The Association of Geospatial Industries recently released a report titled “Potential of Geospatial Technologies for the Water Sector in India”. The report highlights the potential benefits that the water sector can garner from the implementation of geospatial technologies. As India grapples with an escalating water crisis, central and state governments are exploring novel resources to combat this issue, including the use of Geospatial technologies.
The Current State of the Water Sector in India
India, home to about 17% of the world’s population, holds just 4% of the world’s freshwater reserves which spells a severe water challenge for the nation. With a reservoir capacity at 250 billion cubic meters (bcm) and a total surface water bearing capacity of around 320 bcm, there is a clear mismatch between demand and supply.
Despite receiving an annual 3,000 bcm of water through various sources like rainfall or glaciers, a paltry 8% is captured effectively. Complicating the situation further is India’s over-reliance on groundwater. India replenishes groundwater aquifers at the rate of 458 bcm per year but extracts around 650 bcm. Around 89% of India’s water resources go towards agriculture, with a massive 65% of this drawn from under the ground – emphasizing the urgent need for groundwater conservation.
A NITI Aayog report reveals that nearly 820 million people across 12 major river basins in India face extreme water stress. Moreover, water quality is another pressing concern, as a third of India’s 600 districts suffer from groundwater contamination, primarily from fluoride and arsenic. A surge in polluting industries has only exacerbated this problem.
Given the high population density and water requirements for agriculture, the availability of clean water for personal, industrial, and agricultural use is paramount. It is a decisive factor in helping India realize its vision of becoming a USD 5 Trillion economy and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Understanding Geospatial Technologies
Geospatial technologies encompass modern tools that contribute to the geographic mapping and analysis of the Earth and human societies. These technologies, which include Remote Sensing, GIS (Geographic Information System), GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), Survey and 3D modeling, facilitate the collection, analysis, storage, management, distribution, integration, and presentation of geographic information.
These technologies help measure, manage, and maintain assets, monitor resources, and even provide predictive and prescriptive analysis for forecasting and planned interventions.
Geospatial Technology’s Role in Water Management
Geospatial and digital technologies are potential game-changers in combating the water crisis. Tools like Satellite Based Remote Sensing, GPS Based Equipment and Sensors, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, Internet of Things, 5G, Robotics and Digital Twin could be effectively employed in this sector.
Major ongoing water Projects in India include the Jal Jeevan Mission, Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP), Namami Gange, National River Linking Project (NRLP), Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), National Hydrology Programme, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana (PMKSY), National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM), River Basin Management, Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY), and the National Water Mission.
Digital Twin Technology
A Digital Twin is a virtual model that replicates the physical world, its dynamics, and processes. It helps simulate real-life situations and assess their impact. The digital representation of physical assets such as pipes, pumps, valves, and tanks is integrated along with historical data like weather records and real-time dynamic interactions, rendering the digital twin useful for various analyses.
Strategies for Successful Geospatial Implementation
To extract the maximum advantage from geospatial technology, user departments must create a long-term vision of the outcomes of geospatial implementation. This includes developing an integrated geospatial platform to connect the data and technology used by various organizations and seamlessly access local and national information.
Agriculture being the largest user of water resources in India, there’s a pressing need for the sector to increase its efficiency of water use from 30-35% to at least 50%. Geospatial technologies can be instrumental here.
Knowledge sharing becomes crucial too as a lot of good work has already been done within state governments or programs related to the water sector. A central repository such as a Knowledge Portal managed by the Ministry of Jal Shakti can be created, that includes case studies, best practices, tools, and information on data sources.