DOST’s ‘Dream’ gets nominated

MANILA, Philippines—The Disaster Risk Exposure and Assessment for Mitigation (Dream) program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has been nominated for a prestigious international award.

In a statement on Saturday, the DOST said its Dream program, which introduces the use of Light Detection and Ranging technology to generate high-resolution 3D maps for hazard assessment and flood modelling, was nominated for the Geospatial World Excellence in Policy Implementation Award in Geneva, Switzerland.

It did not say though which body nominated the program, which was used by the government in its assessment of the Visayas region after Super Typhoon Yolanda and Bohol earthquake struck last year.

The Geospatial World Awards recognizes “exemplary innovations and practices in the geospatial industry,” according to the organization’s website.

Recipients of the Geospatial World Excellence in Policy Implementation Award include the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) for its knowledge transfer program; Standards Agentschap voor Geografische Informatie Vlaanderen of Belgium for geospatial standards, and the Indonesia Geospatial Information Agency for the Geospatial Information Act.

The DOST said the winners will be honored on May 8 during the Geospatial World Forum in Geneva.