Nepal and India have agreed to install global positioning system (GPS) in every boundary pillar between the two neighbouring countries.
The decision was taken during the Survey General-level second Nepal-India Boundary Working Group (BWG) meet held at Dehradun, in India, on August 26-27.
It was agreed that the two countries will set up 83 control points in their vicinity across the 1,880-km border on two sides to install the GPS system in all the 8,553 boundary pillars along the Nepal-India border.
"The installation of GPS in all boundary pillars will ensure relocating of pillars if they are damaged by any natural disaster or other human encroachment.
"Once the GPS observation is fitted in these pillars, it will make it easy to relocate and reconstruct the pillars in case of damage, which will be tracked by the GPS system later," said Director General of Department of Survey Madusudhan Adhikari who led the Nepali delegation during the meet.
I wonder how the actual language of the agreement reads, and in what language it's written. The use of "GPS" as something one installs in a monument seems a little casual to me. I assume they mean they're going to use GNSS to position 83 permanent control points in protected areas, and then reference the actual boundary pillars to those, but the verbiage is hardly clear on the matter.
Jim Frame, post: 335836, member: 10 wrote: I wonder how the actual language of the agreement reads, and in what language it's written. The use of "GPS" as something one installs in a monument seems a little casual to me. I assume they mean they're going to use GNSS to position 83 permanent control points in protected areas, and then reference the actual boundary pillars to those, but the verbiage is hardly clear on the matter.
Probably something was "lost in translation" even though India would be primarily English or Hindi. So I guess a finger would be pointed at the Nepalese
They are installing coordinates. :stakeout:
that would be my guess.
8553 markers with a brass or aluminum disk, complete with a brand new set of GPS coordinates installed.
The edge of the Indian tectonic plate runs right along that border, and considering the last earth quake shifted Kathmandu by 3 meters.. I wonder how useful this exercise really is.
I've searched for any alternative reports on this but they all use similar wording with the probable source a single press release from the Nepalese.
Some political background here:
http://thediplomat.com/2014/09/india-and-nepal-tackle-border-disputes/
Lots of tectonic activity ... so is the border going to be defined by the coordinates or by the monuments?
Bill, in the article I linked to in my previous post there's a reference to a major change in the course of a river which moved the border and increased the Indian territory. I hoped there might be an article on the FIG website, but it's probably too soon as the border working group appears to have been set up after recent political changes in India.
Imagine the logistics, not to mention the sheer beauty..
rlshound, post: 336279, member: 6800 wrote: Imagine the logistics, not to mention the sheer beauty..
That, and the risk of getting shot while at work.
Bill93, post: 336196, member: 87 wrote: Lots of tectonic activity ... so is the border going to be defined by the coordinates or by the monuments?
That's a great question. If a boundary sits on an overthrust plate, and it moves, does the land atop along with the boundaries move too? If not, then someone's house on the border could inadvertently change nationalities!:-O
Jim Frame, post: 336285, member: 10 wrote: That, and the risk of getting shot while at work.
Our son recently returned from Afghanistan... Thanks be to God