Geospatial technology is a field that uses tools such as Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), and Remote Sensing for geographical mapping and analysis. These instruments capture spatial data about events and phenomena indexed to their geographical locations on earth, known as geotagging. Static location data could include the position of a road or an earthquake event, while dynamic location data could pertain to a moving vehicle or the spread of an infectious disease. This technology facilitates intelligent decision-making based on the importance and priority of scarce resources.
National Geospatial Policy 2022
The Ministry of Science and Technology has introduced the National Geospatial Policy (NGP) 2022, aimed at bolstering India’s Geospatial sector and making India a global leader in this arena. By 2025, the country’s geospatial economy is expected to exceed Rs 63,000 crore with a growth rate of 12.8% and generate employment for more than one million people.
Institutional Framework Underlying the Policy
The Geospatial Data Promotion and Development Committee (GDPDC) will be the peak body for formulating and implementing strategies related to promoting the Geospatial sector. The Department Of Science & Technology shall continue to be the nodal Department of the Government and GDPDC shall make suitable recommendations to DST.
Benchmarks Set by the Policy for Future Progress
The policy sets ambitious goals for the coming years. By 2025, it aims to establish a policy and legal framework supporting liberalization of the Geospatial sector and democratization of data. By 2030, it plans to conduct high-resolution topographical survey and mapping. And by 2035, it plans to create a National Digital Twin of major cities and towns.
Significance of the Policy
Geospatial technology and data can act as transformative agents in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The policy also fosters the start-up ecosystem and reduces dependency on foreign territories. Geospatial data plays a critical role in a wide variety of applications such as military operations, disaster management, environmental monitoring, and land and city planning.
Challenges Associated with the Implementation of the Policy
Despite its potential benefits, the policy comes with its share of challenges. Geospatial data is inherently complex, and securing this kind of data poses significant difficulties. Although numerous models and techniques exist for managing access and sharing geospatial data, national security concerns have not been adequately addressed. There’s also the risk of potential data misuse and privacy violations if all geospatial data becomes publicly accessible.
A Look Ahead
Considering the number of individuals and organizations involved in implementing the policy, robust security measures need to be taken to provide users and applications with data only on a need-to-know basis. A clear roadmap should be developed in the National Geospatial Policy 2022 to address national security issues for the country.
