Message from the Editor for June 2022 Issue

Abstract

In the recent decade the emergence of GNSS and LiDAR sensing are providing highly advanced data for innovative applications and insight into accurate managing our biosphere and geosphere. These technologies have received tremendous book with new bigdata, deep learning, machine learning, ANN and artificial intelligence tools. I am sure that this trend of research will continue for another decade or so till such integrated system become robust and part of our routine tools for managing the meteorological events and green ecosystems. Volume 18 issue number 3 consists of 5 papers in GNSS and its applications and model generations.  One paper has presented the determination of impact of ENSO (El Nino – Southern Oscillations) on the Precipitable Water Vapor (PWV) using long term GPS observations. While other paper is also focusing on development of a system for estimation of near real time Precipitable Water Vapor (PWV) for meteorological event surveillance. Third paper on GNSS relates to analysis of L2C signal quality under various observational conditions. Fourth paper aimed at accurate i-Boat navigation using loosely coupled GNSS and IMU integration. The fifth paper deals with horizontal coordinate correction model using transformation from PPP GNSS technique to Thai GNSS CORS Network based on ITRF2014. Undoubtedly these 5 papers on GNSS are very important and precious collection of research using highly evolved satellite-based positioning and navigation system.

Sustainable development goals can be achieved by planning development by accurate mapping of urban areas using geoinformatics and at the same time conserving and managing the forests and plantation by biomass estimation. LiDAR is extensively used for these purposes. Current IJG issue has interesting publication on using terrestrial LiDAR data for scanning and estimating the Eucalyptus biomass. I am sure this has potential for industries using Eucalyptus for medicinal and paper industry use while ensuring the conservation of our biosphere.

Coming to the welfare of elderly population the major issue seems to be tracking and managing their depleting health and provide them safer and quality care. One paper in this issue has showcased the development of a Mobile App – Prevent-U for patients with hypertension. Another amazing paper links spirituality among people in later part of their lives and tries to use geospatial data analysis for linking presence of Buddhist temples and happiness index or elderly population. I think happiness of all people is the aim of all technologies and for the first time there is an attempt to focus on this aspect using Geoinformatics. Happiness will also reduce hypertension and provide safer life. Hopefully, more researchers will focus on this issue.

I made appeal to researchers and experts of geoinformatics to come forward and join the panel of reviewers of papers submitted in IJG. There was positive impact and for the first-time experts from industries like Google and ESRI are coming forward to be the reviewers. IJG has come out with financial incentives too for reviewers so that the process of review and finalization of publication can be expedited. Now, we are focusing to achieve 15 days review deadline for papers. Also, it is heartening that the citations of papers published in International Journal of Geoinformatics are ever increasing due to introduction of DOI from Crossref since July 2021. We are trying to provide DOI to papers published in last 5 years so that International Journal of Geoinformatics can achieve higher impact factor in SCOPUS.

Finally, I will wind up this editorial with my best wishes to all the members of IJG Community – Members of Editorial Board and Reviewers panel, contributing authors, readers, subscribers and staff members for the safety from epidemics and progress in career and be deeply happy.