Plodprasop pushes for 'master map'

Plodprasop pushes for 'master map'

Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi revealed Monday he was pushing ahead with a plan for a master map of Thailand for use in detailing the government’s 350 billion baht water management projects.

Mr Plodprasop was speaking at a seminar in Bangkok on guidelines for the establishment of a geo-information system and a master map for development. 

The seminar, organised by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency and the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board, was attended by officials from a range of agencies including the Royal Thai Survey Department and the Royal Forest Department.

Mr Plodprasop said government agencies were currently using maps with various scales and functional details. These maps should be expanded, updated and integrated into a master map which could be used by all agencies. 

The map would be used along with a global positioning system, or GPS, to provide data for national administration in all areas. 

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra last month approved a proposal for a master map in two scales, 1:50,000 and 1:4,000. The first would be for national policy-making and planning, and the second for management of land use. 

Mr Plodprasop said the master map would include city planning and land use, which are part of the government’s 350 billion baht water management projects in Module A2 (Chao Phraya River) and Module B2 (other major rivers).

He called for the relevant agencies to brainstorm and produce a high-quality master map and integrate it into the terms of reference (ToR) for the government's multiple water management projects.

Maps for use in other areas - such as transportation and agriculture - would also be produced along with the water management map, he said.        

Mr Plodprasop said he and the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board had agreed to set up an agency to direct the drafting of the two master maps.


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