Global GIS (Pvt) Ltd, a leader in geospatial positioning technology in Sri Lanka, has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Ruhuna. This partnership aims to foster collaboration between the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering. The signing ceremony was attended by key figures from the University, including Snr. Prof. P. A. Jayantha, Vice-Chancellor; Dr. Lahiru Prabodha, Director of the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Unit; Dr. K. M. S. Y. Konara, Senior Lecturer; and Mrs. C. Seneviratne, Registrar, along with representatives from other faculties. Global GIS was represented by Nishshanka De Silva, the CEO-Managing Director, and Jeewan Suranga, the CTO-Director, both of whom are Registered Licensed Surveyors.
The collaboration will focus on various initiatives, including research and development activities, commercialization of innovative solutions, consulting projects, and the dissemination of scientific knowledge. These efforts are intended to address the increasing demand for surveying and geospatial technologies, thereby enhancing efficiency and sustainability in the engineering sectors of the nation.
Nishshanka De Silva expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are privileged to form this collaborative relationship with the University of Ruhuna, which aims to strengthen the growing geospatial and surveying industry in Sri Lanka. Our goal is to elevate the sector through innovative products and solutions while building the necessary capacity for the country’s next growth phase. Geospatial and surveying technologies are critical for sustainable infrastructure planning, renewable energy initiatives, disaster management, and optimizing natural resource allocation, which are essential as Sri Lanka strives to achieve its national development objectives.”
As part of the MOU, Global GIS will set up a high-precision Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) network on the University campus. This facility will bolster the University’s capabilities for advanced GNSS research and applications while promoting GNSS technology across government, semi-government, and private sectors.
Additionally, Global GIS will provide funding to support ongoing research and development throughout the agreement. They will also offer commercialization expertise and business insights for new inventions, along with training and internship programs for undergraduates in surveying and geospatial technologies to enhance skill development and practical experience. Furthermore, they intend to leverage their status as an “Authorized Agent” for various brands in Sri Lanka to improve the University’s competencies in the latest surveying and geospatial technologies.
Founded in 2014, Global GIS (Pvt) Ltd serves as the exclusive sales and service agent in Sri Lanka for a variety of well-known brands in precision geospatial and surveying equipment, including FARO, Autodesk, PENTAX, Esurvey, TOKNAV, GUIDELINEGEO, GEOMAX, KOLIDA, Norbit, Plannet, Fuji Telcom, and Synspective, among others. As the only corporate member of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) based in Copenhagen, Denmark, from Sri Lanka, Global GIS specializes in geospatial and survey solutions. Their value-added services encompass archaeological site analysis, SAR imagery for marine security, drone surveys for disaster management and environmental modeling, forensic crime scene reconstruction utilizing Faro 3D scanning technology, and accident scene reconstruction. They also provide precision surveying equipment rentals to their clients.
Photo caption:
On the left: Nishshanka De Silva, Registered Licensed Surveyor, CEO-Managing Director of Global GIS (Pvt) Ltd, exchanging the MOU with Snr. Prof. P. A. Jayantha, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ruhuna.
On the right: Representatives from Global GIS (Pvt) Ltd and the University of Ruhuna during the signing ceremony.
Source: Financial Chronicle Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.
