China develops geographic information system

(Beijing): China has indigenously developed state-of-the-art geographic information system (GIS) technology which has been widely used for land survey, mineral exploitation, water conservation and other applications, the state media reported Friday.

China's geographic information industry has registered 400 billion yuan (USD 53.33 billion) in aggregate output value last year and hired over 300,000 people, deputy president of the China Association for Geographic Information System, Zhong Ershun said.

He said that nearly 20,000 domestic enterprises were estimated to have engaged in the industry, with 2,000 being specialised ones.

The deputy director of the Information Product Department of the Ministry of Information Industry (MII), Chen Ying attributed the industry's rapid expansion to the country's robust economic development and the rising capital input from both government and companies. [...continue]