Bulletin Spring‧Summer 2001

•Facilitatin g Technolo y Transfe r I n A u g u st 1999, The Chinese U n i v e r s i ty j o i n ed hands w i t h the Chinese A c a d emy of Sciences i n setting u p the Joint L a b o r a t o ry for Ge o i n f o r ma t i on Science, w h i c h serves as a base for technological cooperation a nd academi c exchange b e t we en the t w o institutions , a n d f or the c u l t i v a t i on of expertise i n th e discipline. The Hong Kong branch of the Chinese Remote Sensor Centre of the Joint Laboratory for Geoinformation Science was established in December 2000. ' B o t h i n s t i t u t i o ns b e l i e v e t h a t g e o i n f o r m a t i o n s c i e n c e ( G T S ) is a strategic area for future development. Prof. C.V. Yang, distinguished professor-at-large, Prof. Arthur K.C. L i ,V i c e - c h a n c e l l o r ,and Prof.Kenneth Young, pro-vice-chancellor, m a d e s p e c i a l trips to B e i j i n g to d i s c u s s the laboratory's establishment with Prof. Lu Youngziang of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.' s a y s Prof. L i nHui, director o fthe laboratory. T h e l a b o r a t o ry ha s b e en p r o v i d i n g t r a i n i n g i n d i f f e r e n t f o r m s to m a i n l a n d scientists: certificate p r o g r amme s, d i s t a nt e d u c a t i on courses, a nd technology transfer services. I t is also a centre f or a c a d em ic e x c h a n g e i n E a st A s i a : i t o r g a n i z e s conferences such as the U r b an GIS F o r um o n Chinese me ga cities, l i n ks u p the ma i n l a nd and Taiwan w i t h the Pacific Region, promotes c o l l a b o r a t i o n b e t w e e n a c a d e m i a a n d i n d u s t r y, and advances the d e v e l o pme nt of u r b a n ma n a g eme n t. Prof. L i n h i ms e lf pays frequent visits to institutions i n Beijing a nd Sh a n g h a i to e x p l a in the d e v e l o pme nt a nd application potential o f GIS technology. Application Potential of GIS Geoinformation science is a discipline that covers earth science, information science, and systems science. It uses satellites, remote sensing technology, geoinformation systems, computer- aided design and cartography, multi-media and virtual reality techniques, and the Internet to analyse a n d monitor population, material, and energy flows, with an objective to achieve sustainable development. Prof. Lin gave short-term training to four staff members of the provincial remote control centre of jiangxi in 1995, who subsequently set up an electronic three-dimensional map of the province with geological, soil, rainfall, altitude, gradient, and tidal information. If you want to open an orchard in Jiangxi, you need only consult the map to gain a preliminary understanding of the characteristics of different sites. This drastically speeds up investment decisions,' he says. 18 Prof. Lin Hui (left) showing remote infrared images to Minister of Science and Technology Xu Guanhua