PANAJI
St Joseph Vaz College (SJVC) and Padre Conceição College of Engineering (PCCE), in collaboration with the Goa State Remote Sensing Centre under the Goa State Council for Science and Technology, will host a two-day event titled “Geospatial Technology: Programme” on March 6 and 7 at the PCCE campus in Verna.
The initiative aims to highlight the growing role of spatial data in rural planning, governance and environmental conservation. The event will bring together experts and officials to discuss the shift “From Special to SPATIAL”.
The first day, moderated by Angela R Serrao, will focus on the legal and structural aspects of geospatial data. Advocate Richard Almeida will speak on the Panchayat Raj Act and its relevance to spatial planning, while Malcolm Afonso will present the Gram Panchayat Spatial Development Plan. Digital poster sessions will showcase innovative geospatial applications. Dr Narasimha Hegde will discuss the use of geospatial tools for Payment for Ecosystem Services and Nature-Based Solutions in the Western Ghats. Officials including Dr Lalita Baragi (GSBB), Patrick Gonsalves (Land Revenue) and Damodar Salelkar (Forest) will share insights on GIS-based planning in their sectors.
Under the moderation of Vithoba Sawant, the second day transitions into hands-on application and future planning.
Led by Dr Madhura Niphadkar and Avinash Tavares, this session covers baseline data collection and citizen science use cases specific to Goa. The afternoon features video presentations and practical case study results from participating teams. A panel discussion will address the "way forward" for integrating geospatial technology into rural planning.
Aligned with the college’s guiding principle, Caritas et Sapientia & Love Thy neighbour as yourself, this programme seeks to empower local administrators and students with cutting-edge tools for informed decision-making. By bridging the gap between legal frameworks and technical execution, SJVC & PCCE continues to lead as a hub for engineering excellence and social responsibility.
