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5.9 GPS for Cadastral Survey & Mapping has been carried out sequentially from 1993 to this date of 1996 to establish the 
different orders of geodetic control points to provide the grided sheets for cadastral operation in Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Parsa and 
Jhapa districts by the Department of Survey. | 
5.10 GPS for Forest Demarcation is being considered to get the exact position of the demarcation pillars as to facilitate 
accurate pixel location on the ground and get meaningful and correct information of some districts of Tarai plain area at first. 
6. DEVELOPMENT OF GEOGRAPHILCAL INFORMATION SUSTEM (GIS) 
GIS activities are expanding and increasing since the last five years. Originally it was started as Land Information System (LIS) 
and it developed into GIS in broader aspect to build up data base and information on both bio-physical and socio-economic 
aspects for the development of natural resources and infrastructure. Most of the GIS systems are based on micro-computer 
available in Nepal and maintenance of these systems are carried out by local private companies. In Nepal, several external 
agencies have been supporting GIS technology dissemination and implementation to plan and formulate various development 
projects. GIS is being handled by various government agencies in their field of interest. 
6.1 National Planning commission (NPC) has worked as the nodal agency for GIS in Nepal since 1992. It has a GIS cell which 
is involved in dissemination activities. National GIS Steering Committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the 
Honourable Member (Science & Technology) of NPC. This committee is active in policy formulation, guidance and 
implementation of GIS in Nepal. 
6.2 Mountain Environment and Natural Resources Information System MENRIS of ICIMOD, has collected data and 
information on both bio-physical and socio-economic aspects of the Hindukush Region through case study approach and builds 
up at least one district level digital data base of each eight countries. Major sources of database are inhouse digitized data sets, 
remotely sensed data sets and sets received from outside agencies. A systematic and gradual build up of basic data sets of this 
. whole region is expected finally. It has the capability to aggregate district level data sets to a national GIS data base. Also it has 
GIS digital data base of Jikhu Khola Watershed study area. 
6.3 Geographic Forest Resource Information System, (GFRIS) has been developed from July 1994 onward to assess forest 
in the hill and mountain regions of the country in Forest Survey Division with the assistance of Finnida. Its main objectives are 
to prepare National Forest inventory and maps to establish proper database system, to develop appropriate inventory methodology 
for the allocation of land to community forest, leasehold forest, national forest delineating the total forest areas. 
6.4 GIS Unit in the Dept. of Mines and Geology (DMG) has been established in 1992 in connection to the preparation of 
geological mapping. DMG is engaged in building the digital data sets for the country and transforming all its manual 
cartographic procedures into an automated system with an assistance of GTZ. 
6.7 Agricultural Project Service Center (APROSC) has established a GIS center in preparing an Agro-Ecological 
Zoning/farming System study using GIS for agricultural planning and development of Nuwakot district in 1992. It was also 
engaged in preparing digital road network data sets for western and far-western regions of Nepal during 1993-94. 
6.8 Nepal Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) is using GIS to establish digital base for large scale mapping of Kathmandu 
Valley in 1993 for the planning and design of telecom network, utility services, drinking water supply, sewerage and garbage 
management, road and traffic management, health and education facilities, municipal development works urban and housing 
development. 
6.9 Geography Department of TU has started a GIS Center in 1994 to establish database for the study of natural resources 
and environment in master degree courses. GIS laboratory is established with the support of UNEP and ICIMOD and has PC 
based ARC/INFO and IDRISI software. 
6.10 Department of Land Survey, Integrated Land Resources Mapping Unit is using GIS to slowly transform all the analog 
data into digital format. Formerly it had data on IDRISI system and now since 1995 MENRIS is assisting in establishing a GIS 
to adopt ARC/INFO system for existing land use and resources data and the department's cartographic applications as well. 
6.11 Ministry of Land Reform & Management had applied the land information system for the Land Revenue Department for 
data base of land titling, ownership land classification, land ceiling, assessment of government and public land etc. as a pilot 
project in some of the district including mainly Bhaktapur. Now the ministry has undergone to establish an Integrated Land 
Information System in 1996 to formulate planning policy and future program of land reform in Nepal. | 
6.12 GIS in Private Sector 
53 
International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B6. Vienna 1996