Connectivity Powering Economy

September-October 2023 » Volume 02 » Issue 05 » www.geospatialworld.net

CONNECTIVITY

POWERING

INSIDE  Connecting India Pg 12  Plugging Infra Gaps for Unfettered Growth Pg 22  Digital Twin Crucial For Indian Airports Pg 26

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Editor-in-Chief Sanjay Kumar

Assistant Editor Nibedita Mohanta

Managing Editor Prof. Arup Dasgupta

Sub Editors Sachin Awana Jeffy Jacob

Associate Editor Aditya Chaturvedi

VOLUME: 02 / ISSUE: 05

Visualizers Pradeep Chauhan Saurabh Srivastava Circulation Shweta Singh Vijay Singh

Chief Designer Subhash Kumar

COVER STORY / 12

CONNECTING INDIA PM Gatishakti is not just a major stride in infra development, but will give impetus to sweeping economic development as well.

G20 SPECIAL

INTERVIEWS

CASE STUDIES

10 / G 20 2023: A Look into the Future

22 / P lugging Infra Gaps

39 / M apping Coastal Fishing Spaces

for Unfettered Growth Sumita Dawra

Special Secretary (Logistics), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)

24 / C utting-Edge R&D Driving Sustained Growth

NEWSPACE 26 / Digital Twin & Indian Space Economy STARTUP FOCUS

32 / I nnovative 3D

Solutions for All

Rajan Srivastava Founder & CEO, Heliware

CITY SPOTLIGHT

Sreeramam GV

40 / G eospatial For Natural Resource Management

Founder & CEO, NeoGeo

30 / D igital Twin Crucial For Indian Airports

Charul Shukla Executive Director, Planning, Airports Authority of India (AAI)

REGULAR FEATURES

04 / Editorial

06 / News

34 / R iding the Waves

41 / W omen Empowerment in Odisha village

37 / T he Kerala Transit

42 / R ural Empowerment Through Land Rights

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Disclaimer

List of Advertisers 02 / NeoGeo Technologies 05 / Survey Of India 31 / Pan India

43 / CMPDI 44 / Esri India

Geospatial Artha does not necessarily subscribe to the views expressed in the publication. All views expressed in this issue are those of the contributors. Geospatial World is not responsible for any loss to anyone due to the information provided.

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GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

4

EDITORIAL NOTE

Lateral Thinking, Not Linear Projections

T Prof. Arup Dasgupta

arup@geospatialworld.net Managing Editor

he past few months have been very unkind to the world.

Wildfires, high temperatures, drought are some of the impacts. Make no mistake, this is Climate Change-induced global warming. In India, the Monsoons have been greatly disturbed. While in many areas there is insufficient rainfall in other areas, particularly in the Lower Himalayas, repeated episodes of violent weather, has created havoc with the infrastructure, destroying roads, bridges, hotels and habitations.

The inhabitants of these areas and stranded tourists were left without electricity, water and food.

The importance of proper planning, last-mile infra connectivity, safeguarding livelihoods, and developing Climate-resilient infrastructure has been brought to the fore. The unplanned development of Joshimath and its dire consequences were an early warning of things to come. What is happening in the Lower Himalayas reinforces the lessons.

Giving the go-by or paying lip service to environment issues and climate change is resulting in the mess, which takes a huge socio-economic toll. Infrastructural planning and implementation has to be able to take into account environmental factors and the destructive power of a changing climate.

In this context, the importance of clear and comprehensive information and data visualization is essential for the planning and decision-making.

Such information can only be provided by geospatial systems supported by comprehensive data acquisition

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

from sensors and people. All agencies involved in project planning, execution and monitoring must make use of modern data acquisition systems and geospatial analytics.

This seems to be catching on.. In India facilities such as the Gati Shakti are a step in the right direction. Integration of different methodologies such as BIM with GIS is clearly the way forward. Creation of Digital Twins using the power of Lidar scanning and satellite and aerial imagery will create an information base on which all activities can be planned, executed and monitored. It is also important to understand the role of citizens and involve them as stakeholders in a two-way interaction for data and for evaluation of plans.

There is a need to combine different initiatives under a common goal.. Separate activities such as Smart Cities, Infrastructure, and Environment need to be part of a holistic approach because there will be compromises to find acceptable solutions, balancing competing, and often conflicting, needs of various sections of government, industry and citizenry.

A common database, populated with curated data from different sources which can be accessed by all sections of society is needed.

Analytics will play a major role and the use of techniques of Big Data and Artificial intelligence must be brought into play.

The real challenge is to plan for an ever-changing future. Linear projections must be replaced by lateral thinking.

DELHI KOLKATA MUMBAI

SURVEY OF INDIA

CHENNAI

CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING REFERENCE STATIONS (CORS) NETWORK: Pan India CORS Network is being established

by Survey of India, to achieve centimetre level accuracy position in real time.

Total 1008 Continuously operating stations will be established in entire country, which will be capable of providing better than 3 cm accuracy in Real Time.

CORS Network in state of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Karnataka and Maharashtra is operational and services are available on SoI service Portal.

Real-time and Precision positioning services by SoI’s CORS Network, are being offered on No charge basis for 3 months from 1st June, 2022 to all citizens in the state of U.P., Uttrakhand, Haryana, N.C.R., Maharashtra and Karnataka.

http://cors.surveyofindia.gov.in Office of the Surveyor General of India, Hathibarkala Estate, Dehradun, PIN - 248 001 +91-135-2747051-58, Ext 4360, +91-135-2744064, 2743331 Email: sgo.soi@gov.in

6

NEWS Ministry of High-Tech Industry was Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Make in India, Armenia approved by the Union Cabinet.

India etc. ink MoU to two parties will cooperate in The India Stack Solutions are Accelerate Digital The the field of digital solutions that are Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Transformation implemented at population scale

by India at population scale to for digital transformation.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology and the Armenian

Over the years, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has collaborated with several counterparts worldwide in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) domain. This is corroborated by the various initiatives taken by the Government of India such as Digital India,

provide access & delivery of public services. These are built on open technologies, are designed to harness industry and community participation which fosters innovation.

However, each country has unique needs and challenges in building DPI, although the basic functionality is similar, allowing for global cooperation.

NavIC to be Compulsory in Deliberations Ongoing to Every Smart Phone by 2025 Liberalise FDI in Space The Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekar said that all 5G phones would require Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) support by January 2025.

The government is also considering additional incentives for smartphone makers during the next cycle of its Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to increase the adoption of the NavIC system.

However, the PLI scheme could be only availed if the smartphone makers use chips that are designed or manufactured in India and support the indigenous satellite constellation.

The move has come after US tech giant Apple launched its latest iteration of the iPhone with NavIC support for Indian users. Though Apple’s navigation and positioning chip is being supplied by Qualcomm, a US semiconductor company, India wants to create an incentive structure that will encourage companies to use Indian-designed or made chips, Chandrasekar emphasised.

Currently, only a handful of smartphones — from manufacturers such as Poco, Vivo, and Xiaomi — support NavIC. GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

An inter-ministerial discussion is ongoing to liberalise the space sector to attract greater Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), overseas players, and private companies.

The move has been catalysed by the recent success of India landing the Chandryaan-3 on the moon. Three countries from the G20 group has already expressed interest in possible collaborations with India in the space sector.

Currently, 100 percent of FDI is allowed through government channels in the area of satellite establishment and operations. The expansion further allows the Indian space economy to bolster its presence in a market that’s worth $546 billion globally and is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2040.

Earlier this year, the government of India introduced the Indian Space Policy which seeks to encourage the growth of the private space sector and allocate ISRO’s roles and responsibilities, giving the government agency more bandwidth to focus on research and development of advanced space technologies.

NEWS 7 National Data Management Office to be set up Soon The government of India is planning to set up a National Data Management Office to supervise the humongous non-personal and anonymous personal datasets.

The entity will work under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

The role of National Data Management Office will be to regulate, manage, and safeguard data, particularly within government entities. It will also lay out data governance

rules throughout the country.

It will comprise separate data management units for the central government departments and ministries that process nonpersonal and anonymized data.

Furthermore, the entity will also develop a standard mechanism for inter-governmental data access as various government departments generate enormous amounts of data from various public services. The entity will build the India Datasets program,

which was earlier proposed under the draft National Data Governance Framework Policy to create large datasets by collecting nonpersonal and anonymized personal data from various government ministries and departments as well as private entities.

World Bank Launches Geospatial Poverty Portal The World Bank has unveiled a new Geospatial Poverty Portal to provide access to subnational poverty data for research and targeted development.

Building an accurate dataset of poverty-stricken areas within and across countries can help in supporting the poorest and most vulnerable people. The portal intends to highlight these areas and delve into granular geographic data that will identify spatial patterns and hotspots of

deprivation, analyse trans-border issues, such as climate change, conflict, and food insecurity, and evaluate the impact of poverty reduction and development interventions that target specific areas or groups.

Subnational data can aid the poverty datasets by providing more detailed indicators of poverty, inequality, and vulnerable areas.

By combining and analysing subnational and worldwide datasets, better development

interventions, precise poverty estimates, and improved scrutiny around a wide range of development challenges can be achieved.

GalaxEye, ideaForge Partner to Build UAV FOPEN Radar GalaxEye, an emerging SpaceTech start-up, and the first Indian earth observation satellite company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ideaForge, a global drone technology and manufacturing company to jointly develop UAV FOPEN (Foliage Penetration) Radar.

The UAV FOPEN Radar will be tailor-made for the security forces for enhanced aerial surveillance and mapping capabilities. This

Foliage Penetrating UAV Radar system will overcome obstructions such as clouds, fog, smoke, mist, camouflage nets, and dense treecanopy foliage. Further, the MoU also includes the development of a high-resolution 3D imaging foliagepenetrating radar.

Under this collaboration, ideaForge will contribute its expertise in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology, skilfully blending it with GalaxEye’s state-of-the-art

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology. GalaxEye will provide vital technical support in optimising the integrated solution to deliver enhanced monitoring capabilities.

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

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NEWS AWS Partners with ISRO, IN-SPACe to Propel Innovation Amazon Web Services (AWS) has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) to strengthen space technology innovations through cloud computing.

This collaborative effort will provide space-focused start-ups,

research institutions, and students access to state-of-the-art cloud technologies, thereby expediting the development of novel solutions within the space sector.

ISRO, IN-SPACe, and AWS will jointly work towards nurturing and cultivating the flourishing start-up ecosystem in the space sector.

AWS will extend valuable support to eligible space start-ups by offering tools, resources, and

expert technical assistance at no cost, facilitated through its Activate program.

The three organizations will collaborate on a new initiative aimed at providing training to students and educators in various domains, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), analytics, and security, leveraging AWS educational programs.

for 50 million hectares of farmland sharing open-source data for UNDP India, across the country. product development, transfer of Nabard Join technology, and supporting the Nabard will host and maintain of agrarian policies. These Forces for Data- framing the DiCRA platform and use open data innovations can highlight its key geospatial datasets for Driven Agro best practices, optimise agriculture policy making, research, and investments, and shelter Innovations development activities, with populations from various risks.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) signed an agreement to cocreate data-driven innovations in agriculture and food systems to support smallholder farmers.

The organisations will work to improve the lives and livelihoods of smallholder farmers by GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

UNDP's technical support.

The partnership aims at enhancing and disseminating collaborative digital public goods like DiCRA (Data in Climate Resilient Agriculture) which provides open access to key geospatial datasets pertinent to climate-resilient agriculture.

DiCRA already provides intelligence on climate resilience

NEWS 9 PhonePe Unveils Mobile App Store to Rival Google Play PhonePe, a prominent company in India's digital payment landscape, is set to launch its mobile app store, Indus. This 'Made-in-India' app store is poised to cater to the specific needs of Indian users by offering localized services in 12 languages.

For start-ups and new app launches, the Indus Appstore introduces the 'Launch Pad' – a dedicated platform offering enhanced visibility and search optimization. Additionally, the platform will furnish developers with an array of invaluable tools

and features to address common challenges. These include a roundthe-clock customer support team based in India, the option to list apps in 12 Indian languages alongside English, and opportunities to enhance brand awareness through engaging videos.

During the inaugural year, app listings will be free, with a nominal annual fee applied thereafter.

The Indus Appstore presents an alternative distribution channel for developers, enabling them to tap into the Indian Android market.

Moreover, it promises to assist them in achieving high-quality user acquisition through multilingual app discovery.

India-Oman Earth Observation Platform Launched The launch of the India-Oman Space Platform marks the dawn of a new era in space exploration and Geographic Information System (GIS) data sharing for Oman.

This innovative web-based GIS platform, developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), provides valuable images and data from Indian earth observation satellites.

of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology from Oman. During this event, the minister engaged in substantive discussions with S. Somanath, Chairman of ISRO, alongside other eminent officials and experts

from the field of space research.

Beyond gaining valuable insights into India's expansive space endeavours, both parties explored opportunities to expand their bilateral cooperation in space research and related industries.

Its seamless integration with terrestrial space applications will revolutionise sectors, including agriculture, water management, fisheries, transportation, urban development, renewable energy, and natural disaster management.

The official inauguration ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Indian Space Research Organisation in Bengaluru, coinciding with a visit by H.E. Said Hamood al Maawali, the Minister GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

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G20 SPECIAL

Glimpse Into The Future The 18th iteration of the G20 – a group of 19 nations and the EU – took place in Delhi, India. With world leaders from around the world congregating at Pragati Maidan, host of crucial global policies, important issues, new initiatives, and diplomacy were discussed.

The summit came in time when newer technologies such as Generative AI, Machine Learning, Fintech, and other Digital Infrastructure are gaining momentum to population scale. This requires an intervention from ministries around the world to accentuate different facets, realms, and impact of these technologies.

Artificial Intelligence at the Forefront The rapid progress of AI promises prosperity and expansion of the global digital economy.

To leverage it for the public good, responsive development, protection of human rights, transparency and accountability, regulations are required with appropriate human oversight, and data protection.

The New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration charted three points to unlock the full potential of AI, equitably share its benefits, mitigate risks, and promote international cooperation and further discussions on international governance for AI. ● Reaffirm the commitment to

G20 AI Principles (2019) and endeavour to share information on approaches to using AI to support solutions in the

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

digital economy.

● P ursue a pro-innovation regu-

latory/governance approach that maximizes the benefits and takes into account the risks associated with the use of AI. ● P romote responsible AI for achieving SDGs.

Digitalization in the Next Era The New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration recognized the importance of free-flowing data while respecting applicable legal frameworks. It also reaffirms the role of Data for Development and pointed out three key developments: ● T he G20 Framework for

Systems of Digital Public Infrastructure, a voluntary and suggested framework for the development, deployment and governance of DPI. ● I ndia’s plan to build and main-

tain a Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository (GDPIR), a virtual repository of DPI, voluntarily shared by G20 members and beyond. ● Propose One Future Alliance (OFA), a voluntary initiative aimed to build capacity, and provide technical assistance and adequate funding support for implementing DPI in LMICs. ● Technology presents an opportunity to bridge existing digital divides and accelerate growth around the world in an inclusive and sustainable manner. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), an evolving concept that consists of shared digital systems which is built and leveraged by both the public and private sectors aids in building secure and resilient digital infrastructure.

DPIs can be built on open standards, as well as, open

G20 SPECIAL 11 source software that can enable services at population-scale.

Digital Economy for the Future An enabling, inclusive, open, fair, non-discriminatory and secure digital economy is increasingly important for all countries and stakeholders while respecting applicable legal frameworks. The New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration will share the approaches and good

practices to build a safe, secure and resilient digital economy.

To this extent, they will: ● T he non-binding G20

High-level Principles to Support Businesses in Building Safety, Security, Resilience, and Trust in the Digital Economy. ● T he G20 Toolkit on Cyber Education and Cyber Awareness of Children and Youth.

Technology for 1.2 billion Indians India Stack is the moniker for a set of open APIs and digital public goods that aim to unlock the economic primitives of identity, data, and payments at population scale.

67 Billion

14.05 Trillion

8.6 Billion

10

Total number of digital identity verifications

Total volume of monthly real-time mobile payments

INR total value of monthly real-time mobile payments

Operational Account Aggregators

Timeline of different APIs 2009 Unique ID Authority of India (UIDAI) is formed 2010

First Aadhar Card is issued

2012

UIDAI launches eKYC which brings down the cost of customer verification for banks from $23 to $0.15

2015

MeitY launches Digilocker

2016

NPCI launches Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

The 21st century is an important time to show the world a new direction. Today, centuriesold challenges are seeking new solutions from us and that's why we should move ahead while fulfilling our responsibilities with a human-centric approache.

Shri Narendra Modi Prime Minister of India

One Earth, One Family, One Future: That’s the focus of this G20 Summit. And in many ways, it’s also the focus of this partnership that we’re going to — that we’re talking about today: building sustainable, resilient infrastructure; making quality infrastructure investments; and creating a better future — a future of a greater — that’s — represents greater opportunity, dignity, and prosperity for everyone.

Joe Biden President, United States of America

We will work closely with India through their Presidency of the G20 to address the biggest challenges the world is facing, from stabilising the global economy to dealing with climate change.

Rishi Sunak Prime Minister, United Kingdom

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

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COVER STORY

PM Gatishakti is not just a major stride in infra development, but will give impetus to sweeping economic development as well.

By Jeffy Jacob "You and I come by road or rail, but economists travel on infrastructure" ~ Margaret Thatcher ~

COVER STORY 13

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COVER STORY

I

ndia's stride towards infra development is often impeded by myriad challenges and complexities that arise due to a host of factors, and at times the mismatch between the pace of ambition and reality.

A CAG report, released in August this year, flagged the excessively high construction cost of the 30km Dwarka Expressway, part of Phase-1 of the Bharatmala Programme for building national highways in the country, highlighting that the high cost was due to a number of factors, including the use of expensive materials, the need for extensive land acquisition, and the complexity of the construction work.

The 14-lane expressway, which includes an eight-lane elevated road, is expected to be fully completed by January 2024. The Dwarka Expressway was being built at a cost of Rs250.77 crore per kilometre as against the Union Cabinet approved cost of Rs18.20 crore, which has now been refuted by the Road Ministry. The report also noted that the MoRTH did not adequately justify the high cost of the project and that there was a lack of transparency in the bidding process. The government needs to put in place strong safeguards to prevent this from happening.

Inadequate planning, insufficient investment, and underutilization of cutting-edge tech are some of the common travails. The world’s largest

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country would require optimization of processes across the project lifecycle, and prioritization of tech adoption.

As India charts a course towards the ambitious target of attaining a $5 trillion GDP by the fiscal year 2025, the road to economic zenith demands approximately $1.4 trillion, according to Eco Survey.

"Infrastructure serves as the cornerstone of India's ambitious vision to achieve a five trillion-dollar economy. While we are currently forging ahead, constructing new roads and bridges, we cannot overlook the pressing issue of our aging and deteriorating existing infrastructure”, said Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport and Highways, in the GeoSmart Infrastructure 2023.

“The protracted decision-making processes within our system have become a significant hurdle, often leading to delays of two to three months”, he added.

Candidly acknowledging that silos exist, he said that Digital Twin can come to the rescue.

The PM Gatishakti Initiative has effectively brought together various ministries to collaboratively develop infrastructure in a synchronized manner. This approach aims to address the country's needs and the various Economic Development zones systematically.

COVER STORY 15 “PM Gati Shakti enhances efficient connectivity, enabling the achievement of the targets set by the National Infrastructure Pipeline, which encom passes infrastructure development exceeding 1.8 trillion dollars by 2025”, says Amit Kumar Ghosh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

In this context, the next step should be the adoption of digital twin which has the potential to transform the infrastructure sector. Fortunately, digital twin is a field where there are currently no clear-cut global leaders presenting an opportunity for India to take a pioneering role on the world stage, he emphasized.

“Gatishakti also aims to ensure seamless coordination and collaboration among all stakeholders, enabling everyone to operate from a shared foundation of accurate, real-time data. This, in turn, empowers informed decision-making at every level.”

Better Planning Poor planning has resulted in India's infrastructure being woefully inadequate in the past. Projects have often been delayed or cancelled due to insufficient planning. An example would be the scrapping of the planned metro stations in Chennai. India has not fully utilized the latest technological resources to improve its infrastructure.

“What sets PM Gatishakti apart is its adoption of scientific planning, bolstered by digital technologies and a GIS-based National Master Plan.

With this approach, we gain the ability to visualize the intersections of various GIS layers, including infrastructure assets, natural resources, forested areas, and social assets,” said Sumita Dawra, Special Secretary (Logistics) DPIIT. It's crucial to understand that improved infrastructure planning isn't solely about connecting manufacturing centers to ports, roads, or airports for the ease of doing business; it's also about enhancing the quality of life. Remote areas, for instance, may require better connectivity to schools and Anganwadi centers. PM Gati Shakti plays a pivotal role in improving the ease of living, she added.

PM GATI SHAKTI: Six Pillars of Transformation

Comprehensiveness

It will include all the existing and planned initiatives of various Ministries and Departments with one centralized portal. Each and every Department will now have visibility of each other's activities providing critical data while planning & executing projects in a comprehensive manner.

Prioritization

Through this, different Departments will be able to prioritize their projects through cross-sectoral interactions.

Optimization

The National Master Plan will assist different ministries in planning for projects after the identification of critical gaps. For the transportation of goods from one place to another, the plan will help in selecting the most optimum route in terms of time and cost.

Synchronization

Individual Ministries and Departments often work in silos. PM Gati Shakti will help in synchronizing the activities of each department, as well as of different layers of governance, in a holistic manner by ensuring coordination of work between them.

Analytical

The plan will provide the entire data in one place with GIS-based spatial planning and analytical tools having 200+ layers, enabling better visibility to the executing agency.

Dynamic

All Ministries and Departments will now be able to visualize, review, and monitor the progress of cross-sectoral projects through the GIS platform, as satellite imagery will give on-ground progress periodically and the progress of the projects will be updated on a regular basis on the portal. It will help in identifying the vital interventions for enhancing and updating the master plan.

“A significant issue revolves around the lack of substantial investments or sufficient allocation of public funds. These challenges converge into the GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

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COVER STORY realm of project governance and infrastructure planning,” says Dr. Surendra Ahirwar, Joint Secretary, Logistics & Trade, ministry of Commerce & Industry.

By integrating diverse datasets, the master plan shifts decision-making from subjective to datadriven, leading to optimized and cost-effective infrastructure development.

He believes that the way forward is via evaluating the existing infrastructure deficit, procuring funds from private or public sources for infrastructure development, embracing appropriate technologies, and ensuring efficient planning.

In less than two years since the launch of the Gati Shakti National Master Plan, 39 ministries of the Government of India and 36 states and union territories have adopted the Gati Shakti platform.

The adopters have developed customized decision-making tools, expanded in-house capacities, and made significant strides in infrastructure planning through this platform.

Spatial Kernel In 2021, India's Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi unveiled a blueprint that aims to address this infrastructural inertia. At its core, the National Master Plan seamlessly integrates roads, railways, airways, waterways, and logistics—a multi-modal marvel.

The ambitious master plan places geospatial technology at its core. The adoption of a Geographical Information System (GIS) platform has proven instrumental in consolidating data related to physical assets, demographics, socioeconomic aspects, and geographical features across the nation.

GATI SHAKTI OUTLINE Integrated National Infrastructure Over Rupees 110 lakh crore of infrastructure projects planned for 2020-25 will come under the purview of this program.

Breaking Inter-ministerial Silos The plan focuses on eliminating barriers between various ministries, fostering a cohesive approach to infrastructure development.

Multi-modal Connectivity Connecting and integrating different transport modes will enable efficient movement of goods and people, saving time and costs.

Digital Platform for Coordination An integrated digital platform facilitates data sharing among ministerial departments, aiding effective planning and coordination.

Empowered Group of Secretaries An empowered group, led by the Cabinet Secretary, ensures efficient implementation of the program.

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The Network Planning Group meets regularly to evaluate projects, ensuring that every major infrastructure initiative in the country is designed to support multi-modality and multi-modal connectivity.

“We're working diligently to harmonize efforts across ministries, ensuring that railway freight lines seamlessly integrate with roads, which, in turn, connect effectively with ports. In essence, our goal is to enhance overall connectivity and efficiency in the transport and infrastructure sector," adds Sumita Dawra.

"In this way, we are experiencing a revolution in our decision-making processes, driven by data analytics for infrastructure planning. We've conducted 53 Network Planning Group meetings, appraising 96 projects worth approximately six lakh crore rupees.” ”We've also focused on Railway connectivity projects and the Energy Corridor, ensuring efficient connectivity across the country, eliminating lastmile infrastructure gaps with roads and ports. We are also working on connecting social sector assets to enhance overall development,” she emphasised.

Data-Driven Decision Making PM Gatishakti's core competency lies in its commitment to creating Geographic Information System (GIS) layers accessible to all. The benefits of datadriven decision-making are evident; it de-risks infrastructure investments, allows investors to have real-time project insights, and fosters comprehensive infrastructure planning.

A dynamic map of all infrastructure projects, developed by BISAG-N and built on open-source technologies is hosted securely on the GOI cloud platform aptly named Meghraj. In it, the National Master Plan (NMP) integrates over 1,450 layers of

COVER STORY 17

data, including 585 from central ministries and more than 870 from states or Union Territories (UTs). This data includes every planned and existing project of various ministries, complete with the imagery and location of that particular project.

2D Predicament in a 3D World Even with all this progress, challenges remain. PM Gati Shakti relies on the collection and sharing of geospatial data collected by different ministries for their respective purposes.

These mapping efforts go through a comprehensive validation and verification process involving entities like the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the State Public Work Department (PWD), the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), and the Border Road Organisation (BRO).

There is nothing in the provision to emphasize the quality of the data as well as the value. So, the volume of data that is collected may and may even not be useful for planning purposes.

"PM Gatishakti has captured the collective awareness. These layers (over 200) have been cultivated through endeavours involving Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), infrastructure projects, the development of road networks, and the compilation of valuable data resources, such as water resources and cadastral data”, said Javed Sheikh, Technical Director, QuantaSIP Geomatics Informative Solutions.

The overarching vision of Gatishakti extends to data layers and the establishment of a robust data centre. It underscores the importance of local data collection and digitization. Gatishakti significantly streamlines this process, simplifying business operations, particularly in our sector, he adds.

Cadastral data, a fundamental layer, must be accurately positioned and cleansed to render it invaluable for DPRs. According to Javed Sheikh, States have generously contributed public cadastral data, expediting the DPR process.

Most of the data is 2D in nature whereas the AEC community is moving to 3D – wherein a fusion of GIS, BIM, and Digital Twin comes into play. The modelling of data and interoperability and standards required with other AEC processes, cannot be met today with the data collected under the program alone.

"Through the harmonious fusion of GIS and BIM, we unlock a distinct synergy. GIS endows us with the invaluable context of location, bridging the natural and built environments, while seamlessly integrating data,” said Agendra Kumar, Managing Director, ESRI India.

“Working in coordination and collaboration with different departments and teams is one of the pillars of PM Gati Shakti. This will reduce redesign, rework, time, and cost overruns with all the development work across multiple sectors in India,” said Sonali Dhopte, Director of Excelize.

“Having an integrated digital platform that provides real-time data not only for design and execution, but also for operation, will add tremenGEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

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COVER STORY Without meticulous attention to data accuracy, relevance, and timeliness, the potential insights that could shape India's infrastructure landscape might remain untapped. The intricate web of geospatial information loses its effectiveness if all stakeholders don't synchronize their efforts. dous economic value. The technological landscape is evolving every day, and the embedded technology in PM Gati Shakti will help India stay ahead of the curve.”

Without meticulous attention to data accuracy, relevance, and timeliness, the potential insights that could shape India's infrastructure landscape might remain untapped. The intricate web of geospatial information loses its effectiveness if not all stakeholders synchronize their efforts.

For a streamlined design and construction phase, a holistic geographical context is paramount. If the collected data fails to align with foundational themes and layers, the problem of clashes during the project lifecycle persists.

By prioritizing data quality, value, and currency, and fostering collaboration among ministries, PM Gati Shakti can metamorphose into a Digital Twin platform.

Fuelling Digital revolution At its core, PM Gati Shakti is essentially a 3D Geographic Information System (GIS) map incorporating over 1600 layers of data. Government departments across India have contributed their GIS data, including satellite imagery, to this platform. State governments have also been tasked with adding between 24 to 28 layers of data, depending on their specific needs.“PM Gati Shakti is not a static data repository but a dynamic, live GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

collaborative platform. If a user requires specific data, they can send a request to the database, and they will receive the most up-to-date information available.

This system is impressively efficient despite being lightweight, and it can provide a wealth of information said Anurag Jain, Secretary, MoRTH. For instance, in the context of road infrastructure planning, PM Gati Shakti enables engineers to visualize the terrain in 3D, allowing for better road slope design. Additionally, users can access data layers that provide information on subsoil conditions, facilitating foundation planning, he added.

What sets PM Gati Shakti apart is its ability to provide critical contextual data. It can show the locations of forests, mining leases, and geological wealth across the country, among other things.

Infrastructure, notably road networks, has always played a significant role in driving economic expansion. One instance that showcases the efficiency of Gatishakti is the cross-border connectivity project between India and Nepal. This project, planned by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, will connect the Indo-Haldia Nepal border to the Haldia Port.

It is set to reduce travel time from 18 hours to 7 hours and facilitate connectivity to 30 economic nodes across 14 districts.

Accruing Economic Benefits “Connectivity serves as the backbone of economy. When regions are effectively interconnected, several key advantages emerge. Firstly, logistics costs decrease, bolstering economic efficiency. Secondly, social integration is enhanced, fostering a more cohesive society. Additionally, reduced travel times between locations, such as from one point to another, become possible, further boosting productivity and mobility.

Gen. V.K. Singh (Retd.), Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways and Civil Aviation, Govt. of India The Bharatmala project, another one of the key components of the PM Gati Shakti plan also provides a framework for coordinating the implementation of this project along with other infrastructure projects, such as the Sagarmala project, the UDAN scheme, and the expansion of the railway network.

Within the framework of Bharatmala Pariyojana, the focus is on developing approximately 26,000 km of Economic Corridors.

These corridors, in conjunction with the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) and North-South and East-West (NS-EW) Corridors, are anticipated to handle a significant portion of freight traffic on roadways.

"The Gati Shakti framework is a holistic approach to infra-

COVER STORY 19 structure development, which aims to integrate various modes of transportation and create a seamless network. This will help to reduce the time and cost of freight movement on highways across countries”, believes Amit Kumar Ghosh.

"We have seen an improvement in the average speed in the economic corridors," Ghosh added. "This is due to the coordinated efforts of various government agencies and the private sector. We are committed to further improving the infrastructure in the country and making it easier to do business."

Construction of roadways and road networks, has always resulted in a substantial increase in the demand for materials such as steel, cement, and bitumen.

This domino effect can have far-reaching positive consequences across various sectors of the economy.

Unlocking Socio-Economic Advantages PM National Master plan ensures efficiency across different sectors of the economy.

Accurate modelling and integration of various types of information are of utmost importance towards this is precisely where platforms like PM Gati Shakti come into play. They serve as an essential tool to integrate diverse data sources.

Green highways are an integral part of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan for Multimodal Connectivity. The plan aims to develop a holistic infrastructure ecosystem in India, with a focus on sustainability and environmental protection.

Green highways are those that are designed and constructed with minimal environmental impact. They incorporate features such as tree planting, rainwater harvesting, and solar energy generation.

"Sustainability and pollution control are paramount concerns along our roads. The concept of Green Highways, with ample room for indigenous vegetation, not only nurtures our ecology but also champions’ sustainability. It's a stride toward curbing carbon emissions," affirmed Gen. V.K. Singh (Retd.), Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways and Civil Aviation, Govt. of India The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan also includes a number of initiatives for the development of green highways. These include Greenfield expressways that the government plans to develop 22 Greenfield expressways across India.

These expressways will incorporate features such as tree planting, solar energy generation, and rainwater harvesting. Existing highways will also have solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems which will help it in being environmental friendly.

The government also plans to develop 35 multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPs) across India.

These will be designed to be green and sustainable, with rainwater harvesting, solar energy generation, and waste management systems being prominent features.

As of date, 14 Social Sector Ministries/ Departments have been on -boarded, namely Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Department of Health and Family

BOLD AMBITIONS Infrastructure Development Targets

11 Corridors

Establishing 11 industrial corridors

Rs 1.7 lakh

Defence production- Achieving Rs 1.7 lakh crore turnover.

147 Clusters

Creation of 38 electronics manufacturing clusters and 109 pharma clusters

2 lakh KM National Highways Expansion

Multi-lanes

Connecting all state capitals in the northeast with 4 lane or 2 lane national highways

1,600 Million

Efficient Handling cargo of 1,600 million tons through Railways

34,500 km

Expanding the gas pipeline network to 34,500 km

225 GW

Increasing renewable energy capacity to 225 GW from the current 87.7 GW

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

20

COVER STORY Welfare, Department of Post, Department of School Education and Literacy, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Department of Youth Affairs, Department of Sports, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Ministry of AYUSH. Moreover, the plan's successful implementation is anticipated to alleviate the tax burden on citizens, granting them greater financial autonomy.

Railways & Waterways The Indian Railways stands as an integral pillar of the country's infrastructure, boasting the distinction of being the world's fourth-largest railway network, spanning an impressive 67,956 kilometres.

Its significance in the Indian economy is undeniable, contributing over 2% to the nation's GDP. Given its role in India's economic landscape, the integration of the Indian Railways into the PM Gatishakti Master Plan becomes not just a choice, but a need.

A step towards this integration is the introduction of a 2000 km network, a vital component of the PM Gatishakti National Master Plan.

This innovative network will harness the power of the indigenously developed Kavach technology, a system engineered to prevent train collisions, thereby ensuring better security. Simultaneously, this network will undergo upgrades in capacity ultimately leading to a reduction in congestion and a significant boost in efficiency.

As part of the larger scheme to modernize the fleet, the unveiling of 400 new Vande Bharat trains within the next three years is indeed a noteworthy endeavour.

With their strategic deployment on major routes across the nation, the Vande Bharat trains will pave the way for heightened connectivity and a substantial reduction in travel time, bridging the geographical divide.

Diversification of focus brings forth yet another commendable initiative - the establishment of 100 cargo terminals within the

next three years. This strategic move aligns with the Indian Railways' broader vision of fostering multimodal logistics facilities.

By offering an integrated suite of services including warehousing, packing, and transportation, these terminals become a hub of efficiency for shippers and receivers.

Sources in the railway ministry talk about technology like RFID and GPS tracking, whose terminals not only ensure the secure movement of goods but also elevate the logistics ecosystem to a new standard.

"Worldwide logistics costs typically range between 8-10%. In contrast, India currently bears a hefty logistics cost of around 16%. The PM Gatishakti plan sets its sights on a significant reduction, targeting a logistics cost of approximately 10-12%. Remarkably, even China has achieved a substantial decrease in its logistics costs, prompting us to ponder the path to this achievement. The key lies in comprehensive integration “advocates Anisur Rehman, Chief Engineer, Northern Railways.

We must break down the barriers that separate various transportation systems, ensuring full visibility into railways, waterways, and road transport operations. This approach enables seamless coordination and resource sharing, helping us avoid unnecessary duplication, such as constructing redundant roads.” he added.

This vision shows the integration of all technological components and the active involvement

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

COVER STORY 21 encourage investments."

It is expected to reduce logistics costs to GDP, establish new multi-modal cargo terminals, and facilitate synergy among various government departments.

"On a national scale, the previous road network initiatives were predominantly structured as Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). Today, we've transitioned into an era where every aspect, from locational referencing to maintenance, is comprehensively integrated into various asset management system-based applications” commented DR. NC PAL, OSD cum Engineer-In-Chief, PWD. of stakeholders. The objective is to enhance planning, streamline integration, facilitate smoother on boarding processes, and foster stronger collaborations. It is abundantly clear that continuing to work in isolated silos will prove costly. Consequently, all digitization processes and systems are converging into a unified framework."

Another Ministry that PM Gati Shakti has been able to bolster as a vital engine of economic progress is the Inland Waterways. The enhancement of the logistics framework is paramount, as a robust economy hinges upon a well-functioning logistics system. The logistic policy spearheaded by the government is accelerating project execution and fostering development. With 111 waterways crisscrossing our land, our logistics landscape has been significantly enriched.

One of the projects is the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) for capacity augmentation of navi-

gation on National Waterway-1 (NW-1) which is being implemented at a cost of Rs 5369.18 crore with the technical assistance and investment support from the World Bank. The IBP route promises connectivity through Bangladesh to the north-eastern states.

A Step Beyond?

The launch of PM Gatishakti has been praised by industry bodies like the Confederation of Indian Industries, who recognize its potential to transform India's infrastructure.

"PM Gatishakti is likely to add value in many ways," says Geetha Ramamoorthi, Managing Director of KBR India. "It will improve connectivity between different modes of transportation and lead to increased trade. This will create more jobs and attract investments. It will also reduce logistics costs, thereby making businesses competitive and more profitable.

PM Gatishakti will enhance export and trade, fuel urbanization, and

The plan has achieved remarkable progress in the last two years. The foundation of a comprehensive digital platform at the national level serves as a pivotal achievement. It seamlessly connects state-level master plan portals, ministry planning portals, and specialized planning tools, fostering a holistic approach to infrastructure development.

“By making decisions grounded in data, the plan garners greater acceptance and leads to more optimized infrastructure development at cost-effective rates,” adds Dr. Ahirwar.

PM Gatishakti lowers the cost of transportation thereby improving farmer’s income and enhancing food security.

Jeffy Jacob Sub Editor, Geospatial World Jeffy@geospatialmedia.net GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

22

INTERVIEW

Plugging Infra Gaps for Unfettered Growth “Optimum alignment and connectivity is essential to promote multi-modal logistics. This is the lens via which we look at major infrastructure projects in the country. GIS-based Gati Shakti and National Master Plan is crucial towards these objectives”, says Sumita Dawra, Special Secretary (Logistics), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Govt. of India, in an exclusive interview with Geospatial World.

India is among the world's fastest-growing economies, however, median logistics cost here is higher as compared to say, Southeast Asia. How can technology help address this chasm?

In India, it's important that the logistics ecosystem is made more efficient. The PM Gati Shakti National master plan has been launched by The Honourable Prime Minister to ensure that infrastructure planning happens in a multimodal manner, boosting connectivity to the manufacturing centers, and easing the EXIM flow of goods and mobility of labor and passengers.

All the infrastructure works are being planned on that National master plan. At the same time, we are also improving the logistics-related services be it regarding ports or customer services to emphasize building a more efficient logistics ecosystem.

By 2030, we aim to be in the top 25 countries in terms of GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

the Logistics Performance Index, from the current ranking of 38. In the past few years, our ranking has already improved by 16 places.

Seamless Connectivity is essential for linking manufacturing hubs in the hinterlands with ports and other transit corridors. What can be done to eliminate existing bottlenecks?

While we are planning any major infrastructure project, whether a railway Freight Line or an expressway, we have to look at connectivity to the existing infrastructure, which could be Panchayati Raj roads or state highways. We also need to ensure connectivity to manufacturing clusters, as well as to social assets such as schools or points of tourist interest.

INTERVIEW 23 Optimum alignment and connectivity are essential to promote multi-modal logistics.

This is the lens via which we look at major infrastructure projects.

GIS-based Gati Shakti and National Master Plan is crucial towards these objectives. It helps us in data-based decision-making and avoiding disruptions around forest areas, wildlife sanctuaries, and areas of ecological interest.

India aspires to be a major manufacturing powerhouse, particularly in electronics and semiconductors, while also emphasizing tech innovation and sustainability initiatives. How can these goals be harmonized?

There's a major capex push for next-gen infrastructure in the country and we are spending a tremendous amount of funds.

There's a historic budgetary outlay for building roads, railways, ports, power, telecom, etc.

By doing all of this in a planned manner, we are able to promote ease of doing business and ease of living at the same time.

We are mindful of the intersection between them. To cite an example, on the Pune-Bangalore Expressway, it is due to the Gati Shakti National master plan that MORTH has been able to reduce the intersection with the forest area by about 20 percent.

The Ministry of Ports and Shipping Waterways is also planning a modal shift to inland waterways using the Gati Shakti platform, with an objective to have a modal shift by 20%.

Post-pandemic, companies are re-evaluating their supply chain strategies.

Optimum alignment and connectivity are essential to promote multi-modal logistics. This is the lens via which we look at major infrastructure projects.

How can India make its supply chains resilient to withstand future disruptions?

It's crucial for supply chains to have good connectivity around manufacturing areas so that raw materials reach manufacturing clusters, and the finished products reach the markets efficiently. It is vital to reduce last-mile gaps.

We have identified about 156 critical infrastructure gaps. This has resulted in a comprehensive port connectivity plan as well.

We are now sanctioning projects to take care of the infrastructure gaps and streamline the movement of raw material as well as manufactured goods that will bring down the cost of logistics and attract capital.

How will fast infrastructure development and uninterrupted connectivity contribute to unshackling the entrepreneurial potential of India's growing population?

We have a great demographic dividend which is an asset.

It's important to ensure labor mobility which the Gati Shakti platforms also focus on.

At the same time, we need to ensure connectivity to the educational institutions so that the children studying in remote areas are able to go to school and have power and internet connectivity.

And then from there, they go to high schools and colleges. In this way, connectivity and infra-ac-

cess promotes the development of the demographic dividend.

How can we bridge the infrastructure divide to ensure that India's diverse opportunities are not constrained?

I would like to give a couple of examples. The Department of Telecom mapped all the towers and optical fiber cables, and then via the Gati Shakti platform they were able to see that there are about 30,000 habitations where 4G saturation is yet to be done.

After identifying the gaps, they are in the process of installing towers and laying down cables to ensure connectivity. The Ministry of Railways identified 95 towns in the country with a population of more than 50,000, again on the Gati Shakti platform, that lacked direct railway connectivity.

This is how the Gati Shakti enables Ministries and state governments to identify the infrastructure gaps, whether in telecom, power, roadways, or railways.

Also, we are now able to identify ports with traffic issues due to narrow roads. New projects have been sanctioned to ensure ease of movement of traffic there.

Existing gaps are being plugged in a number of ways, whether it is new roads or a railway siding which is required at the port for ease of movement of the freight.

Interviewed by: Aditya Chaturvedi GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

24

INTERVIEW

Cutting-Edge R&D Driving Sustained Growth “There are certain areas where NeoGeo is pushing the boundaries. One of them is continuously investing in research and development to stay at the forefront of emerging technologies such as AI, ML, Blockchain, and edge computing”, says Sreeramam GV, Founder & CEO, NeoGeo Info in an interview with Geospatial World.

The NewSpace sector in India is growing at a rapid pace. How do you see the role of geospatial service providers evolving in this emerging ecosystem?

NewSpace sector in India is indeed growing at a rapid pace, driven by advancements in technology, government initiatives, funding, and the increasing involvement of private players, including a thriving start up ecosystem.

Geospatial service providers play a crucial role in this emerging ecosystem. Being the downstream value providers for space technologies, our role is expected to evolve in several ways, from enhancing mapping and surveying to increasing the use of SAR data in new application areas.

NeoGeo would actively participate and create value for different sectors, via our innovative solutions.

What would be the impact of Artificial intelligence, Machine Learning and other frontier technologies on the geospatial marketplace in India?

Artificial intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and other frontier technologies (IoT & blockchain specifically) are set to have a profound impact on the geospatial marketplace in India.

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

These emerging technologies grant various benefits such as enhanced decision-making, precision, and efficiency in operations. This helps in developing precise scientific models, gaining better intelligence, and system driven results for reliable outcomes.

From urban planning and smart city point of view, the AI-powered geospatial analytics system has the capability to support urban planners in designing and managing smart and resilient cities. It can also help optimize infrastructure, traffic flow, waste management, and

INTERVIEW 25 Challenges and Business Paradigms The satellite imagery industry is experiencing rapid growth and transformation, but it also faces several challenges. Here are some of the key challenges along with emerging business paradigms that are likely to shape the industry in the coming years.

Cost of Satellite Deployment: Building and launching satellites is an expensive affair, which poses a financial challenge for industry players. This includes the development of advanced imaging technology and satellite infrastructure to use a variety of sensors and capture various data points.

Data Processing and Storage: The vast amount of data generated by satellites requires sophisticated processing and storage

solutions. While AI/ ML addresses portions of processing, competitive pricing of storage costs help a bit, these areas remain as a significant challenge.

Data Privacy and Security: While achieving high-resolution imagery is essential for various applications, such satellite imagery often captures sensitive information, raising concerns about privacy and security. Unauthorized access or misuse of imagery can have significant consequences.

Regulatory Compliance: Orbital Congestion, Space Debris Concerns and the consequential environmental impact are the challenges that International Regulations are grappling with and adhering to such ever-changing compliance requirements is tricky.

Also ensuring responsible use of satellite technology is becoming increasingly difficult.

Miniaturization and Drones: It is an alternative for small areas of interest.

energy consumption for sustainable and resilient urban areas.

nologies to provide innovative geospatial solutions.

Traditionally, AI and ML has generated a lot of value in enhancing the interpretation of remotely sensed data, improving accuracy and efficiency in applications such as land cover classification, climate monitoring, and disaster assessment.

In order to understand the unique requirements of key sectors in India, NeoGeo is offering customized solutions for different stakeholders (e.g., cross country infrastructure, urban planning, transportation, disaster management) and tailor-made offerings (products and platforms) to address their specific challenges.

Emerging technologies are also spurring economic growth and innovation. This can lead to the development of new applications, services, and business models, attracting investments and fostering entrepreneurship.

What is the long-term vision of NeoGeo in the Indian market?

There are certain areas where NeoGeo is pushing the boundaries. One of them is continuously investing in research and development to stay at the forefront of emerging technologies like AI, ML, blockchain, and edge computing. We are also seamlessly integrating these tech-

We are also looking to expand geographically and explore collaborations with international players to tap into global markets and gain exposure to diverse geospatial applications and best practices.

Fostering a culture of adaptability within NeoGeo is a crucial aspect of our long-term vision.

We want to have the capability to quickly respond to market changes, technological advancements, and emerging opportunities.

Interviewed by Sachin Awana GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

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NEWSPACE

Digital Twin & Indian Space Economy

Digital Twin offers versatile applications for the booming space sector, ranging from satellite manufacturing, in-orbit servicing, to mission simulation.

By Group Captain Arvind Pandey (Retd)

T

he satellite business is going through a rapid digital change as new companies focused on space technology enter the market, notably in the commercial low-Earth orbit sector.

With the launch of almost 6,000 satellites into orbit over the last six decades, space is now seen as a crucial component of the nation's infrastructure, much like utilities for power or water.

State of Indian Space India has experienced noteworthy progress, particularly subsequent to the reforms declared by the central government in 2020 aimed at

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

augmenting the involvement of the private industry in the sector.

Currently, there are over 150 start-ups operating in various domains, including the development of launch vehicles or rockets, the design of advanced satellites, the creation of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) solutions, and the construction of applications based on space technology.

Propelled by the increasing allocation of funds by nations towards the sector, augmented private participation, and the emergence of novel satellite technologies, services, and applications, prominent

investment banks and financial services providers such as Morgan Stanley, Citi, and UBS have projected that the global space industry market will expand to $1 trillion by 2040 from its present value of $386 billion in 2021.

Furthermore, considering the annual growth observed in India, it is anticipated that the country's space economy will reach $40 billion by 2040.

The current value of India's space market is approximately $8 billion, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4% in recent years, compared to the global rate of 2%.

Source: SpaceTech Global

NEWSPACE 27

Number of SpaceTech companies by country

Digital Twin and Space Digital Twin is being touted as the next big thing for the space sector due to the rising demand for digital engineering tools to construct intricate satellite networks.

On the lines of NASA and other private players, Digital Twin offer a lot of potential for the Indian space sector as well in various application areas.

The rapidly expanding space industry can benefit greatly from the use of digital twin technologies, especially in fields like satellite construction, space exploration, and space infrastructure.

Digital Twin can improve productivity, lower risks, and spur innovation in the space sector by building virtual replicas of satellites, asteroids, and other space-related assets.

Satellite Development and Operations Design Optimization: Engineers can simulate and test satellite

designs using Digital Twin, which can then be used to optimise the configuration, weight, and balance of individual components before they are manufactured.

This may result in lower development costs and better performance from satellites.

Mission Planning: Utilising Digital Twin can help mission planners optimise launch windows, ground station coverage, and other mission characteristics by simulating satellite orbits, communication links, and payload performance.

Predictive Maintenance: Digital Twin can assist in discovering possible problems before they become severe and enable prompt maintenance or adjustments to extend satellite lifespan by tracking the health and performance of satellites in orbit.

Space Exploration Planetary Science: Digital Twin have the capability to generate virtual representations of celestial entities, including but not limited to the Earth, planets, moons, and asteroids. Such

models can facilitate scientific inquiry into their geology, climate, and potential for sustaining life, while also enabling the formulation of future missions.

Spacecraft Design and Testing: Digital Twin have the capability to replicate the operational behaviour of spacecraft in diverse circumstances, including radiation exposure, extreme temperatures, and microgravity. This can facilitate engineers in enhancing the precision of designs, mitigating risks, and augmenting the likelihood of accomplishing mission objectives.

Astronaut Training and Mission Simulation: Digital Twin can be utilized to replicate authentic mission scenarios, providing astronauts with a secure and virtual environment to train and execute their duties.

Space Infrastructure On-orbit servicing and manufacturing: Digital Twin have the capability to simulate intricate interactions among servicing vehicles, space stations, and satellites, thereby facilitating the optimization of robotic operations and GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

28

NEWSPACE Teamcenter as a sole repository of accurate information has facilitated Sierra Space to unleash a remarkable amount of innovation.

This is due to the fact that engineers are able to concentrate on the design and functionality of the Dream Chaser, rather than the bureaucratic aspects of transferring data from one system to another.

mitigating risks during on-orbit servicing and manufacturing activities.

Space Traffic Management: The utilization of digital replicas of space assets and their corresponding orbital trajectories can facilitate the simulation and anticipation of prospective collisions, thereby enhancing the efficacy of space traffic management and mitigating the probability of orbital accidents.

Space-based Communication Networks: Digital Twin can be utilized to enhance the optimization of the design, deployment, and operation of space-based communication networks, specifically satellite constellations, to guarantee optimal coverage and bandwidth efficiency.

NASA’s Next Space Plane Sierra Space Corporation, a US Space engineering company is dedicated to constructing space platforms that enhance the quality of life on Earth.

The company’s Dream Chaser vehicle, the first-ever winged commercial space plane GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

will facilitate human habitation and work in space, thereby catalysing a transformative shift in human civilization. It is presently undergoing development to facilitate the transportation of supplies to and from the International Space Station.

This reusable space plane is approximately one-quarter the size of the Space Shuttle and will be capable of landing at any compatible commercial runway worldwide, with turnaround times comparable to those of an airline.

The Sierra Space team has leveraged tools from the Siemens Xcelerator platform's portfolio of solutions to simulate the conditions that the Dream Chaser will encounter during its missions, including thermal and mechanical loads.

The digital twin is utilized for the purpose of simulating and analysing various scenarios, such as the time required to replace a tile or an oxygen tank.

The utilization of Siemens

The acceleration of design cycles has been significant, as has the acceleration of production cycles. Sierra Space has observed a reduction in assembly time ranging from one-half to two-thirds. The assembly of parts has become more efficient and teams are encountering fewer obstacles.

By the year 2030, a considerable number of individuals will reside or engage in occupational activities within the low-Earth orbit. It will be feasible for individuals to travel to the Sierra Space’s space port in Florida, board a Dream Chaser spacecraft, and spend a duration of one to two weeks in low-Earth orbit before returning and landing at any airport.

The low-Earth orbit setting will facilitate numerous technological advancements, including the production of 3D organs in space and other innovations aimed at eradicating diseases that have afflicted humanity for centuries.

Group Captain Arvind Pandey (Retd)

Is a Geospatial analytics specialist and is Senior Fellow at Centre for Air Power Studies, New Delhi. He has a vast knowledge of Geospatial domain and is a specialist in geospatial knowledge infrastructure creation. He has published articles in various defence journals. arvind.pandey65@outlook.com

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30

INTERVIEW

Digital Twin Crucial For Indian Airports “3D models and Digital Twin would help us tremendously in extensive planning and designing.

If we have a Digital Twin of an airport, we will have everything in place much faster,” says Charul Shukla, Executive Director, Planning, Airports Authority of India (AAI) in a conversation with Geospatial World.

What are the upcoming technology plans of the Airport Authority of India?

By 2035, India will have about 1 billion travelers annually. To handle this traffic and build capable infrastructure, the Airport GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

Authority of India (AAI) is coming up with lots of projects such as traffic forecasts.

To build infrastructure at such an enormous scale, we require huge capital expenditure as well,

which is about 91,000 crores, out of which 25,000 crores are going to be spent on around 30 airports.

Under this plan, we are going to build many new airports. Additionally, many terminal buildings, runway extensions, new lots for parking aircrafts, city-side development, etc. are in the pipeline.

There are many upcoming infrastructure development projects that will require accurate planning and detailing.

INTERVIEW 31 Designing an airport is similar to building a new city. When work is done at such a large scale, where you have around 5,000 acres of land with very specific requirements, satellite imagery tones down the complexity into simpler nodes. drawings to the site contractor, the terrain inaccuracies become a problem. Since we don't get real-time information, and the contractor does, the process generates many back-and-forths and even discrepancies.

In order to ensure a streamlined process and smooth progress, we need to ensure interoperability among different stakeholders. This makes tech adoption and extensive deployment for asset management extremely crucial.

What would be the utility of geospatial data and satellite imagery in a common platform?

Designing an airport is similar to building a new city. When work is done at such a large scale, where you have around 5,000 acres of land with very specific requirements, satellite imagery tones down the complexity into simpler nodes.

The runaways, offices, terminals, airport buildings, hotels, and

similar sites require extensive planning and land allotment. Satellite data plays a crucial role here.

We are also conducting LiDAR and other surveys for remote areas since approaching them without high-level tech can be quite challenging and even misleading at times.

For instance, we are working on a new Greenfield at Port Blair where LiDAR is being extensively used for site mapping. There are many other upcoming projects as well where spatial tech will be crucial.

How does 3D models and Digital Twin help in comprehensive airport planning?

Right now, once we provide

3D models and Digital Twin would help us tremendously since expansive planning and designing takes a large chunk of our time and effort to figure out precise detailing. If we have a Digital Twin of an airport, we will have everything in place much faster.

Moreover, problem-solving can also take a long time. But if we have a Digital Twin, we can highlight the issues and painpoints in real-time. This will help all the stakeholders in tackling them efficiently.

The utility of Digital Twin can also be expanded once the building is ready. It can become an asset in case of any further expansions, modifications, or changes in the master plan.

Interviewed by: Aditya Chaturvedi GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

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STARTUP FOCUS

Innovative 3D Solutions for All From agriculture to automotive, and defense to retail, Gurugram-based Heliware offers customized solutions across sectors.

Heliware was founded in 2018 to develop a more advanced and user-friendly 3D GIS platform.

In a few years, the company became a leading platform known for its high-quality 3D visualization and ability to handle large amounts of data.

“We wanted to create a large-scale, easy-to-use data analytics and visualization platform accessible to everyone, not just GIS professionals”, says Rajan Srivastava, Founder & CEO, Heliware in an interview with Geospatial World.

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

STARTUP FOCUS 33 The Indian government's support through policies, subsidies, and tax incentives has further bolstered renewable energy adoption. Heliware's GIS solutions have facilitated project development by navigating the regulatory landscape effectively.

Who are your main partners and clients, and what kind of mapping services do you provide?

Some of our prominent clients include NTPC in energy, KPTL & L&T in construction, Maruti in automobile, DRDO in defense, Renew in Solar, and GFK of Singapore in Market Research.

Heliware established the feasibility of sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and farmer incomes through a distinct agricultural development approach with Focus (Fostering Climate Resilient Upland Farming Systems in Mizoram) Mizoram. The solution we provided was web-based GIS Analysis 3D data visualization via Geo AI. Also, the various manufacturing plants of Maruti required flood risk management for which we provided annotation & measurement, 3D analytics, flood mapping, and cut & fill analysis.

Climate change has been a burning issue for the better part of a decade now. Yet, a lot needs to be done to curb the emissions and contain the negative effects. Having worked on solar energy projects, where do you think India stands on the green transition?

India has made substantial progress in its green transition, particularly in the realm of solar energy.

Over the past decade, India has witnessed a remarkable expansion of its solar energy capacity, driven by government initiatives like the National Solar Mission.

Heliware's expertise in GIS has likely contributed to this growth by optimizing the selection of solar project

locations, progress monitoring during the plant's construction and pre, and post-sales monitoring.

The Indian government's support through policies, subsidies, and tax incentives has further bolstered renewable energy adoption. Heliware's GIS solutions have likely facilitated project development by navigating the regulatory landscape effectively.

Additionally, technological advancements in solar energy, improved resource assessment through GIS, and international collaborations to address climate change have all shaped India's green transition.

What are the new platforms and services that Heliware is working on and what is the roadmap ahead for the company?

It's crucial for us to maintain a strong commitment to safety, quality, and customer satisfaction.

Regularly assess and adjust the roadmap based on market dynamics, technological advancements, and feedback from customers and stakeholders.

By staying adaptable and forward-thinking, Heliware can remain a leader in the industry while making positive contributions to sustainability and innovation.

We will allocate resources for advanced research and development projects aimed at developing cutting-edge technology and solutions. Additionally, we are also exploring partnerships with research institutions and universities to tap into emerging technologies.

For 2024, we have envisioned a diversified product and service portfolio to meet a broader range of industry needs.

We will continue expanding into international markets, establishing regional offices or partnerships to better serve local customers, and build strategic alliances.

Interviewed by Sachin Awana GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

34

CITY SPOTLIGHT

Riding the Waves K Kochi Water Metro is India's first water metro project. It is a state-of-the-art water transportation system that connects ten islands to the mainland in Kochi, Kerala. The project is a significant step towards promoting sustainable and environmentfriendly modes of transportation in India.

By Jeffy Jacob GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

ochi, the commercial capital of Kerala, is the second-largest Indian city along India’s western coastline, after Mumbai. It is a bustling and vibrant city known for backwaters (network of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Malabar Coast), quaint beaches, and multi-cultural heritage. It is also home to India's first Water Metro, a unique and innovative urban transportation system,

CITY SPOTLIGHT 35 inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 25, 2023.

“Kochi's geographical features, including backwaters and natural canals, make it an ideal location for water transport schemes. Our aim with the Water Metro system is to reintroduce water transport in a more organized manner”, says Dr. M. P. Ramnavas,

Director (Projects), Kochi Metro Rail Ltd.

Connectivity Across Isles The Kochi Water Metro Project is a state-of-the-art water transport system that connects ten islands to the mainland. It is a significant step towards promoting sustainable and environment-friendly modes of transportation in India.

The project is being implemented by Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Kerala. The first phase of the project, which was inaugurated in April 2023, includes 78 boats and 38 terminals covering a route of 76 kilometres.

The Kochi Water Metro is a significant step towards achieving India's Smart Cities Mission. It is also a positive example of how public-private partnerships can be used to develop innovative and sustainable infrastructure projects.

A network of 78 electric ferries that operate on 15 routes, it links various parts of the city.

The project has a total value of 819 crore INR. The ferries are designed to be comfortable and accessible, with wheelchair ramps and elevators. There will be Navigational buoys and night navigational assis-

tance throughout the routes.

They also have spacious seating and large windows that offer panoramic views of the city.

Kochi has over 1,100kms of waterways available. Only 40kms out of these are considered navigable for motor-boats since, as per IWAI regulations. The regulation says that the waterway must have a mandatory minimum depth of 2m for their operations.

The Kochi Water Metro is a sustainable and inclusive solution for urban mobility. It is powered by electric batteries, which significantly reduces its environmental impact. It also operates primarily on renewable energy, with diesel being used only in emergency situations.

It is also accessible to people with disabilities, the elderly, and children. The Water Metro is also relatively affordable, with fares that are comparable to other forms of public transportation in Kochi.

The project has been designed with great consideration for the environment. The

boats produce minimal noise pollution and their low weight wash design creates minimal ripples in the water. As a result, the system has a minimal impact on the aquatic ecosystem and coastal areas.

The Water Metro project has been well-received by the public and has proven to be incredibly convenient for commuters traveling between the islands and the mainland. It has also helped to decongest roads and reduce traffic congestion.

The success of the Kochi Water Metro Project has inspired other cities in India to explore the feasibility of implementing similar systems. Kollam Corporation in Kerala is emulating it.

The Kochi Water Metro Project is a shining example of how innovation and sustainability can be combined to create solutions that address urban transportation challenges. It is a model that can be replicated in other cities around the world, contributing to a more sustainable future.

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

36

CITY SPOTLIGHT then 44,000 tonnes of carbon emission every year, by lessening the dependence on vehicles.

The Kochi Water Metro makes it easier for tourists to visit the city's many islands and attractions boosting tourism revenue and creating new jobs in the hospitality sector. Kerala's prominence as a global tourist destination adds to making it easier.

Each ferry in the Water Metro operates every 15 minutes during peak hours and on-demand during other times, running from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fares for the routes are set at a very nominal price.

Canal Rejuvenation Project Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) had successfully developed Canal Rejuvenation project with the Netherlands-based firm Andrea Nederland BV. The project had involved the completion of an advanced LiDAR survey to create a detailed topographic map, conduct a bathymetric survey, and map the sub-drains that connect to the canals.

Furthermore, extensive data collection has taken place to facilitate Social Impact Assessment and water quality studies.

These canals once transformed into navigable waterways, will be integrated into Kochi Water Metro project led by KMRL. We have successfully undertaken the Water Metro Project, which has already been implemented. Now, we are actively engaged in a canal regeneration project for the Government of Kerala, covering three cities of Kochi, Trivandrum, and Kozhikode, adds Dr. Ramnavas.

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

It is believed the Kochi Water Metro will reduce carbon emission footprint (as boats will be electrically powered), traffic decongestion on the roads, and improved transport services. It will also improve livelihoods through commercial property development, tourism-based initiatives, and new job opportunities.

In the future, the project aims to introduce modern, energy-efficient, environment-friendly, and safe boats with low wake and draft characteristics at a high frequency to increase ridership. It will also take the cognition of water weed and floating waste management.

Ferries, Fare & Accessibility The Kochi Water Metro will provide islanders with direct access to the mainland, making it easier for them to commute to work, school, and other essential services. This will help to improve their quality of life and economic opportunities. A total of 34,000 commuters using the ferries daily, in the project’s first phase. It is estimated the ferries would lessen

Fares can be as low as ₹10 per trip for those using the threemonth ₹1500 pass. Passengers have praised the ferries for their child and differently-abled-friendly features, with the added convenience of bicycle transportation.

These ferries are designed to be accessible for differently-abled passengers, ensuring safe boarding regardless of high or low tide, with floating pontoons available at all terminals on the mainland and the ten islands.

Another noteworthy aspect of the Kochi Water Metro project is the involvement of women from the Kudumbasree self-help group in housekeeping, ticketing, and related tasks at terminals. With 555 personnel already engaged in similar roles at Kochi Metro stations since 2017, this initiative highlights empowerment and gender inclusion.

Jeffy Jacob Sub Editor, Geospatial World Jeffy@geospatialmedia.net

INTERVIEW 37

The Kerala Transit Model “India's broader vision for sustainable transportation is well-aligned with the Water Metro project. The government is committed to promoting sustainable and environment-friendly modes of transportation, and the Water Metro project is a significant step in this direction,” says Dr. M. P. RAMNAVAS, Director (Projects), Kochi Metro Rail Ltd. In a conversation with Geospatial World Could you provide more insights into the Water Metro project in India and how it aligns with India's broader vision?

The Water Metro Project is a state-of-the-art water transport system that mirrors the facilities provided by traditional metro rail systems. It connects ten islands to the mainland in Kochi, boasting fifteen distinct routes.

In line with our phase one plan, we've already commissioned 78 boats and 38 terminals, covering a route of 76 kilometres. This system officially commenced operations on April 25th, 2023, and has received a highly positive response from the public. It has proven to be incredibly convenient for commuters traveling between the islands and the mainland, significantly reducing

their travel hassles.

India's broader vision for sustainable transportation is well-aligned with the Water Metro project. The government is committed to promoting sustainable and environment-friendly modes of transportation, and the Water Metro project is a significant step in this direction. The project is also helping to decon-

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

38

INTERVIEW We firmly believe that this environmentally friendly approach can be extended to other cities and towns, not only in Kerala but across India and even abroad. gest roads and reduce traffic congestion, which is a major problem in many Indian cities.

including the International Maritime Organization, has been highly encouraging.

pollution, and their low weight wash design creates minimal ripples in the water.

Can you elaborate on the vision behind this sustainability effort and whether upcoming projects in India will follow a similar environmentally conscious approach?

By incorporating electric batteries in our boats, we have significantly reduced our environmental footprint. Our system operates primarily on renewable energy, with diesel being used only in emergency situations. While we are not currently utilizing solar power, we do have plans to implement solar plants to achieve energy neutrality.

Upcoming projects in India are also incorporating sustainable and environmentally conscious approaches. For example, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is planning to develop a "green metro" corridor that will use solar energy to power its trains and stations. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation is also exploring the use of renewable energy to power its system.

As a result, the system has a minimal impact on the aquatic ecosystem and coastal areas.

Compared to other forms of water transport, the Water Metro system actually reduces its impact on the environment, providing several benefits.

We firmly believe that this environmentally friendly approach can be extended to other cities and towns, not only in Kerala but across India and even abroad.

The positive reception from the international maritime community,

With such an extensive water transport network, have you considered the impact on aquatic and marine ecosystems, and what measures have been taken to minimize any adverse effects?

The Water Metro system has been designed with great consideration for the environment. Our boats, powered by batteries, produce minimal noise

We have also taken several measures to minimize any adverse effects on the environment. For example, we have established a comprehensive environmental monitoring program to track the impact of the system on the aquatic ecosystem. We are also working with local communities and environmental groups to ensure that the system is operated in a sustainable manner.

Please shed light on the longterm financial implications of renewable shift and where you see the value in investing in it?

Transitioning to renewable energy sources may initially come with higher costs, but over time, technology advancements and the numerous advantages of adopting renewable energy sources outweigh these initial expenses. It's essential to consider the long-term benefits and environmental impact when evaluating the value of such investments. Renewable energy sources offer a number of longterm financial benefits like reducing energy costs.

Interviewed by Swati Mittal & Jeffy Jacob

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

CASE STUDY 39

Mapping Coastal Fishing Spaces

T

o enhance the livelihoods of the fishing community and promote sustainable development in the coastal fishing villages based on scientific principles considering the dangers of natural hazards, and sea level rise due to global warming.

Objective ● Preparation of detailed local plans for the coastal fishing villages to address long-term housing needs of coastal fishermen communities. ● To implement the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notw w ification and Panchayati Raj Acts., 1993 provisions to protect and sustainable use of common property resources. ● Develop fishing villages as independent and sustainable habitats for fishers by co-management and de-centralized planning to achieve village Swaraj (Republic).

Use of Geospatial With the help of the Geographic Information System (GIS), various spatial thematic layers of the fishing villages were mapped using ArcGIS software. These maps reflect the present and proposed activities of the fishing village. Existing maps reflect the current land use, regulatory lines (such as administrative boundaries, High Tide Line, CRZ boundaries, and zones), vulnera-

Benefits

● A guideline and resource manual to prepare decentralized micro-planning exercises in the coastal fishing villages in India

bility status of coastal (shoreline, composite hazard line), and other existing spatial and aspatial data.

Proposed maps indicate the anticipated activities superimposed with existing spatial information.

Disaster management and vulnerability assessment were two priority areas when it came to village-level decentralized planning, considering coastal fishermen’s villages are the most vulnerable to natural oceanic hazards.

A Composite Hazard Line (CHL) map published by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in association with the Survey of India (SOI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), based on which local-level disaster management plans were prepared.

Disclaimer: This case study has been extracted from the Integrated Geospatial Framework Report

● C oastal States supported in the preparation of detailed plans for longterm housing needs of coastal fishermen communities, keeping in mind expansion and other needs, provisions of basic services including sanitation, safety, and disaster preparedness. ● 4 0 fishermen trained to participate in decentralized planning initiatives. ● C apacity-building activities conducted for academicians, researchers, and Government Officials to prepare and decentralize the planning of fishing villages. ● M ethods for local-level decentralized plans were developed, which are helping strengthen local democracy by putting in place strong and transparent Gram Panchayats and active Gram Sabhas, .

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

40

CASE STUDY

Geospatial For Natural Resource Management

T

he ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (ICAR-NBSS&LUP), Nagpur, a premier institute of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was set up in the year 1976.

ICAR-NBSS & LUP has been engaged in carrying out soil resource inventory, and agro-ecological and soil-degradation mapping at the country, state, and district levels for qualitative assessment and monitoring of soil health towards viable land-use planning with the help of spatial technologies.

Benefits ● 300 benchmark soils in India identified for monitoring the soil health across India. ● Soil resource maps produced for 80 districts for district level agricultural planning and for 200 blocks for block level agricultural planning. ● Harmonized degraded and wastelands of India delineated through collaboration. ● Crop suitability maps developed at various levels for agricultural planning. ● Dedicated BHOOMI Geoportal developed and launched for dissemination of soil and allied information. ● The India Soil Information System Geoportal was developed and deployed for various stakeholders. ● Soil reflectance methods and low cast sensors developed for variable rate inputs in agriculture. ● Land degradation in major ecosystems of India assessed using geospatial technologies.

ICAR-NBSS&LUP is also engaged in imparting training on the use of geospatial to ICAR staff, state agricultural universities, and soil survey agencies.

The core objective of the programme is to leverage the potential of Geospatial applications in natural resource management in India.

This includes the use of temporal satellite data, digital elevation models (DEM) and Geographic Information System (GIS) through ICAR-NBSS&LUP’s dedicated BHOOMI Geoportal for:

● ● ●

Soil resource inventory Agro-ecological studies Land degradation assess-

●

Geospatial database

●

Crop suitability modelling,

●

Dissemination of geospatial

ment management and information on soil and allied resources.

Disclaimer: This case study has been extracted from the Integrated Geospatial Framework Report GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

CASE STUDY 41

Women Empowerment in Odisha village

R

ecently, Kullada Gram Panchayat from Odisha won the socially secured panchayat award at the National Panchayat Awards 2023 for the excellent work they did towards addressing the grievances of physically challenged, elderly, widows and women in the village.

For every village to become prosperous, the villagers need to benefit through social security. With a population of 6,752, Kullada village is located in the Ganjam district of Odisha. Kullada Gram Panchayat has made itself 'socially secure' by providing food and economic security benefits to the needy rural people.

Challenges: ● Identification of eligible beneficiaries ● Facing problem to apply online ● Bank accounts for DBT payment ● Distance to lodge grievance at Block Office- earlier they had to travel 7-10 Kms to reach at the block office.

Benefits: ● Ensure more community participation ● Cover more senior citizens under pension scheme ● Provide more hand holding support to SHGs/women Through domestic surveys, Kullada Gram Panchayat has prepared a list of needy people.

It provides them them with ration under the Food Security Scheme. So far they have provided ration to 1186 people in the Gram Panchayat.

With the help of Widow Pension Scheme, launched by the government, they have provided financial support to the widows and their families.

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

42

CASE STUDY

Securing Rural Land Rights

O

ver 64% of the Indian population resides in rural areas. As the country enters a new age of technological advancement aimed at socio-economic development, a relook at the adoption of technology for empowering its rural community is the need of the hour.

Thus, the Government of India launched the Survey of Villages Abadi & Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas or the SVAMITVA scheme.

SVAMITVA is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj that establishes clear ownership of property in rural areas by mapping land parcels using drones providing ‘Record of Rights’ to village household owners.

The foundation of the success of the SVAMITVA scheme lies in the establishment of a robust spatial frame - Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) network that supports establishing Ground Control Points, which is critical for accurate Geo-referencing, ground trothing, and demarcation of Lands.

Further, the large-scale high-resolution orthorectified images are used to prepare the accurate maps to confer ownership property rights. Based on these maps or data, property cards are issued to rural household owners.

Benefits: ● Large Scale Mapping of rural inhabited areas has generated high resolution and accurate maps of the scale 1:500 that facilitate the creation of the most durable records of property holdings in the rural inhabited areas and support comprehensive village level planning. ● Drone survey reduced field time and survey costs and captured topographic data much faster than traditional landbased methods. ● 1008 CORS stations have been established in the country. ● Over 83,891 property cards have been prepared, and an additional 59,236 property cards have been distributed to village landowners till October 2023.

Outcomes achieved ● Clarifying land titles enabled greater use of land as collateral and hence improved access to credit from formal institutions. ● Madhya Pradesh has provisioned property cards in MP land revenue code Section 109 in Abadi areas that are recognized by banks for providing loans for agriculture purpose; the mortgage is provided on both residential and agricultural land. ● Maharashtra has made provision in Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966 Section 149 for property cards, providing loans on property cards and noting of charges. ● The Scheme has generated employment for skilled manpower. Due to the huge requirement for GIS manpower, more than 1000 GIS Digitizers have been engaged at various Survey of India offices.

Disclaimer: This case study has been extracted from the Integrated Geospatial Framework Report GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 02 » ISSUE 05

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