China's self-developed geographic information system (GIS)
technology has been widely used in the spheres of land survey,
mineral exploitation, water conservancy and many other aspects,
resulting in 400 billion yuan in aggregate output value.
China's geographic information industry has registered 400
billion yuan in aggregate output value last year and hired more
than 300,000 people, according to Zhong Ershun, deputy president of
the China Association for Geographic Information System.
He said that nearly 20,000 domestic enterprises were estimated
to have engaged in the industry, with 2,000 being specialized
ones.
Chen Ying, deputy director of the Information Product Department
of the Ministry of Information Industry, attributed the industry's
rapid expansion to the country's robust economic development on the
whole and the rising capital input from both government and
companies.
Between 2001 and 2005, more than 20 million yuan has been
earmarked by the Ministry of Information Industry as a special fund
to bankroll the development and application of domestic software
for geographic information system.
Zhong said that self-developed GIS technology has already
reached the world's leading levels and been put to use in many
spheres including land survey, mineral exploitation, water
conservancy, environmental protection, power generation, mapping,
telecommunication as well as the management for the public goods
and civil services.
(Xinhua News Agency October 5, 2007)