The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and MapmyIndia have recently been making headlines for their collaborative work on an indigenous geospatial portal named ‘Bhuvan’. This initiative aligns with the new guidelines released for India’s Geo-Spatial Sector.
The Bhuvan Geospatial Portal
As a web-based platform, Bhuvan enables users to find and interact with geographic information and related services through the internet. In essence, it is designed to provide geographic data and related services such as display, editing, analysis and more.
The ISRO-MapmyIndia Collaboration
As part of this collaboration, MapmyIndia’s extensive database will be linked with ISRO’s satellite catalogue and earth observation data. This data is generated by ISRO’s constellation of satellites. The partnership aims to identify and construct an all-encompassing geospatial portal using earth observation datasets, Navigation in Indian Constellation (NavIC), Web Services and APIs available from MapmyIndia.
Understanding API
An API (Application Programming Interface) is essentially a software intermediary that facilitates communication between two different applications. It is a computing interface that defines and controls the interactions between multiple software components.
The Significance of the Portal
The portal will show accurate maps that reflect the country’s true borders as per the official information from the Government of India. Moreover, the platform aids in protecting user privacy. Unlike foreign map apps that generate revenue by invading the users’ privacy and selling their private location and movement data, MapmyIndia offers no such provisions of advertisement. Finally, being an Indian platform, it perfectly resonates with the government’s mission of ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’, or self-reliant India.
About MapmyIndia
MapmyIndia is an Indian technology company that creates digital map data, telematics services, and Global Information System and Artificial Intelligence services. It offers an alternative to Google Maps, covering around 7.5 lakh Indian villages and 7,500 cities. Its database consists of a road network spanning 63 lakh km, making it among the most exhaustive digital map databases in the country.
The Navigation Platform: NavIC
NavIC, short for Navigation in Indian Constellation, is an Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) developed by ISRO. The IRNSS comprises eight satellites, with three in geostationary orbit and five in geosynchronous orbit. This system, similar in functionality to the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS), has a range of 1,500-km over the sub-continent. Its primary aim is to provide dependable position, navigation, and timing services over India and its surrounding region.
Applications of NavIC
NavIC offers a wide array of uses including terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation, disaster management, vehicle tracking and fleet management, integration with mobile phones, and precise timing needed for ATMs and power grids. It also aids in mapping and capturing geodetic data.
Global Navigational Systems
Apart from NavIC, there are several other global navigational systems including China’s BeiDou/BDS, Europe’s Galileo, Russia’s GLONASS and Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS). These systems play crucial roles in regional and global positioning and navigation services.
