, KAMPSAX, Redas India, Infotech enterprise, among others. For complete listing visit: www.ecat.giscafe.com/corplist.php
For overseas opportunities visit www.ltid.inpe.br/dsr/tania/Rsdir/countries.htm