Qatar's first international forum for survey and geographic information systems (GIS) kicked off in Doha Sunday with in the presence of delegations from the Arab Union for Survey and experts in the field of survey and geographic information systems. 
The two-day forum is organized by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment. 
The opening of a Doha-based GCC regional office of the Arab Union for Survey was announced during the opening session of the forum. 
In press statements, Head of the Topographic Survey Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment Mohammed Ali Al Merri, who is also head of the regional office, announced that Doha will also be home to the Arab Institute for Survey soon. 
He underlined that choosing the State of Qatar to be home to the regional office and the institute came as a result of its efforts in support of the Arab countries, and for its strategic position and for enjoying strong infrastructure and modern and sophisticated technology that will contribute to the development of the profession and serving the Arab countries in various fields and specialties. 
In his opening speech, Al Merri said that the large participation in the forum from several international organizations and unions reflects the importance of survey science at the Arab and international levels. 
He noted that Qatar National Vision and the National Development Strategy, which provide an integrated perception for planning and development in the State, relied heavily on data retrieved from statistical sources integrated with geographical information systems, and were the result of good knowledge of technical and developmental needs. 
The first day of the forum included several working sessions about geodetic survey, and three working papers on the national geodetic network in the State of Qatar and the science of geodesy and geodetic networks in Egypt, in addition to a working session on topographic survey.

Source: QNA