Remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) have emerged as invaluable technologies for ecosystem analysis, evaluation, and monitoring.  Satellite remote sensing data have been used worldwide in several projects dealing with prioritizing and analyzing resource management alternatives.  Some of the major applications include mineral and petroleum exploration, pollution detection, weather prediction, commercial fishing, rangeland monitoring, crop forecasting, and urban development and management studies.  GIS has emerged as an unparalleled tool cutting across many disciplines and revolutionizing the way geographic information is mapped, monitored, manipulated, and used to model the human and natural environments.  Remote sensing and GIS have recently become integral components of several university degree programs in science, engineering, marine science and agriculture.

The need to establish a Remote Sensing Centre within the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) was recognized more than one and half decades ago when on the 25 December 1988 H.E. the Vice-Chancellor issued Administrative Order No.741 which established a Remote Sensing Committee in the University and defined its duties and responsibilities.  A Director for the Center was appointed in August 2002.

The 7th World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Center of Excellence (CoE), Muscat, was inaugurated at SQU in February 2006. The Center is coordinated by the Directorate General of Meteorology and Air Navigation (Civil Aviation Affairs) and the SQU Remote Sensing and GIS Center.

The  RSGISC at Sultan Qaboos University supports teaching and research activities within the university, and also acts as a national resource, providing strategic service and training, and promoting international collaboration in the field. 

The   RSGISC has now experts with several  years’ working experience  in the development of diverse image processing and computer vision techniques, satellite remote sensing and GIS development.