About Organisers

October 30 - November 1, 2002 at Ahmedabad

Indian National Cartographic Association (INCA)

INCA is a body of professionals from government departments, universities and participants from private sector agencies. Founded on August 07, 1979 at Hyderabad, INCA has evolved into one of the biggest organisations of its kind in the world. From a modest beginning with 79 members on its role initially, today it is a grand body of 3 honorary fellows, 1875 life members and 71 reputed institutions. It has branches functioning at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehra Dun, Delhi, Hyderabad, Indore, Jodhpur, Kolkata, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram.

Aims and Objectives

The association has the following as its foremost aims and objectives:

To promote cartographic research in the country;
To foster cooperation among research institutions and quasi-government organisations and professional organisations of allied disciplines for the advancement of cartography;
To collaborate with international organisations on similar lines;
To take such measures as may help to secure for cartography its legitimate place in national life; and
To strengthen among cartographers a sense of professional excellence.

Activities

In order to achieve the above objectives, INCA organises several programmes. It has so far conducted 21 national/international conferences at various places in India. These conferences were attended by experts from India and other countries. These conferences provide a rare opportunity, being an ideal platform for interaction among professionals, academicians, scientists and industrialists engaged in cartographic activities and for presentation of work done and achievements attained by them.

Workshops and seminars organised by INCA and its branches are very popular. The association publishes the journal Indian Cartographer. It is a compilation of selected technical papers presented at the annual conference. These papers have earned wide acclaim for their high academic and professional standards. A newsletter, highlighting the main activities of INCA, is also brought out.

INCA also organises a GIS workshop every year. This workshop affords an opportunity to university teachers to get an insight into the technology. Experts in the field drawn from various government and private organisations impart training in theory and computer operations.

INCA map-quiz is one of the major activities of INCA planned for children at school level and this is conducted every year both at regional level and at national level. This is done by way of organising lectures, map reading exercises and map-quiz. The winning teams in the national round are awarded prizes at the venue of the annual congress.