International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXII, Part 6. Bandung-lndonesia 1999 
96 
TOWARD THE TRAINING IMPROVEMENT FOR 
INDONESIAN HUMAN RESOURCES IN 
SURVEYS AND MAPPING 
Sukendra Martha 
Drs. Sukendra Martha, MSc., MAppSc. is a Head of Training Division of Surveys and Mapping, / Geography Researcher at 
Bakosurtanal, Cibinong, Indonesia. 
ABSTRACT 
When surveys and mapping become a spatial information industry, there is a challenge for Training Division for Surveys and 
Mapping (TDCM), the National Coordination Agency for Surveys and Mapping (Bakosurtanal) to improve the training systems in 
order to improve the professional skills not only in internal Bakosurtanal, but also intersectoral, interdepartmental, or even global. To 
implement the training improvement in the future, there are many aspects to be considered. These include human resources (trainer’s 
qualification), budget, laboratory classroom, dormitory, and other supporting facilities, and management. Other important factors are 
also curriculum, training method, media, as well as training programs. This article deals with such matters identifying the previous, 
existing and future activities of surveys and mapping training. 
INTRODUCTION 
Since Bakosurtanal was established in 1969, activities on 
education and training of surveys and mapping could not be 
separated from the substance of surveys and mapping activities. 
This is because surveys and mapping works are always related 
to skilled personals or trained human resources itself. Other 
reason is that surveys and mapping is an activity which full of 
technological substances, need to be operated by the skill 
personnel. 
Starting from the end of the year 1998, organizational unit 
called Balai Pendidikan dan Latihan Survei dan Pemetaan 
(Balai Diklat Surta) or Training Division of Surveys and 
Mapping (TDSM). which is responsible for training in 
Bakosurtanal was established. TDSM has responsibility to 
conduct surveys and mapping training, and has some functions 
such as: formulating training programs; conducting training and 
its cooperation; managing training facilities; and conducting 
TDSM’s administration. By this new organizational structure, 
TDSM starts improving the program and operational training on 
surveys and mapping fields. 
TRAINING PROGRAMMES IN GENERAL 
Past Activities 
Since 1977, the financial supports (undergovemmental budget 
or under foreign aid) to train personnel has been generated. 
However, limited budget will not run the ideal program to train 
the numbers of persons and also their quality. 
It is almost impossible to train professional skills on surveys 
and mapping in the future in this country without enough 
financial support. 
Based on the training results, TDSM has trained not less than 
4000 participants in technical 
Courses on surveys and mapping ( this includes Geodesy, 
Geography, Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems, 
Cartography, Photogrammetry etc.). In formal education, 
TDSM has also trained 259 persons in Diploma courses, 99 
persons in undergraduate and graduate courses (Sarjana 1 
degree), 93 persons in Masters degree, and 16 persons in 
Doctoral degree. In more detailed, training results can be shown 
on Table 1. 
Present Activities 
In this year (1999/2000), TDSM will conduct several courses, 
consisting of Digital Image Processing; Desktop Cartography; 
Remote Sensing and GIS; Resources Remote Sensing with 
Image Interpretation and Integrated Surveys Approach; and 
Natural Resources Inventory. 
a. Digital Image Processing Course 
This course is aimed to improve the capability of 10 
Bakosurtanal’s staffs in understanding, processing and 
analyzing digital satellite images (with emphasis on digital 
image concept, enhancement, filtering, quantitative and 
qualitative image classification). 
b. Desktop Cartography Course 
This training is to improve the technical knowledge of 15 
Bakosurtanal staffs in using hardware and software to make a 
map design (cartographic) and for the purpose of map 
production. This training will concentrates on graphical 
drawing on map elements such as line, polygons, symbols, 
annotation, diagram etc.