The Indian government, on the 1st anniversary of the release of Geospatial Data, announced plans to utilize geospatial technology and drones to survey over 6 lakh Indian villages as part of SVAMITVA scheme. In addition, pan-India 3D maps will be prepared for 100 Indian cities. The initiative is a clear indication of the government’s commitment to leverage geospatial technology, a move that has already yielded positive outcomes within a year.
The SVAMITVA Scheme represents an important step towards establishing definiteness of property ownership in rural inhabited (Abadi) areas. Simultaneously, it highlights the importance and potential of geospatial technology in boosting India’s development.
Understanding Geospatial Technology
Geospatial technology encompasses tools like GIS (Geographic Information System), GPS (Global Positioning System), and Remote Sensing used for geographic mapping and analysis. These tools capture spatial information about different objects, events, and phenomena indexed to their geographical location on earth (geotag). The technology enables the creation of intelligent maps that help identify spatial patterns in large volumes of data, thereby facilitating decision-making based on the importance and priority of scarce resources.
Snapshot of India’s Geospatial Sector
India boasts a robust ecosystem in the geospatial sector with significant contributions from entities like the Survey of India (SoI), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Remote Sensing Application Centres (RSACs), and the National Informatics Centre (NIC). According to a report, India’s geospatial market in 2021 was dominated by defence and intelligence, urban development, and utilities segments, cumulatively accounting for nearly 38% of the total market. Additionally, new guidelines were released by the Ministry of Science and Technology to stimulate growth and competitiveness in the sector.
The Importance of Geospatial Technology for India
Geospatial technology has significant potential to grow and contribute to India’s economy. Private companies like Amazon and Zomato leverage this technology for smooth delivery operations, generating employment opportunities. Government schemes such as the Gati Shakti program greatly benefit from geospatial technology for effective implementation. The technology also plays a vital role in managing land records by tagging and digitizing data related to numerous landholdings, reducing land disputes in courts, and aiding better targeting.
Challenges in the Geospatial Sector
Despite its immense potential, the demand for geospatial services and products in India remains minimal due to lack of awareness among potential users in both government and private sectors. Other challenges include the lack of skilled manpower, unavailability of high-resolution foundation data, and lack of clarity on data sharing and collaboration, which hampers co-creation and asset maximization.
Way Forward for Geospatial Sector in India
Several steps can be taken to maximize the potential of the geospatial sector in India. Establishing a geo-portal for making all public-funded data accessible, promoting a culture of data sharing, generating foundation data, and launching bachelor’s programmes in geospatial in top universities can significantly boost the sector. It’s important to empower national organizations like SoI and ISRO with regulation responsibilities and finalise key policies like the National Geospatial Policy (NGP) and the Indian Satellite Navigation Policy (SATNAV Policy). This would provide necessary impetus for advancing the sector.
Last Modified: February 15, 2024