A laboratory that contributes to the development of the economy

As part of the 90th anniversary of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, the Digital Cartography and Applied Geodesy Laboratory was established, with a broad scope of research. According to the head of the laboratory, PhD, Associate Professor, and Chair of the Department of Cartography and Geoinformatics Aizhan Asylbekova, the primary goal of the center is to contribute scientifically to addressing the needs of the country’s economy in agriculture, construction, and mining sectors. To achieve this, the laboratory leverages the long-standing experience and accumulated scientific research potential of the faculty and students of the Department of Cartography and Geoinformatics.

The laboratory focuses on the following tasks:

• Engineering services;

• Participation in research projects, grant projects, and targeted scientific and technical program funding competitions;

• Consulting and educational services.

According to Aizhan Asylbekova, to implement these objectives, the laboratory relies on key programs such as:

• The development of digital agriculture in Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector;

• The Concept for Geological Development until 2030;

• The “Nurly Zher” state program for housing and communal development (2020–2025);

• The “Nurly Zhol” state program for infrastructure development (2020–2025).

Funding Sources

The laboratory is financed through:

• Applied research and orders from private companies and industry organizations;

• Grants and targeted program projects;

• Contractual work within the framework of an accredited laboratory.

The commercialization of services is guided by a marketing strategy designed to expand the range and volume of services, increase demand for scientific and applied research, and establish an accredited laboratory. Successful projects may later enter the innovation market.

Projected Revenue Sources

• Professional development courses for students and engineering-technical staff;

• Applied research based on grant projects;

• Scientific and applied research within sectoral projects;

• Contractual work within the accredited laboratory framework.

Marketing and Sales Strategies

First of all, the marketing strategy focuses on expanding the type and volume of services provided to meet growing demand for research and contractual work, eventually creating an accredited laboratory and opening paths to the innovation market.

Second, laboratory development is guided by monitoring service needs among potential clients and flexible pricing policies.

Third, marketing strategies aim to prevent negative perceptions of the laboratory and gradually increase demand for research services.

Fourth, pricing strategies target applied research and scientific-technical services with few analogues.

Fifth, analysis of the marketing strategy emphasizes active service promotion, risk assessment, and prioritizing services in demand. Successful implementation ensures tangible results.

Laboratory Development Plan and Objectives

• Conduct applied work and scientific research for agriculture, industry, construction, oil and gas, and mining sectors;

• Implement applied projects within grants and government-funded programs;

• Conduct applied research within international projects;

• Collect and process data for publication in scientific journals.

The laboratory achieves its objectives through the efforts of its staff and additional recruited personnel.

Equipment

It mainly includes monoblocks, copier equipment (MFU), special equipment and geodetic instruments. At the same time, the UAV (quadcopter) has a DJI D-RTK 2 Hight Precision GNSS mobile station with a DJI Mavic 3 Multispectral GNSS radio receiver, a GNSS receiver and many other special equipment. All this will work on the implementation of projects within the framework of the laboratory.

In general, the laboratory of digital cartography and applied Geodesy has a lot to offer. We hope that it will contribute to the development of the local economy.

Gulzat NURMOLDAKYZY