China to promote geological information industry

China's State Council, the cabinet, has issued proposals for promoting the development of the geological information industry. The document, published on the government's website www.gov.cn on Thursday, says in five to 10 years, the country's capabilities in getting geological information will be enhanced significantly, with improved scientific and technological innovation capacity and increased international competitiveness. The geological information industry is a hi-tech industry based on technologies in surveying, mapping, remote sensing, satellite navigation and positioning as well as other areas. The industry is developing at high speed and becoming a more important role in economic and social development. The document says that data obtaining and processing capabilities of remote sensing should be improved, calling for development of surveying and mapping satellites, high and medium altitude photoplanes, low-altitude unmanned planes and ground remote sensing systems. It also calls for development of geological information software, taking into consideration the next generation of Internet, Internet of Things and cloud computing. The document calls for optimizing the development environment for the industry, regulating market order and strengthening security monitoring and supervision. It notes that scientific and technological innovation and cooperation with foreign countries and regions, should also be promoted.