Phil-LiDAR Partner SUCs/HEIs participate in Mindanao Cluster Conference

The Mindanao Cluster Conference for Phil-LiDAR 1 was held last September 11, 2015 at the Green Leaf Hotel, General Santos City. It was attended by Phil-LiDAR 1 offices of partner SUCs/HEIs located in Mindanao. A total of 41 participants attended the event, from UP Diliman, CARAGA State University, MSU-IIT, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Central Mindanao University, and UP Mindanao.

The purpose of the meeting was to draw out concerns, comments, and feedbacks on data they have received from the UP Diliman Phil-LiDAR 1 and vice versa. To aim for high level discussions, a limited participation of at most four (4) representatives from each Phil-LiDAR 1 SUC/ HEI was required.  In particular, the Project Leader, Chief and Supervising Science Research Specialists or in absence of both, the Senior Science Research Specialist are requested to attend.

Most of the participants arrived at the venue on the afternoon of September 10, 2015 and the event proper took place on September 11, 2015. The plenary session began with Dr. Paringit’s opening remarks at 9:00am. This was followed by 20-30 minute powerpoint presentations from each of the different Mindanao Cluster universities. Their reports contained updates on their accomplishments and their concerns regarding their operations and other matters. All the presentations drew to a close by noon, wherein all the participants had their lunch in the venue. This was followed by discussion of concerns on the Data Acquisition Component (DAC), Data Validation Component (DVC), Data Processing Component (DPC), Flood Modeling Component (FMC), and Data Archiving and Distribution (DAD) Components. The Project Leader/ Chief Science Research Specialist or the assigned representative per component answered all the issues raised by each of the Mindanao SUCs/ HEIs. To further enrich the discussion, Dr. Paringit also provided instructions, guidance, and insights regarding the stated issues.

After the lunch break, the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), the monitoring agency of the DREAM-Phil-LiDAR 1 Program, as represented by Ms. Claire Reyes facilitated the next session to discuss the contents of the DOST Form 2B – 1 with the Mindanao SUC/ HEI delegates. This is to formulate a single workplan with the same outputs and accomplishments to be measured and stated for submission to PCIEERD. With this, the Phil-LiDAR 1 SUCs/HEIs will be able to gauge their accomplishments by standards and goals they themselves have set together with PCIEERD. Many points were brought up by the participants, all addressed by the DREAM-LiDAR components and Dr. Paringit. As a solution, it is recommended that the time frame for sessions must be well-planned, so that time management will be efficiently carried out and the event will end on time. The meeting drew to a close at 5 o clock in the afternoon. The third day, September 12, 2015 was spent for travel period, to anticipate the long drive home and/or limited flight availability for the Mindanao SUCs/HEIs who will be returning to their respective areas.