A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand.

Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1972

The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Thailand, a regional graduate school in engineering, has proposed to set up a Regional Information Center for Science and Technology (RICSAT). This proposal has been based on the following six factors: 1.the need for international transfer of information; 2. increased demands on academic libraries; 3. recent developments in hardware; 4. recent developments in software; 5. favorable political environment for reginal cooperation; 6. favorable academic environment and availability of facilities. The study. after consideration of these six factors and their related issues has found that it is infeasible to carry out the original AlT/RTCSAT proposal" While the need for information transfers does urgently exist, it is doubtful if the demands on a academic libraries has reached. a critical stage in Asia. As a matter of fact, the more crucial need at present is the human receptiveness to information. The state-of-the-art surveys of both computer hardware ~and · software for data handli.ng indicate that it is technically feasible to · implement a telecommunication network for information transfer in Asia. The chief obstacle to the formation of AIT/RICSAT is the current -UNESCO efforts to establish a similar center at the Thai National Documentation Center (TNDC). This will severely restrict the amount of financial resources as well as political support in the Region for AIT/RICSAT. It is also found that AIT is seriously lacking in academic as well as professional experience in the field of information transfer and related fields. This will certainly prevent AIT from successfully implementing this project in the planned period of time. As the importance for research in the field of information for the Region in general and for AIT in particular, can be seen, an alter native project has been recommended. This essentially calls for the establishing of an academic network in the region initially involved in the transfer of technical information in the various fields of engineering. This will be designed to complement the TNDC/RICSAT by covering in depth .areas which TNDC/RICSAT is unable to cope with as well as carrying out research projects in the fields of information handling and transfer. It will also serve to foster links and form cooperation among the many academic institutions in the region leading eventually to the sharing of resources.