On September 14, 1971, Thailand joined the NASA ERTS-1 project, the world’s first resource exploration satellite, under the operation of the Natural Resources Exploration Satellite Project of the National Research Council of Thailand. The role and duty were to coordinate, procure satellite data, transfer technology, and provide funds for training, study tours, and meetings both inside and outside the country.
The success of the project led to the project’s status being changed to an agency named “Satellite Natural Resources Survey Division” in 1979 and 1982. A satellite receiving station was established in Lat Krabang District, Bangkok, which was the first station in Southeast Asia. Later, on November 2, 1998, the Public Organization Act of 1999 was announced because the government had a policy to reform the civil service system to make work more efficient and because of the importance of using remote sensing technology and geographic information systems in national development.
Until the year 2000, a new agency was established by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, which established a new agency by combining the Natural Resources Survey by Satellite, the National Research Council of Thailand, and the Coordination and Promotion of Geographic Information System Development, Information Center, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, under the Royal Decree under the name of the “Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Public Organization)”.
And since November 3, 2000 until now, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Public Organization), abbreviated as “GISTDA” and with the English name “Geo-Information and Space Technology Development Agency (Public Organization – GISTDA)”, is a government agency in the form of a public organization, focusing on efficient management and operations to provide information services, various academic services, including research and development of space technology for the benefit of the public.
GISTDA’s Vision
To be an organization that brings value from space and geographic information to society.
Objectives of GISTDA
1. Develop space technology and geo-informatics into boundless knowledge that benefits the public
2. Study and analyze data from satellite images and serve as a geo-informatics data center from satellite data and survey data from other sources
3. Provide data services obtained from space technology and geo-informatics, including mapping and other related services
4. Provide design tools or any services using knowledge of space technology and geo-informatics to government agencies
5. Provide consulting services and develop personnel in space technology and geo-informatics
6. Study, research, develop and perform other activities related to or continuous with space technology and geo-informatics, including procurement, development and construction of satellite systems
7. Set central geo-informatics standards and provide services for inspection of operations according to such standards Including promoting the use of space technology and geographic information standards
8. Promote cooperation and provide space technology and geographic information services both domestically and internationally
6 main missions of “GISTDA” that support and develop the country
1. Cartography
2. Agriculture
3. Water Resources
4. Disaster
5. Urban planning
6. Natural Resources
The data to be used in the aforementioned missions was received from THEOS satellite, which is the first Earth observation satellite in Thailand. In the past, Thai researchers and engineers have developed our own intelligent geographic information system under THEOS-2, which has developed ground satellite systems, satellite testing and assembly centers, solution development, application development, and AIP systems for advanced geographic information applications.
And on October 9, 2023 at 08.36 Thailand time, the Earth observation satellite THEOS-2 successfully entered orbit at the European Airport, French Guiana. It is a satellite in the GISTDA project, a further developed version of THEOS-1 (Thaichote), a large national technology project.
The THEOS-2 project will consist of two satellites: THEOS-2, the main satellite, and THEOS-2A, a small satellite, jointly designed and developed by a team of Thai engineers. Once the satellites are launched, they will be tested in space together with ground stations for approximately three months before they can be put into use. On May 15, 2024, GISTDA showed the first images of the THEOS-2 satellite for the public to see. GISTDA estimates that THEOS-2 will have a lifespan of approximately 10 years.
GISDA’s duties and powers
According to the Royal Decree establishing the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Public Organization) B.E. 2543, the duties and powers of GISTDA are as follows:
1. Own, possess or have assets
2. Establish rights or perform any legal acts related to assets
3. Jointly invest with other juristic persons in activities related to the objectives of the Office
4. Borrow money for the purpose of implementing the objectives
5. Collect fees, maintenance fees, compensation or service charges for business operations
6. Provide and provide funds to support the operations of the Office
7. Contact, coordinate and make agreements for cooperation in exchange projects or academic assistance with agencies or organizations both domestically and internationally in activities related to the objectives of the Office
8. Act as the secretariat of the committee with duties and powers related to space technology and geographic information systems as assigned
9. Perform any other necessary or continuous actions to achieve the objectives of the Office. Joint investment under Section 3 and borrowing money under Section 4 shall be in accordance with the criteria set by the Cabinet.
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