Nottingham opens a new UK-Chinese Geospatial Centre

A centre for Sino-UK Geospatial Engineering which has opened at The University of Nottingham, is being jointly supported and operated by The University of Nottingham and the Chinese Academy of Surveying and Mapping, the research arm of China's National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation (NASG).

Also operating from a base on Nottingham’s Ningbo Campus in Beijing, China, the centre will offer Executive Training for Chinese leaders working in surveying and mapping companies and will also be used as a platform for NASG to identify and build partnerships in the UK .

Professor David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Nottingham, said: “We are very privileged that China’s National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation (NASG), has chosen The University of Nottingham as its sole overseas Executive Education training base.

“It means that we will be able to share international best practice in geospatial engineering research. It will further strengthen our links with Chinese academics, businesses and government. It is, I believe, a partnership which will undoubtedly result in new opportunities both for The University of Nottingham in China and NASG in the UK.”

Mr Wanfeng Zhang, Deputy Director General, Department of Legislation and Industry Management of NASG, led a delegation of 21 CEOs for this year’s Executive Training in Nottingham. Making the opening address at the launch event, he said: “To date, over 90 leading Chinese CEOs from industry have participated in the seminars held with The University of Nottingham, engaging with leading experts in both the UK and EU on international surveys, industry developments and the use of the latest IT in geo-information. Last year, the Chinese Academy of Surveying and Mapping (CASM) unveiled a plaque in Beijing to mark the partnership. I am glad that the plaque will today be unveiled at the UK Centre at The University of Nottingham, which will further enhance our collaboration in the future.”

Dr Xiaolin Meng, Associate Professor from The University of Nottingham will operate as the UK Director. Dr Meng will be working closely with Professor Jixian Zhang, President of the Chinese Academy of Surveying and Mapping (CASM) and the overall director of the Sino-UK Geospatial Centre.