GEOINT INTELLIGENCE OF "WHERE"

JULY-AUGUST 2022 » VOLUME 01 » ISSUE 02

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Utilizing advanced tools and sensors to pinpoint information and perform analysis to answer intelligence questions, make predictions, or enhance understanding.

INSIDE  Crowding in Space: The Need for Regulation Pg 30  Promoting Cyber Hygiene and Strengthening Cybersecurity Pg 26  CORS Makes Inroads Into Private Sector Pg 42  Geospatial Analysis to Study Snakebite Risk in Nepal Pg 38

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VOLUME: 01 / ISSUE: 02

CONTENT

Editor-in-Chief Sanjay Kumar Managing Editor Prof. Arup Dasgupta

COVER STORY / 12

Space-Based Assets Have Revolutionized Warfare

Consulting Editor Nishi Malhotra Sr. Associate Editor Jitendra Choubey Assistant Editor Priya Chadha

The IAF can adapt to varying environmental conditions. Its strategy is to fully integrate the Air and Space capabilities to have a common picture of the aerospace medium and to reduce the sensor to shooter time.

REPORTS

40 / H omegrown Mapping Company Shows Rapid Growth

Chief Designer Subhash Kumar Visualizer Pradeep Chauhan

IN PERSPECTIVE

30 / C rowding In Space: The Need For Regulation

INTERVIEW

22 / D r Pramod K Satyawali Director, Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE)

26 / Lt. Gen. Rajesh Pant,

PVSM, AVSM,VSM (Retd.)

EXPERT OPINION

42 / C ORS Makes Inroads Into Private Sector

18 / Resilient PNT for a Self-Reliant India

National Cybersecurity Coordinator, -PMO, Government of India

34 / P awan Kumar Goenka Chairperson of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) IN-SPACe

38 / Carlos

R. Ochoa and Prof. Nicholas Ray

Head of GeoHealth group, University of Geneva

44 / Q uest for Accurate Weather Prediction

16 / Bolstering National Security with GEOINT

REGULAR FEATURES

04 / Editorial 06 / Geospatial News Disclaimer

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 01 » ISSUE 02

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EDITORIAL NOTE

Prof. Arup Dasgupta

arup@geospatialworld.net Managing Editor

Militarization of Space is Undesirable but Inevitable

E

spionage needs a vantage point and what is better as a vantage point than an aircraft, a balloon or a satellite? The current name of the game of espionage is GEOINT (or geospatial intelligence). Aircrafts can be shot down, as was demonstrated during the Cold War when a U2 high altitude photo reconnaissance aircraft belonging to the US was shot down over the erstwhile USSR. The U2 was violating USSR airspace and was a legal target for action. With satellites, it is another story.

Satellites operate in outer Space, which is open to all nations; Earth Observation is a legal activity as per the UN Principles of Remote Sensing. According to these principles, a ‘sensing state’ does not have to take the permission of the ‘sensed state’. Thus, we see a proliferation of remote sensing satellites with sensors in various spectral bands, including the microwave, which can collect very fine resolution data and distribute the same globally. Currently, the data limit is set at 30 cm for open distribution, but it is well known that higher resolution data is collected and used by most countries with such capabilities.

Such sensing is dual use because both civilian and military systems need high resolution data.

However, while civilian applications can accept a reasonable delay between acquisition and delivery, military requirements have to be near real time.

Further, orbital parameters for civilian sensing may not always be suitable for military sensing. In this context, the development of sensors and orbits suited to military requirements is the key.

Beyond such sensors, the military needs a failsafe communications system and ELINT (electronic intelligence), both of which are provided by satellites with GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 01 » ISSUE 02

special payloads. Another key element is navigation, which must be failsafe and not dependent on other systems. NavIC was designed to fill this requirement and its usage by the military is far more important than its civilian usage. However, NavIC is restricted to India’s immediate neighborhood. In the event of a global situation or conflict, this will prove inadequate and it is important to take another look at the system, keeping in mind the need for global coverage.

Many countries have created separate commands, like the U.S. Space Force, which operate satellite and other systems exclusively for military use. China created a special entity called the Strategic Support Force (SSF) for Space and military operations. India too has its Defence Space Agency (DSA) and Defence Space Research Organisation (DSRO). These are good moves by the government and should relieve the pressure on the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), so it can then concentrate on civilian systems as per its original mandate.

The Indian Guided Missile Development Programme has helped the military take significant steps towards using launcher technology for military purposes. The creation of entities like the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) is a very good move as well; it brings in industry as major players and not just vendors in the Space sector. As these industries begin to mature and find their wings, DSRO and DSA should be able to create a meaningful military Space program, independent of ISRO. The militarization of Space is undesirable but inevitable. India must establish its place at the high table and ensure that Space is used for defense and not offence.

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NEWS MAPMYINDIA JOINS HANDS WITH ISRO TO BOOST 3D MAPPING Homegrown navigation firm MapmyIndia is collaborating with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to enhance the quality of its 3D maps. The company is developing new maps as part of its foray into metaverse.

Rohan Verma, Executive Director and CEO, MapmyIndia, said the public-private partnership will bring together the benefits of geospatial mapping, satellite data, Earth Observation, analytics and consumer-centric location-based services. A traveler will be able to see the route and navigation from Leh to Manali by using the Mappls app of MapmyIndia in real time (for instance, whether there’s snow cover and where it is), courtesy Earth Observation data from ISRO. Other kinds of maps — vegetation maps, heat maps, air quality maps, etc. — can also be generated using the data

provided by ISRO. The data will also help create complete three-dimensional, high definition, RealView and 360-degree data maps, which will create innumerable applications and benefits for citizens.

The company positions its products as fully indigenous and privacy centric. In return, MapmyIndia’s maps and APIs

will enrich ISRO’s geoportals, empowering Indian scientists, academia, researchers, and government organizations with the best of India’s satellite imagery, earth observation data, and digital map data, and advanced geospatial technologies, all combined together in a fully indigenous Aatmanirbhar ISRO-MapmyIndia platform.

Photo credit: Reuters

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NATIONAL HIGHWAYS TO BE GIS MAPPED The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has embarked on the use of GIS mapping to centrally manage the database for national highways.

The project will facilitate timely repair of roads, maintenance, monitoring of road progress, timely completion of projects, and detailed reporting on projects.

GIS mapping of the entire network of highways is one of

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the most important requirements for planning, executing, and monitoring of the highway network. GIS provides agencies with tools for building resilient infrastructure; it supports strategic repairs and the upgradation of existing networks. GIS maps contain detailed visual representations of infrastructure facilities, including location, topography, structures, etc.

Tasked with speeding up highway construction to 50 km per day, MoRTH has asked all its field units as well as state governments to complete the GIS-mapping process of the national entire highway network on time. They have been instructed to leverage mapping data, which was gathered by the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications, for field verification exercises. Though the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N), Gandhinagar, Gujarat, has mapped approximately 1,30,000 km of national highways using GIS, this data now needs to be updated and verified by field units of different agencies for the Ministry.

NEWS SPACE START-UPS INK MOUS WITH ISRO The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has facilitated the signing of 10 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between private Indian companies and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The MoUs cover a range of applications, which include the use of ISRO’s geospatial data for use in a proprietary platform. Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed the MoUs at the inauguration of IN-SPACe’s headquarters in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

One of the companies that signed the MoUs with ISRO was private Indian geolocation startup Pataa, which will use the central Indian Space agency’s geospatial data and services to offer digital short-code-based address and navigation tools. Pataa will use ISRO’s data to create satellite imagery-based digital addresses as part of its mapping and navigation platform.

The platform will be used to serve various geolocation tools operated by ISRO, which include Bhuvan, a web browser-based mapping platform; Visualization of Earth Observation Data (Vedas) – a platform that uses optical, microwave, and hyperspectral satellite data to create maps of the earth for use in agricultural, air quality monitoring and other purposes; and Meteorological

and Oceanographic Satellite Data Archival Centre (MOSDAC) – ISRO’s oceanography and meteorological mapping service. Anil Prakash, Director General of the industry body Satellite Industry Association of India (SIA-India), said that IN-SPACe will be “key to addressing the needs and demands of the private Space industry, start-ups, and educational and research institutions."

GPS-ENABLED PATROL VEHICLES FOR INDO-MYANMAR ROAD Manipur Chief Minister, N Biren Singh, flagged off five GPS-enabled highway patrol vehicles to

ply on the Indo-Myanmar Road from Pallelto the border town of Moreh, on June 8, 2022. Earlier,

the state police had launched six GPS-enabled patrol vehicles to cover the stretch between Kangpokpi and Senapati on NH-102, with the aim of providing security to the public, especially along the highways. The Chief Minister said similar patrol vehicles would also be launched along the Imphal-Jiribam stretch of National Highway-37, one of the two lifelines connecting Manipur with Assam. P. Doungel, Director General of Police, said the crime rate had gone down on the Kangpokpi to Senapati stretch ever since the GPS-enabled vehicles became operational. These dedicated patrol vehicles respond to any distress calls along the highway roundthe-clock, he said.

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NEWS TAMIL NADU SCHOOLS GET FIRST VIRTUAL REALITY LAB Chennai-based startup Meynikara has launched a virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) laboratory. The lab, Meta Kalvi, became Tamil Nadu’s first VR Lab in three government schools and two corporation schools in the city. A virtual laboratory provides real-time working experience to students in a simulated environment because it is a replica of a physical laboratory in which students can perform experiments virtually from any place.

Earlier, virtual laboratories were specifically focused on domains like Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Now, they are being used in the medical domain too. Another med-tech company, MediSim VR, has set up a VR laboratory at the Puducherry Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). Management institutes too have started offering experiential learning to management students to help them gain experience in managing businesses in the real world. These virtual laboratories consist of two models — the first model helps students learn on their own at the individual simulation level by competing against artificial intelligence (AI), and in the workshop model a certified faculty member runs the simulation program along with the curriculum.

ROLE OF PRIVATE PLAYERS IN SPACE INDUSTRY GROWS A national conference aimed at introducing reforms in the Indian Space sector was organized by the Astronautical Society of India (ASI) in Bengaluru on June 24, 2022. It was attended by several different stakeholders; over 60 startups in the Space sector participated in the conference. Experts from the Space industry, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), innovators, startup entrepreneurs, legal experts, and researchers deliberated on the demands of the industry, the role of the government, and the future expansion of the Space industry.

According to ISRO Chairman, S. Somanath, the Indian Space sector economy is currently worth around Rs 250 billion, but could grow to five times its current size in the coming years, given an enabling environment for private players. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, said the GoI policy has been to proactively promote the startup ecosystem, by encouraging startups in space, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, and giving them a tremendous opportunity to grow.

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INDIGENOUS NAVIGATION FOR AIRCRAFT LANDING IndiGo has become the first airline in the country to land aircraft using the indigenous navigation system GAGAN. The flight was conducted using an ATR-72 aircraft and landed at the Kishangarh airport in Rajasthan, using GPS-aided geo-augmented navigation (GAGAN), jointly developed by the Centre-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). GAGAN is used to provide lateral and vertical guidance when an aircraft is approaching a runway for landing.

Its precision is especially useful at small airports where the instrument landing system (ILS) has not been installed. The DGCA has issued a mandate for all aircraft registered in India after July 1, 2021 to be fitted with GAGAN equipment. GPS signals are not always accurate and are susceptible to factors and disturbances such as ionospheric interference, the location of the moving vehicle, and even the functioning of the GPS satellite, signal availability, etc. Using a technology known as the Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS), countries correct the errors in GPS signals and feed the corrected signals to the moving vehicle (GPS user), thus enabling precise navigation.

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NEWS GPS-ENABLED SURVEY TO ENUMERATE STREET VENDORS The Trichy Corporation to enumerate street vendors with help of a global positioning system (GPS) enabled technology for issuing identification cards.

The decision comes after the corporation decided to revive the street vending regulation committee following backlash from the public against dropping the plan. The Commissionerate of the municipal administration has directed the Trichy Corporation to regulate street vendors on commercial roads in a manner not affecting the public movement. Although the survey was conducted earlier, the vendors disappear, alleging favoritism in the enumeration as an election was planned to appoint six street vendor representatives.

GPS-enabled technology survey cannot be questioned.

It will provide the geographical location of the vendors with their credentials. Before

the pandemic, the corporation issued ID cards to around 3,500 street vendors. The number was expected to have surpassed 8,000 by June 2022. Official sources said that the municipal administration would identify an

agency to conduct an enumeration process which would go on for about three months. Once a street vendor is surveyed, the process will not allow him or her to be enrolled again even if the vendor relocates.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TOOL TO DETECT ENCROACHMENTS ON DEFENSE LAND The Union Ministry of Defence has launched an artificial intelligence-based software tool to help detect unauthorized construction and encroachments on defense land. The Centre of Excellence on Satellite & Unmanned Remote Vehicle Initiative (CoE-SURVEI) has developed

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 01 » ISSUE 02

this software, which can automatically detect changes on the ground, including unauthorized constructions and encroachments, with time series using satellite imagery. This initiative, established by the Directorate General Defense Estates (DGDE) at the National Institute

of Defense Estates Management in Meerut, uses the latest technologies in surveys — including satellite imagery, drone imagery and geo-spatial tools — for effective land management and urban planning. The center uses the application across the 62 cantonments in the country. This software has been developed in collaboration with knowledge partner Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Visakhapatnam.

Presently, the tool uses National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) Cartosat-3 imagery with trained software. There were 1,133 unauthorized changes detected, out of which action has already been taken in 570 cases. In the remaining 563 cases, legal action has been initiated.

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COVER STORY

Space-Based Assets Have Revolutionized Warfare Speaking at the Geointelligence-2022 conference held in New Delhi in June 2022, Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff, Indian Air Force, said that Space-based assets have revolutionized warfare by enhancing the military’s capacities in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), early warning, communications, weather forecasting and navigation.

T

oday, Space has integrated itself into our daily lives in a way that affects our everyday functioning. In the military domain, the doctrinal imperative of gaining higher ground to gain tactical advantage has also manifested in us seeking capabilities in air and now in Space. Utilization of Space-based assets has revolutionized warfare by enhancing our capacities in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), communications, early warning, weather forecasting and navigation. More importantly, unlike in the past, where new technologies were generally military driven, this inflection is a fallout of the huge demand from the civil sector.

New paradigm in Space exploration We are all aware of the path breaking trips made by Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin, using two different launch techniques. These launches brought in a new paradigm in Space exploration and also indicated a clear direction for civil participation in a field that was hitherto a state subject. The Indian Space Association (ISpA) deserves applause for organizing this conference and exhibition, which will give further impetus for us to make progress with our national capacities in Space.

Military’s reliance on civilian Space program The Indian Space program and our capabilities in GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 01 » ISSUE 02

Space, so far, have been predominantly driven by civil requirements. In the absence of an independent military Space program, the military has relied on the civilian Space program pursued by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). There is no denying that ISRO has been at the forefront in developing a robust, self-reliant and reputed Space infrastructure in the country. Defense forces have played their part and coordinated with ISRO and other bodies to make India a leading Space player in the world. The Gaganyaan mission exemplifies this growing cooperation between the Indian Air Force and other agencies involved in Space exploration in the country.

Synergistic potential of air and Space assets While the importance of the Space domain had been realized much earlier, it was in the 1991 Gulf War that the synergistic potential of air and Space assets began to appear. These capabilities were quickly harnessed to define an air and Space continuum, rather than being defined as two different segments. This ‘aerospace’ combination provided the information dominance that was critical for force application by decision-makers. During the past three decades, exploitation of the Space domain has grown manifold. Today, there are around 4,900 satellites in orbit, which are owned by approximately 80 countries. Astonishingly, around 605 of these satellites were launched in 2021 alone.

COVER STORY In recent times, the increased focus on military Space application has been accelerated by two key factors. The first is the increased geopolitical churnings that have aggravated the threat scenario in this region. The second factor is the growing realization that the boundaries that separate civil and military Space assets are getting blurred and most of the applications are ‘dual use’ cases. The evolution of Space capabilities has resulted in it becoming possible that these assets may be actually used to apply military force.

Bringing in the private sector To develop indigenous comprehensive national capability, in June 2020 the Union Cabinet decided to open up the Space infrastructure of the country to the private sector. This facilitated participation of industry, start-ups and even small-scale industries in the field of Space. The Government of India (GoI) also set up a new Space board called the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) under the Department of Space (DoS). This enhanced focus has enabled us to have one of the largest satellite constellations, comprising IRS (Indian Remote Sensing) series satellites for Earth Observation and oceanography, INSAT for communication and meteorology, and IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System) for navigation. Recently, the government decided to transfer 10 in-orbit communication satellites to M/s New Space India Ltd. This move would entail financial autonomy for the company, result in technology spin-offs and increase employment potential.

Military applications Our launch system has acquired maturity and is one of the best in the world in terms of its operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness. However, we also need to acknowledge that there is a lot of scope for capability development in the realm of military satellite applications. The armed services are exploiting the capabilities of ISRO’s Earth Observation satellites under Space-based Surveillance (SBS) programs like Cartosat-2 series with sub-meter resolution and RISAT-2 for SAR imagery. Future programs are expected to increase accuracy, reduce revisit time and increase capacity to download data of remote sensing satellites with multiple sensors on board. Looking ahead, we need to push the envelope towards indigenous launch-on-demand capability.

Bandwidth requirement As far as Space communications are concerned, our requirements were primarily met by dual use INSAT

The growing ubiquity of low Earth orbit satellites in domains that were historically in the realm of geosynchronous satellite, is another paradigm in Space application. and GSAT series satellites until 2018. From 2018 onwards, the IAF has been provided a dedicated communication satellite GSAT 7A for airborne and terrestrial communication. However, the current and envisaged operational and strategic requirements of the services call for enhanced bandwidth in UHF, L and S bands to cover the stipulated area of interest.

The IAF is already in the process of finalizing its GSAT7C UHF communication satellite, which would meet the SDR SATCOM requirements. Additional transponders are also planned in the ‘Ku’ band in GSAT -7C to meet our increasing bandwidth requirement.

Satellite navigation integral to armed forces Satellite navigation services are an integral component for the armed forces. These are used by all platforms, be it on land, sea or air, or on weapons.

Today, we are reliant on the GPS constellation, but the indigenous IRNSS is growing fast. It is expected to provide sub-10 meter accuracy and is important for ensuring that the entire complement — including satellites, ground stations and receivers — is put in place at the earliest to reduce our reliance on other systems. It will also usher in a new area for civil applications across the eco-system.

Satellite-based Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) has emerged as a critical element of intelligence gathering, especially with regards to identifying and locating enemy radar systems. India has the requisite expertise to develop satellite-based ELINT payloads and the same needs to be accelerated.

Space domains likely to be targeted It is also a fact that increased exploitation of the Space domain will lead to increased contestation.

As reliance on Space grows, Space-based assets will become centers of gravity that are likely to be targeted in war and ‘less than war’ situations. This is leading to the evolution of concepts of force projection, protection and targeting in Space. Anti-satellite tests by major nations are an indication of the onset of this contestation and militarization of outer Space. While our Mission Shakti Operation in GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 01 » ISSUE 02

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COVER STORY 2019 highlighted our Anti-Satellite (ASAT) weapon capability to deter adversaries from resorting to escalatory Space conflict, it also brought to the fore the need for comprehensive Space Situational Awareness (SSA) through a robust Space Surveillance Network (SSN).

The availability of comprehensive SSA enables a complete ‘defensive counter space’ stance as well as usage of our ASAT capability, if and when required. The key areas for the armed forces are the development of missile defense radars for SSA, Space-based sensors, and optical telescopes to track adversarial objects. The existing capabilities of ISRO and DRDO will thus need to be integrated into the air surveillance picture of the IAF, well beyond the present 100-km altitude. This integration will provide a gradual progression to SSA. Collaboration with other countries for sharing of information would also be essential to enhance the SSA.

Ubiquity of low Earth orbit satellites Another changing paradigm in Space application is the growing ubiquity of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites in domains that were historically in the realm of geosynchronous satellites. An example is Starlink’s satellites, launched by Space-X, which provide low latency broadband internet to consumers across the globe. While traditional communication satellites with geosynchronous orbits have proved their worth due to their longer service life and wide coverage area, communication satellites in low and medium Earth orbit have their own advantages.

Therefore, we are witnessing a highly ‘proliferated low Earth orbit’ with multiple commercial players entering this segment. I am sure that in due course, this technology will evolve and we shall see reduced manufacturing and launching costs that could favor the shift towards this concept.

Civil-military fusion While capability enhancement in multiple domains of Space application is the way forward, I strongly feel that this evolution can only be fast-tracked if we increase civil-military fusion, which is a blend of institutes, industries, startups, academia and RDT&E (Research and Development Test & Evaluation) labs. The Defence Space Agency (DSA), which is the lead agency for aggregating the requirements of armed forces, will play a key role in synergizing civil-military space cooperation to achieve the desired capabilities. This would mandate an increased interplay with both the government and commercial Space agencies.

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(From Left) Lt Gen VG Khandare (Retd), Air Marshal BR Krishna, Lt Gen AKS Chandele (Retd), Shri JD Patil, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Lt Gen AK Bhat, CEO and Founder, Geospatial World, Sanjay Kumar, Wg Cdr Satyam Kushwaha(Retd)

Growing role of aerospace Like air power’s effect on surface battles, aerospace power is fast emerging as the new paradigm that will greatly influence all surface activities.

The outcomes in the aerospace domain will probably decide the eventual victor in future conflicts.

Notably, in our case, the Kargil war served as a trigger for having additional satellites for force enhancement operations. However, newer technologies have made us realign our planning for resources, strategies and ideas. In the IAF, we are using terrestrial and Space-enabled capabilities to ensure a high degree of network centricity.

Increased battlefield transparency Space-based assets significantly enhance the potency of air power as these assets provide increased battlefield transparency, which is extremely helpful in discerning the enemy’s intentions. The IAF strategy is to fully integrate air and Space capabilities to have a common picture of the aerospace medium, reduce the sensor to shooter time and enable optimum force application. I would reiterate that we see Space as a natural extension of the air medium and reaffirm our need to adapt to this new environment rapidly. The Raksha Mantri recently said in a talk that the IAF does need to transcend to an air and Space force in the years to come, and we are working on this vision. As the Space version of Heartland Theory put forth by US Maxwell Air Force Base states: “One who controls the Earth orbits, controls near-Earth Space. One who controls nearEarth Space, controls the Earth. And who dominates the Earth is the custodian of humankind.”

This article is an excerpt from the speech delivered by Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff, Indian Air Force, at the Geointelligence-2022 conference held on June 14, 2022, at Dr. Ambedkar Convention Centre, New Delhi.

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16

EXPERT OPINION

Bolstering National Security with GEOINT

Lt. Gen. VG Khandare, PVSM, AVSM, SM (Retd.)

Senior Advisor, Ministry of Defence, provided strategic insights into how geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) is providing comprehensive solutions towards optimization of the armed forces and empowerment of the general public. He also highlighted the significance of GEOINT data in defense and security operations.

O

ur government has laid down a clear intent towards the country's security. It promotes different segments of practitioners, research and development. The Defence Space Agency (DSA) completed

three years of existence in June 2022. Now, it is for the practitioners to get into the act and deliver results at a fast pace.

What is GEOINT? There is always a struggle between resources and priori-

ties, but to my mind, resources will come at a particular pace as per the country's strength. The priorities cannot wait because adversaries don't wait for challenges to be resolved. GEOINT can overcome challenges if the knowledge is correctly applied.

[GEOINT, or Geospatial Intelligence, is any knowledge gained from analysis of geographic imagery and geospatial data].

GEOINT specifically empowers people like us. We have been consistently looking towards optimization of our forces, and that can be done by adopting deep technology and smart solutions — GEOINT is one of those.

GEOINT for national security GEOINT is among several types of intelligence produced in support of national security. It is one particular segment of the comprehensive intelligence that a nation needs. It gives us a broad spectrum of the events that happen for the tri-services – air, land and sea. Each one of these requires GEOINT. A nation needs comprehensive intelligence, which is an essential part of the national security planning process. It gives us the capability to detect and identify objects and changes temporally or spatially.

Along with this, our nation needs a synergy of all forms of intelligence to get a comprehensive picture of what is going wrong or right in aerospace, outer Space, along land borders, in the hinterland, along maritime states (for detecting unauthorized fishing) — anything that degrades our territorial and economic security. Comprehensive national security needs synergy.

When we look at our defense and security strategy, which goes

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EXPERT OPINION GEOINT promotes defense diplomacy. There are many countries in our neighborhood —immediate neighborhood and extended neighborhood — that look to countries like India. beyond the military domain, our people from the military and non-military sectors are deeply involved in the security sector.

GEOINT is for all and has to be synergized with all kinds of inputs and combined with all kinds of strategies to ensure that we achieve our national goals.

Military-civil fusion The time has come where being informed is not enough. Now is the time to embrace technology and good practices — the sooner the better. There are many initiatives that have been taken to ‘fuse’ the military and civilian sectors. The need of the hour is a team to steer and monitor the collaborative efforts of the private and public sectors, military and non-military domains and inter-ministerial work — to synergize the efforts and optimize resources so the military-civil fusion can happen at a fast pace. During open events and seminars, only limited information can be shared. But there will be confidential and closed-door roundtable discussions where the nitty-gritty can be worked out.

Efforts are on to incorporate niche and emerging technologies and this generate a lot of positive pressure to change. This positive pressure is healthy for any organization or any nation.

If it’s not there, the technology divide between adversaries and us will widen. We have no option but to bridge this gap.

An incremental approach is not helpful when the gap is already substantial. We need to

modernize by leapfrogging or by pole vaulting.

Self-reliance A lot is being said about the development of indigenous capabilities. Knowing the historical connect and futuristic requirements is important for us to have faith in our capabilities and for a visionary focus.

I think more and more practitioners should begin to understand what technologies exist, which are available abroad, and which can be incorporated in the country by indigenization as a part of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).

Boosting ties with neighboring countries Going beyond the military domain, let us also remember that GEOINT offers the capability to promote defense diplomacy. There are many countries in our neighborhood — immediate neighborhood and extended neighborhood — that look to countries like India.

In a complex geopolitical global environment, smaller and weaker nations look to nations considered as role models to help them grow.

They do not want to be a part of any camp but want to keep their own stance. They would like to collaborate and seek help from India. GEOINT collaboration with India for these countries is a good opportunity, especially due to India’s unbiased policies and due to Indian expertise in technology.

Development and security are interrelated Experts overseas must come to India and start joint ventures

with Indian partners. There are many visible and invisible advantages in India. GEOINT is one asset that gets richer by crowdsourcing. India is a populous country that has a large number of people who use smartphones and internet-based solutions.

With so many people using these solutions, GEOINT becomes richer. I think this is the time for experts from abroad to start heading towards India, setting up shop here and working with Indian experts. We have a huge talent pool and I'm sure it will be affordable to them.

Investments in India can contribute towards making our life comfortable and secure and the nation will progress faster with the incorporation of GEOINT into our ecosystem. Concurrently, the armed forces can become much more efficient and effective, and ensure that this GEOINT segment of security contributes to the development of the country. Development and security are closely interrelated. The more we develop, the richer we get, and the more secure we are, the more we grow. So, let us all put our shoulder to the wheel and work towards getting GEOINT into as many fields as we can, and that too at a fast rate.

This article has been excerpted from a speech delivered

by Lt. Gen VG Khandare, PVSM, AVSM, SM (Retd.)

Senior Advisor, Ministry of Defence, India, at the GeoIntellignce-2022 conference, held in New Delhi in June 2022.

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EXPERT OPINION

Resilient PNT for a Self-Reliant India

Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) encompass a plethora of navigational functions and are a central element of many modern technology systems and devices. However, the latest electronic warfare technology can disrupt communications, navigation and guidance systems, and GNSS signals that rely on accurate PNT data. Therefore, India needs resilient PNT to become self-reliant.

By Lt. Col. Gulshan Mehta, Corps of EME, Indian Army

I

n the present scenario, it is easier than ever to disrupt Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals, thereby denying the systems that rely on accurate Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) data. PNT is one of the most GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 01 » ISSUE 02

central elements of modern technology systems and devices, which we depend on an everyday basis. Nearly every critical system around the world banks on these signals and data. When it comes to military systems, failure isn’t an option. Leaders in

the Department of Defence are concerned about over-reliance on this one form of technology.

If GNSS guidance becomes unavailable, soldiers and drones in the battlefield could be rendered blind and unable to navigate. If that awareness

EXPERT OPINION is lost, even for a minute, the consequences can be disastrous.

GNSS also plays an important role in the targeting and guidance systems in missiles. As such, GNSS has become both a strength and a vulnerability. The most important question now is: How can we protect essential systems from interference and denial-of-service attacks?

Electronic warfare In the current scenario, electronic warfare has become a theatre of furious contention. The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), with the operational name NavIC, was developed partly because access to foreign government-controlled GNSS is not guaranteed in hostile situations, as was the case in 1999 when the US denied the Indian request for Global Positioning System (GPS) data in the Kargil region.

Electronic war has three basic elements: probe, attack and protect. Initially, intelligence is gathered by locating enemy electronic signals. On attack, ‘white noise’ jamming disables and degrades systems, including radio and cellphone communications, air defense and artillery radars. Then there is spoofing, which confuses and deceives.

When it works, munitions miss their targets. Electronic signals emitted in battlefield can be used to track individuals and equipment.

The latest electronic warfare technology has the capability to disrupt communications, navigation and guidance systems and may also direct lethal blows.

It may be used against artillery, fighter jets, cruise missiles, drones and many other equipment. Militaries may also use it to protect

their forces. The same has also been observed in the RussiaUkraine war, wherein the simple act of powering up a cellphone has been seen to draw a rain of deathly fire. Similarly, artillery radar and remote controls for unmanned aerial vehicles have invited showers of shrapnel.

Role of drones In the early days of the war in Ukraine, drones were termed an astonishing source of success against Russian forces. Numerous stories and multiple video clips dominated the media, showing Ukraine's drones demolishing the chaotic Russian advances.

However, Russia learned from this humiliation in the first months of the invasion and soon established better organized and fielded electronic warfare and air defense systems.

A Ukrainian intelligence official called the Russian threat “pretty severe” when it came to disrupting reconnaissance efforts and commanders’ communications with troops.

Russian jamming of GPS receivers on drones that Ukraine uses to locate the enemy and direct artillery fire is particularly intense “on the line of contact,” he said. Russia jammed GPS from Black Sea to Finland in the ongoing war. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said the issue was observed in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, the Baltics, Eastern Finland, the Black Sea, the Eastern Mediterranean and Northern Iraq.

Lessons from the UkraineRussia war Many important lessons may be learnt from the Russia-Ukraine war about multidomain warfare, particularly the proliferation of electronic attacks and counter-

IN THE US ALONE, GPS IS APPROACHING USD 1 TRILLION IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC IMPACT AND IS DOUBLING EVERY 2-3 YEARS. BUT IT IS A SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE. THIS HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR RESILIENT PNT. Gillian Smith

Vice President of Marketing NextNav measures. While neither side has tapped, nor will hopefully, its most destructive electronic warfare resources in the future, both have employed jamming.

Communication jamming, as well as spoofing, are techniques intended to disrupt satellite communication. The US also accused Russia of interfering with their GPS signals in the ongoing war, which could be due to jamming or possibly spoofing. In early March 2022, Elon Musk-owned SpaceX noted that its Starlink signals that were providing satellite internet to Ukraine, had also been jammed.

In November 2021, Russia admitted to destroying one of its own satellites, implying a threat to target other satellites as well. If Russia were to target GPS satellites, it would cripple not just military capabilities but also much of the entire world’s logistical capabilities. It is therefore evident that there could be both large-scale (hard kill) and GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 01 » ISSUE 02

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EXPERT OPINION storms and can be disrupted to deny PNT signals. Both GPS and other GNSS constellations that broadcast on multiple frequencies and receivers, which take advantage of Dual Frequency Multi Constellation (DFMC) GNSS, are now becoming commonly available, including in smartphones, which can hop to a secondary constellation in case of disruption in the primary navigation system.

A Russian Krasukha-4 jamming station was captured in Ukraine in March 2022

smaller-scale (jamming/spoofing) threats to the satellite-based navigation system.

Alternatives to GPS Although GPS is an important component of the national PNT ecosystem, it is far from being the only source of capability for PNT. If GPS disruption makes it difficult to perform a task in an automated way, numerous manual strategies are available, even at the price of reduced efficiency, by using alternative niche technologies.

Because of the importance of PNT in the modern economy, a wide range of technologies has been prepositioned, which could either supplement GNSS or provide it with backup.

The UK and the US are seeking alternatives to GPS that do not rely on satellites, among concerns that future wars could be fought by signal jammers without a single shot being fired.

Many of these alternative and complementary PNT capabilities are already implemented broadly and some additional technologies are being implemented for public safety or other purposes.

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No single system could be an ideal backup for GPS. Some systems, such as the European Union’s Galileo or Russia’s GLONASS are satellite systems very similar to GPS and could be a good substitute under certain circumstances (if GPS alone were spoofed or disrupted by a cyber-attack). However, under other circumstances, such as a solar storm, these similar satellite systems would also be unavailable, as they share the same vulnerabilities as GPS. Terrestrial systems are divergent to GPS and have different weaknesses. But no single terrestrial system matches GPS on area coverage, on position accuracy, and likely on ubiquitous adoption of low-cost user equipment in the presence of continual, free GPS signals. Any single backup, therefore, will mitigate a GPS outage only for limited users. Modest investments by the government in threat detection could also reinforce private incentives to maintain a robust PNT ecosystem.

NavIC, our own RNSS, is equally vulnerable to space

Long Range Navigation or LORAN-C was a timing and radio navigation service that used high-power signals from terrestrial antennas in the 90–110 kilohertz (kHz) band and was intended to provide positioning accurate to within about 460 meters. This level of accuracy was useful to mariners, although it was insufficient for harbor navigation. Still, since the error in repeatability of the position calculation and the relative location with respect to nearby users could be several times better, it was useful for the relative navigation and safety of ships. Enhanced LORAN or eLoran was designed to provide better positioning accuracy using the same transmitter sites and much of the existing Loran-C infrastructure.

The eLoran system has been deployed in various countries, including Russia, China and South Korea.

NextNav LLC, USA has developed a system of terrestrial beacons known as the Metropolitan Beacon System (MBS), to provide precise PNT signals to mobile device users in covered areas. MBS consumes significantly less power than GNSS and includes high-precision altitude.

NextNav's Urban and Indoor Positioning service TerraPoiNT

EXPERT OPINION is available in the San Francisco Bay Area, in McLean, Virginia, and in other select markets.

NextNav’s vertical location service, Pinnacle, is available in more than 4,400 cities nationwide, and the company has partnered with AT&T FirstNet to provide vertical location service for first responders.

Similarly, Locata Corporation, headquartered in Australia, has developed a system of terrestrial beacons to provide PNT signals to dedicated receivers in a localized area. The system can reportedly provide centimeter-level precision in positioning, with under one nanosecond timing synchronization between transmitters without the use of atomic clocks. Locata uses a proprietary signal in the same band as Wi-Fi transmitters and therefore performs similarly to Wi-Fi with respect to signal obstruction and interference. Locata has been awarded a multi-year sole-source contract with the 746th Test Squadron (746 TS) of the United States Air Force to deploy LocataNet and provide positioning information when GPS is jammed across a 2,500 square mile (6,475 sqaure kilometer) area off the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

Pseudolites are terrestrial transmitters that broadcast signals compatible with existing GNSS user equipment on the same carrier frequency using a signal structure that is the same as any other GNSS. A key motivation for such systems is indoor PNT where Space-based signals are not available. Pseudolites can also have much higher signal strength than normal GNSS signals and thus offer greater resistance to jamming.

HawkEye 360 detected increased GPS interference in and around Ukraine in the months leading up to the Russian invasion. Credit: HawkEye 360

Although the standards for 5G cellular telephony are not fully established, some of its characteristics can be anticipated. Because of the nature of the technology associated with 5G, the expectation is that there will be a much higher density of transmitter nodes to connect with user devices. These nodes can very well be used to allow devices to use 5G signals to determine their location within one meter or less. This is considerably better than what is now possible with GNSS alone.

Moreover, there will be a significant incentive for users and providers to implement such capability. As a terrestrial alternative to GPS, 5G is relevant across a wide range of threats, providing positioning and navigation superior to GNSS as long as base station synchronization remains adequate and timing synchronization can be passed to the 5G cells.

Way forward Our past experiences have taught us that India cannot solely depend on other countries to provide accurate PNT

data. Learning from the Kargil War and the Russia-Ukraine war, policymakers need to consider all the possible PNT threats and not only the larger threats to make policy to develop/acquire a resilient PNT system from a plethora of available options.

No PNT source, however, is foolproof; they all have their own strengths and weaknesses.

Therefore, the best strategy is to use multiple, diverse PNT sources together that have different failure modes and characteristics so that the vulnerabilities of one source are counteracted by the strengths of another. Algorithms exist that can intelligently select and combine various PNT sources into a composite solution. To support Atmanirbhar Bharat, we require more startups offering effective solutions to a resilient PNT system. Taking preventive measures before facing an attack can sometimes be the best response. The best strategy to protect critical infrastructure is to use multiple, different PNT sources together. The earlier the detection, the quicker and more effective the recovery will be.

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INTERVIEW

DRDO’s lab for geohazard mitigation

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has merged two of its labs to create the Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE). The new organization will map, forecast, monitor, and help mitigate natural calamities like landslides and avalanches in the Himalayas, says Dr Pramod Kumar Satyawali, Director, DGRE. He also shares his vision for the new establishment with Geospatial Artha.

DRDO meet many requirements of the Indian armed forces.

D

RDO’s two labs Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) and Defence Terrain Research Laboratory (DTRL) have been merged. This merger will help optimize and consolidate resources. The confluence of these two labs has given rise to a new establishment, Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE), which has a focused mandate to address geohazards.

The effective and efficient use of limited resources, expertise and knowledge will, therefore, help

To achieve true self-reliance, the DGRE is working towards indigenization of systems and technologies for various activities.

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Preparedness in inhospitable terrain Efforts must be made to use the latest engineering and technological solutions, and develop new ones, to ensure safe mobility of troops in inhospitable terrain. Avalanche forecasts are being conitinuessly issued for the smooth execution of army operations of the troops.

Avalanche-control structures are set up in risk-prone areas to ensure safe movement of vehicles. Also, off-road trafficability maps are provided to the army at regular intervals, along with other geospatial products from time to time.

Predicting geohazards related to climate change Extreme weather events occurring due to climate change, such as unprecedented precipitation (snowfall/rainfall), often give rise to extreme winter and rainy season, leading to higher frequency of geohazards (avalanches, landslides and debris flow). The forecast for hazards associated with precipitation, such as snow avalanches, can be done using models such as SNOWPACK. Other events too can be predicted and the extent of a disaster reduced by developing early warning systems; DGRE is working on such technologies.

Self-reliance and indigenous solutions To achieve true self-reliance, DGRE is working towards indigenization of systems and technologies for various activities. Efforts are being made to reduce dependency on foreign-origin components. The development of Global Systems for Mobile Communications-based Automatic Weather Station (GSM-based AWS) is a step towards self-reliance.

Role of geospatial sector in DGRE’s mission The National Geospatial Policy2021 is a significant attempt at achieving India’s aim of “Atmanirbhar Bharat”, by making data and modern technologies easily available to Indian companies.

Under this policy, all geospatial data produced using public funds shall be accessible for scientific, economic and developmental purposes. This will further strengthen the scientific endeavor and development of new technologies in this sector.

Further, it will enhance collaboration among various organizations, including DGRE, and reduce the cost of acquiring data, as the data acquired by one agency can be easily used by other agencies without any additional cost burden.

By Jitendra Choubey Senior Associate Editor jitendra@geospatialworld.net

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26

INTERVIEW

Promoting Cyber Hygiene and Strengthening Cybersecurity

T

he role played by geospatial technology in human lives can be observed in the way the world is dealing with some current challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Let me speak about the role of robust cybersecurity in geospatial technology.

Why is cybersecurity important?

GIS (Geographic Information System) has a source of information, a network, or media through which information passes. It has a destination where the information will be stored. It has a processor. It has storage. Though it is an information system, it is prone to cyberattacks and this makes the issue of cybersecurity important. So, the attack vector can either attack the source of information network or media storage or the network, including the Cloud, resulting in loss and corruption of data. This is why it is pertinent for cybersecurity to be embedded in geospatial technology.

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 01 » ISSUE 02

Cyberspace is a dynamic and complex environment of users, networks, information systems and services.

Due to its anonymous and borderless character, cyberspace is vulnerable to various security concerns worldwide. Lt. Gen. Rajesh Pant, PVSM, AVSM,VSM (Retd.) National Cybersecurity Coordinator, PMO, Government of India, is responsible for coordinating cybersecurity activities across multiple sectors.

Previously, he was the head of the army's cyber training establishment and served in the Army Signals Corps.

The three-time Presidential Award winner spoke with Jitendra Choubey on a plethora of issues related to cyberspace policy, the current challenges and the way forward.

Government initiatives to strengthen cybersecurity The Government of India (GoI) has initiated a number of steps in the last few years to strengthen our cybersecurity and ensure that cyberspace remains safe. GoI approved the national security directive on the telecom sector on December 16, 2020. Under this, all products connected to the telecom network of India have to be procured and adopted from trusted sources — from trusted countries, companies and their related supply chains. Besides, a number of agencies have been created in the past few years to oversee and strengthen cybersecurity in different sectors.

The National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) was created as a nodal agency for the protection of critical sectors like transportation; railways; banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI); aviation; and other strategic sectors. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre

INTERVIEW (I4C) was created under the Ministry of Home Affairs to tackle cyber fraud. Under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the National Cyber Coordination Centre was created for threat prediction. For public awareness on information security and training, the Information Security Education & Awareness (ISEA) center was created. Three years ago, we set up the Defence Cyber Agency, specifically for the defense sector. And under the Ministry of External Affairs, the Cyber Diplomacy Division was created.

Risky foreign suppliers Most semiconductor devices, such as integrated circuits (ICs and printed circuit boards are manufactured and imported from countries like Taiwan, China, the US, Europe, and South Korea. It then becomes important to keep track of the global supply chain. Malware can either be a type of software or hardware. It could also be a part of the firmware itself. For example, one extra line while manufacturing an IC can compromise user data.

Therefore, for both hardware and software, the supply chain needs to be checked and tested.

Infrastructure to check malware The Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE) was notified by the Government of India on September 5, 2017. Under this scheme, all telecommunications equipment, whether imported or indigenously manufactured, has to be tested and certified against Essential Requirements (ERs) issued by TEC (Telecom Engineering Centre). TEC the technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the designated agency for testing telecom equipment by designated labs. The responsibility for framing security related requirement and security certifications lies with the Bengaluru-based National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS).

We created the Defence Cyber Agency in November 2019 in the line of cyber command; it is now fully functional. This agency will be converted into a full-fledged command in the future as we are facing challenges like manpower and land allotment.

Cyber deterrence policy Just like the government’s policy on nuclear weapons (‘no first use’), we too have a ‘no first attack’ policy in place. In cyber deterrence, we have full capability to attack in case any state actor dares to touch us. That is where cyber deterrence comes into play. However, we are not out to harm any country by using offensive cyberattack.

The attack vector can either attack the source of information network or media storage or the network, including the Cloud, resulting in the loss and corruption of data.

This is why it is pertinent for cybersecurity to be embedded in geospatial technology.

Protection of digital infrastructure We are one of the few countries focusing on critical infrastructure, including the health sector. We created the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC). Recently, we conducted the first national cyber exercise, NCX India 2022, which took place from April 18 to April 29, where we got chief information security officers and decision-makers from all critical sector organizations.

First, we trained the officers and decision-makers and then we put them through an exercise where we simulated a ransomware attack on the power sector and the oil sector. Then, a rehearsal was conducted.

We took extra security steps to protect our critical sectors — telecom and power. We formed a sectoral telecom emergency response team, even though there is the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) — a nodal agency to deal with cybersecurity threats like hacking and phishing. We also created a powerCERT to deal with different verticals in this sector — power generation, distribution, transmission, and grid operation.

Cybersecurity is a global issue In cybersecurity, there are two verticals: services and products. Services mean audits, education, training, etc. We are self-reliant in all aspects of services within the country so far. However, on the products side, equipment may come from anywhere in the world.

There is a long chain of products starting from endpoint security (end-user devices like desktops, laptops, and mobile devices) to network, and our challenge is to protect every element of this GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 01 » ISSUE 02

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INTERVIEW All products connected to the telecom network of India have to be procured and adopted from trusted sources from trusted countries, companies and their related supply chains. network. There is Cloud security and data-centered security, and there are various aspects of firewalls, seams, prevention systems, detection systems, and security operation centers. Cybersecurity is a global common like the climate, the pandemic, and the environment. So, global commons require global solutions and we should not be particular about having everything within the country.

Better cyber hygiene We should not always react to a situation, rather we should try to prevent it. For this, we need to invest more in the education and awareness of our people to make them practice better cyber hygiene. The individual human being is the weakest link in the cyber security chain.

Technically, I can do a lot of things to protect the system but if a human being falls prey to a phishing attack or a malware dropper or some other attack vector, the entire system gets compromised. Our people should be careful while installing various apps on smartphones so that hackers do not take advantage of them. We have started training programs in schools on cybersecurity. Investing in education and awareness is the best endpoint measure to ensure the security of our laptops and phones.

Data sovereignty is national sovereignty As a nation, we are losing in terms of data value as we are late in shaping our data protection bill. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology introduced the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019, in the Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to protect the personal data of individuals and establishes a Data Protection Authority for the same. But it is still at a standing committee. We need a data protection framework urgently.

One can recall the case where personal data belonging to 87 million US Facebook users was sent to Cambridge Analytica. Afterwards, Facebook was fined USD 5 billion. It can happen in any country. A GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 01 » ISSUE 02

lot of companies operating in the EU have been fined under the General Data Protection Regulation of Europe (GDPR).

Unlike the EU, we don’t have any regulations in place to ensure that data stays inside the country.

At the very least, personal and sensitive data must stay inside the country. This is part of sovereignty.

The UN has this concept pertaining to the sovereignty of nations. Data of any nation is also sovereign and has to be regulated by the law of the land.

Though biometric Aadhaar data is stored and protected within India, some data centers are located outside the country. This is why we urgently need a data protection framework and bill.

Prepared for hybrid warfare We held an exercise called the National Cyber Exercise 2022 from April 18 to April 19, which was aimed at seeing how prepared we are. We made two teams from 150 participants from critical sectors like Power and CERT, as well as from private companies. They attacked each other and both had to defend themselves from the other’s attack. One team attacked the computers of the second team while the latter tried protecting itself.

The result was encouraging. We are well prepared and the National Security Council Secretariat is doing an excellent job in ensuring that their systems remain safe.

Robust regulatory framework for managing technology We do have a robust regulatory framework in place, otherwise technology would be prone to misuse. For the cyber security part, we have the IT Act, amended in 2008, which is well crafted. On April 28, 2022, fresh directions were issued under the IT Act 70B, mandating everyone in India to report a cyber incident within six hours of its occurrence. We have also specified that logs need to be maintained for 180 days because we can then review them to find out how the particular malware has entered the system.

We have also laid down guidelines for data centers that are not regulated since we found out that a lot of people hire virtual private servers (VPS) and carry out attacks through these centers. The details of people hiring these virtual private servers are not revealed as these companies are private.

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IN PERSPECTIVE

CROWDING IN SPACE:

The Need for Regulation

In an era of extraordinary change and against the background of geopolitics, former Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, Dean of Kautilya School of Public Policy, shares his insights into how Space has become the new theatre of contention for states and private players, and why there is an urgent need for regulation in this ungoverned sector.

V

olatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity (VUCA) define our rapidly changing world today. This is the kind of chaos the geospatial community thrives on — just look at what is happening in the Space industry currently! The world that Isaac Asimov thought of 80 years ago is now on the verge of coming true. That's the kind of rapidity of change we are experiencing.

About change, diplomacy and geopolitical shifts On the other hand, diplomacy is all about a quest for order in a disorderly world. Any disruption that fosters disorder, any deviation from established practice, is frowned upon. Unmanaged change is not easily digestible for us. So, as a diplomat, I find it difficult to relate to the geospatial community, which is always on a quest for change.

Today, the ground reality has changed. One can see the pace at which we move, the pace at which fundamental changes are taking place. What one is seeing is extraordinary change happening in multiple spheres — economic, technological, GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 01 » ISSUE 02

IN PERSPECTIVE environmental and social. Some have even called it the era of mega-change.

In an interconnected world, change has a transboundary impact. Not only satellites, viruses too cross boundaries and affect people worldwide. Today, the boundaries between internal, external, domestic and foreign entities are blurring. Those going up the ladder are jostling for space, resulting in geopolitical shifts. For instance, China isn’t the only rising power in Asia, there are others too — India, ASEAN, South Korea, and many others.

All these simultaneous ‘risers’ are scrambling for space.

If we look at the geopolitical shifts that have taken place in the last few decades, the combined global economic share of the OECD countries has dropped to below 50% — while China has become the largest trading partner for 110 countries, besides being the largest provider of aid or loans to 145 countries.

The country has an operational triad. It is planning to increase its nuclear missile capability from around 270 warheads to 1,000 — nearly three-and-a-half times.

It has conducted hypersonic weapons testing this year — some people call it the new Sputnik moment. China has managed to launch 80 satellites since January, 2020, in the middle of the ongoing COVID-19 battle.

If the old order has given way and the new one is on the anvil, it is obvious that we need a new order-building exercise.

And this is not only in one area.

Many opine that change has to be incorporated from trade to mobility, public health to climate, cyber space to outer space, and from security to cybersecurity.

Unregulated crowding in Space There is little regulation for Space satellites. There is no legal framework, other than a state-centric one, for these satellites; this places the responsibility only on the states. Yet, look at what has happened — Elon Musk’s Starlink Space endeavor has approval for launching 12,000 Space satellites to ostensibly provide broadband for regions that are hard to reach. This year alone, they have launched 27 rockets, more than most countries, perhaps more than any other country. And this is just one company alone.

Amazon's Kuiper project has approval from the US for a constellation of 3,600 satellites.

OneWeb has launched 200 satellites and it has approval from the FCC (the US Federal Communications Commission) for another 6,000 satellites. China has plans to launch two constellations totalling 13,000 satellites. It is trying to promote 6G using these satellites.

Last year, the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) estimated that there could be

more than a hundred thousand commercial satellites in orbit by 2029. That's less than 10 years away. Rwanda, which set up its Space endeavor program just recently, has applied to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for approval of 3,00,000 satellite launches.

Non-state commercial actors in Space What we saw in terms of flags of convenience on ships can happen to satellites too — just because this is a sector that is not regulated and where only the states are responsible. States need to provide regulations, although most will avoid doing so.

The number of working satellites has increased by 50% in less than two years. This has happened largely because new, non-state, commercial actors are pouring in money to build businesses in Space and the entire geospatial community is benefitting.

Nevertheless, the rush to commercialize Space has fuelled concerns, because there is no GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 01 » ISSUE 02

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IN PERSPECTIVE Elon Musk is the new sovereign of LEO. Not only does this mean that a suitable piece of Space real estate is gone, but it means he will set the rules and he will set the standards. He will set the procedures for markets and the innovation cycles for future Space technology in that area.

Space traffic management system for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. This is where most commercial satellites are being sent. Even as many of us speculate about who is going to win the Space race between Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos, the real race is happening elsewhere.

It is the race to blast off satellites into orbit. Morgan Stanley has estimated that the Space economy, which is currently pegged at about USD 400 billion (Rs. 32 lakh crores) a year, could grow to USD 1 trillion (Rs. 800 lakh crores) by 2040. And nearly half of it would be from satellite-related services and ancillaries.

Some are even predicting that a Space-based solar-powered satellite will not be the stuff of science fiction any more, no more than commercial Space travel was once.

First movers have the advantage when it comes to orbital Space. So, Elon Musk is the new sovereign of LEOs. What does this mean? Not only does it mean that a suitable piece of Space real estate is gone, but it means that he will set the rules and he will set the standards. He will set the procedures for markets and the innovation cycles for future Space technology in that area. So, we all need to look at these developments even as we understand that there are considerable benefits.

This brings me to another point. How many LEOs in the GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 01 » ISSUE 02

orbit can support the current system before collisions happen? We are all aware of the Kessler syndrome. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), even if all launches were stopped today, the amount of Space debris in LEO would still likely continue to increase.

This has been a problem since Sputnik 1 was launched. It is not new. There are at least half a million pieces of debris circulating. And even tiny fragments can destroy Space assets. What are the likely damage implications if one piece of celestial trash strikes a satellite?

Is this adequate? These rules that govern Space were designed in the 1960s and early ’70s at best. Are they adequate?

There is no international coordination mechanism from where one deploys one’s constellations. Regulations do exist about interfering with broadcast frequencies or other satellites, but there is no international system of Space traffic control.

There is no independent global body providing data on satellite positioning and trajectories.

That job is currently done by the US military, but some information is still classified.

The private sector will not bear the large upfront cost of placing valuable hardware in orbit or have tie-ups with those who launch satellites, if celestial trash makes satellite operations too risky.

The international legal framework today is simply not compatible with the desire to keep satellite orbits usable and the exponential changes that are happening. This requires the support of all Space-faring states and stakeholders who stand to benefit from Space ventures. We don't need to reinvent the wheel.

If a civil regime has been developed for international aviation, is it not possible to develop it for Space satellites in the lower orbit? If areas beyond jurisdiction on the high seas have a global legal framework, can Space not borrow some elements of it?

Just in the last year there have been many significant military developments. I will not go into this because my focus is only on the commercial aspects of Space and how this is having an impact.

Framework needed to govern Space But where are we in terms of a broader picture? The 1967 Outer Space Treaty prevents governments from extending their jurisdiction into Space. But they retain their authority over objects put into Space, including the rights to destroy them. So, they have extra-territorial sovereignty over their own objects.

There are multiple stakeholders now. If we want our geospatial hopes realized and we know what it means to realize them, it is time for all of us to look at the bigger picture and to emphasize the need for a framework.

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INTERVIEW

A Conversation with Pawan Goenka Chairman, IN-SPACe IN-SPACe is an independent nodal agency under the Department of Space for allowing space activities and usage of DoS owned facilities by non-government private entities. The headquarters of the agency, located in Ahmedabad, was inaugurated on June 10, 2022, and a closed-door meeting held between IN-SPACe and several entrepreneurs on June 11, 2022.

On this occasion, in an exclusive interview, Pawan Kumar Goenka, Chairperson of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Board, IN-SPACe, spoke with Arup Dasgupta, Managing Editor, Geospatial World, about IN-SPACEe and how it will enable a level-playing field for private companies and start-ups in the Indian Space sector.

What are the takeaways from the 11th June meeting?

The meeting was held with almost 100+ people from the industry, both vendors as well as new space technology companies. Everyone was very excited with the previous day’s event because it was clear that, at the Prime Ministerial level, there is a tremendous desire to see industry enter the Space sector in a much bigger way than before. The PM clearly mentioned that he did not want to see the industry only as vendors but as leaders in Space development, and that he is looking for Space activities to go far with the backbone of industry participation.

Space Policy 2022 The industry is very keen to know when the Space Policy, which has been in the making for quite some time, will be released.

We have had several consultations with industry so there are not too many concerns, barring one or two new questions.

Most of the heavy lifting has been done, such as, approvals from the various concerned departments. The final compilation of all suggestions and comments is going on, so it shouldn't be too long before the Policy is announced.

Role of IN-SPACe IN-SPACe will play a major role by creating confidence in the industry that the government is serious about them entering this domain. The government is very open to sharing its infrastructure and technology with the industry. The regulatory environment defined in the Policy, and its implementation by IN-SPACe, is conducive to private sector participation and will provide a level playing field to the industry.

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 01 » ISSUE 02

INTERVIEW Role of ISRO We have to convince the industry through our actions that we mean business. We are very serious about the private sector coming into Space and playing a lead role, along with ISRO. But, at the same time, as the Prime Minister mentioned, it is very important that nobody should feel that ISRO is now sidelined and the private sector can move forward alone. ISRO is still at the core of whatever happens in the Space sector. The industry will clearly be getting the benefit of and access to the technology that has been developed by ISRO over 50-60 years.

Private investment Right now, we want to see how the private sector can become interested in participating in Space. Private sector start-ups are bringing in their sweat equity in the form of knowledge, aspirations, and an ability to take risks. Private equity firms and venture capitalist firms, however, have not yet warmed up to investing in Space in India. They need to see success stories. We have to signed 10 MoUs with industry for projects and all these projects will be executed and completed in the next eight to ten months. This will demonstrate to investors the potential return on investment.

Government as an investor In terms of direct funds and support from the government, we have not so far made any formal policy. We are going to keep looking at it as things develop.

Right now, we are not even at a point where the industry can ask for a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. PLI comes in when we have a manufacturing industry in the country that is not

cost-competitive globally and, therefore, the government shares some of the cost burden. There are hardly one or two companies that are planning to make satellites for global application; they’re not saying that they won’t be able to do so because the costs are too high. India has an inherent advantage because manufacturing costs here are lower compared to the US or Europe.

Creating a fund for Space investment, which will come from the Government of India Fund, is something that we can look at in the future. Right now, if some industry comes to us and says, ‘Look, I'm not able to do something because I don't have funds’ or ‘I'm not able to compete in the global market because my costs are too high’, then we can think about funding, and about PLI. Right now, that's not the request; right now it is “I have a technology, which I need to demonstrate, so help me demonstrate it”.

Immediate focus So you are only at the demonstration stage right now and not looking to scale up further?

Yes. Right now, the entire focus is on putting a system in place for how ISRO gets involved in terms of the use of facilities by the private sector, how ISRO gets involved in hand-holding, how IN-SPACe develops its own expertise to be able to help the industry, and what kind of authorizing process do we put in place. Don’t forget that IN-SPACe is also a regulator.

This is where the focus will be for the next 12 months.

Interplay of ISRO, NSIL and IN-SPACe IN-SPACe is an autonomous body under the Department of

PM Modi inaugurates Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) headquarters in Ahmedabad

Space (DoS). NSIL is a commercial arm of DoS, and ISRO is the technology developer and owner of all the infrastructure. The role of IN-SPACe is to provide all the facilities, technology, and authorization to industry, through liaison with ISRO. When NSIL was formed (in 2019), there was a sharing of responsibilities between ISRO and NSIL. Although IN-SPACe was announced two years ago, its actual operations started only in April. As we evolve we need to make sure that we do the right thing from the viewpoint of the government and the industry.

NSIL is the commercial arm of DoS. If company X plans to launch a satellite using ISRO facilities, authorization is done

by IN-SPACe. The actual launch is handled by NSIL; they will execute a commercial agreement with the company to manage that launch. On the other hand, if the industry makes its own arrangements, NSIL is not involved. Technology transfer will happen through NSIL. IN-SPACe's role is to facilitate the transfer of technology GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 01 » ISSUE 02

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INTERVIEW We have to convince the industry through our actions that we mean business. We are very serious about the private sector coming into Space and playing a lead role, along with ISRO. Private sector start-ups are bringing in their sweat equity in the form of knowledge, aspirations, and an ability to take risks.

ISRO is providing and NSIL is transferring. In our minds, we are 95% clear about our roles but people outside are probably only 70% to 75% clear.

The Government has recently transferred ten of the INSAT satellites to NSIL who will market their transponders.

ISRO’s Master Control Facility is managing these satellites. How will NSIL compensate ISRO for the use of those facilities?

That's outside my sphere so I don't think I should comment on it. I'm not even fully aware of it because this is between ISRO and NSIL. IN-SPACe has no involvement in that.

Satellite data policy Indian satellite data is very useful for the purpose of applications but is expensive. Most industry people don’t use this data. They use freely available data from Landsat and Sentinel.

Policy will fix that. We are defining three layers. In one layer, data is available for free, in the second layer data is available freely but for a cost, and in the third layer it is available only if approved by the concerned authorities.

The policy says data greater than or equal to 0.5 meters is free.

No, it is 0.3 meters. This was the input that came to us from the industry interaction, and we made it 0.3 meters.

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The National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) is a canalization institution for data from foreign data suppliers like Maxar and Planet. An Indian entity wanting to buy such data has to put in a request to NRSC, which, in turn, does the procurement and passes it on to the entity.

What will be the procedure under the new policy?

I'm not very familiar with this.

What you're asking is why do they need to go through NRSC? I will make a note of this and see if the current process can continue or whether we need to simplify the process.

Have the Geospatial Guidelines, which were issued in February 2021, been reflected in the Space Policy?

The Space Policy is fully compliant with whatever is in the geospatial policy. The data you collect from Space is wide ranging and you need to be careful that in the process of freeing it up you don't compromise on the security aspects.

One could say that it is impossible to stop anybody from collecting data but we can stop dissemination of the data where we think it'll come in the way of security.

But are we allowed to freely use the data? That's where we have to be a little careful. All I can say right now is that since the geospatial guidelines have preceded the Space Policy, the

Space Policy has to fully align with them. If they have raised the bar higher, then we cannot be lower. Of that we are sure.

Space Policy, Space Act, and Decadal Plan Decadal Plan is basically a strategy that ISRO and IN-SPACe are working on. We are a seven billion dollar (Rs. 557 billion) economy today. In ten years, where should we be? If we just say let's become bigger, that's not a target. To say let's become a 70 billion dollar (Rs. 5.5 trillion) economy without thinking as to how, is also just kite flying. So a Decadal Plan will say where we want to be 10 years from now. And how do we get there.

What are the areas that we will work on? What are the low hanging fruits? What are the early harvests? That's the strategy that we are working on at IN-SPACe and ISRO together; this has nothing to do with the Government of India, per se.

Space Policy is something you are familiar with. That's the one that will get released quickly, and that's what will guide the Act of IN-SPACe in terms of how we authorize, what we authorize, what we can do, what we cannot do, and so on.

The Space Policy is approved by the Cabinet.

The Space Act will be approved by the Parliament.

Even I didn't know of this

INTERVIEW distinction till I came into this role. The Act will address a few other things beyond the Policy, because those have to be approved by the Parliament, not the Cabinet. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, for example, is one such body.

If there is a Space Act, will there also be a Geospatial Act? There is a lot of overlap between the two.

I don't know because that is handled by a different ministry.

Therefore, coordination is definitely required between the two. There is no equivalent of IN-SPACe in the Department of Science and Technology.

IN-SPACe is special. So I think the Act is required because of this.

I'm not very familiar with these things since I am from the private

sector, but I think it's because the Act gets into what can and cannot be done. For example, what are the liabilities? Policy does not talk about liability.

What are the consequences of something that is not aligned to the Policy? All these things come under the Act.

About international commitments and Space Policy Obviously, the Policy ensures that nothing in it is in contradiction with the international treaties we have signed. And IN-SPACe, while giving approvals, will have to ensure that we do not violate any international treaty. For example, the liability for any damage done in Space lies with the country, not the company.

Therefore, if the country is

liable for a company’s actions, how does IN-SPACe pass on that liability to the company?

Between the Policy and Act that'll get resolved.

Legal Directorate Are you thinking in terms of having a director for legal affairs?

Yes. It's not a directorate per se, right now. We have legal affairs. We have three directors and legal, finance and administration together as a unit. In the original Cabinet Note, there is mention of a Legal Directorate.

I have put that on hold because we don't have enough activities in that area. Once we build ourselves up to a level where we need a Legal Directorate, we have the approval for it.

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INTERVIEW

Geospatial Analysis to Study Snakebite Risk in Nepal A recent study in Nepal’s Terai region used geospatial analysis to compute the risk of snakebites in humans and domestic animals. Prof. Nicolas Ray, Head of Division of Human, Animal, and Environmental Health, University of Geneva, and Carlos R. Ochoa, Swiss National Science Foundation Ph.D. Student, University of Geneva, provided details of the study to Geospatial Artha. By Jitendra Choubey GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 01 » ISSUE 02

The technology used in the study For the random selection of the households to be surveyed, we used satellite imagery from Google, Bing, ESRI, and Yandex Satellite, through the plugin QuickMapServices in QGIS, as described in the original publication “Novel transdisciplinary methodology for cross-sectional analysis of snakebite epidemiology at national scale”, which is available at PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. The same publication also describes the functions used in QGIS and a summarized R script to randomly select the primary sampling units using Probability Proportional to Size (PPS) sampling.

Analysis helped predict snakebite risk for humans and animals We used the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximations (INLA) method in the study, a robust Bayesian modeling method that borrows strength from neighboring areas and observations.

This allowed us to confidently estimate the spatial risk of snakebite for humans and animals.

Study findings We were able to identify the hotspots of snakebite risk in the Terai region of Nepal. We

INTERVIEW

Prof. Nicolas Ray

also highlighted very important factors that either significantly increase or decrease the risk of snakebite for a person living in a given area of 1–2 sq. km per year. Although poverty was already recognized to be an important factor increasing the risk of snakebites, the use of the Poverty Probability Index (PPI) and its importance as a standardized indicator of poverty was unprecedented.

Regional variations The eastern and middle Terai regions suffer more incidents of envenoming than the western Terai region. We offered a possible explanation related to the distribution of the krait species (Bungarus genus) and the apparently eastern-predominant custom of sleeping on the floor.

From this research, it was again evident that snakebite is a multifactorial disease involving not only humans, domestic animals and snakes, but also behavioral,

Carlos R. Ochoa

socioeconomic, cultural, religious and environmental factors.

Key findings about domestic animals We could not compute the spatial risk for a few domestic animals. Nonetheless, the result for animals (as previously for humans) revealed some strong risk-increasing and risk-reducing variables that could be used for awareness campaigns in rural communities, such as having straw storages near human dwellings or animal sheds — especially since recent publications from our team showed an important total incidence of 61.5 (51.0–74.1) cases per 1,00,000 animals and significant economic losses for affected households.

However, the most important variable was the average minimum temperature of the coldest month, which we considered to be linked to the biology of snakes and possible animal holding practices.

The most important variable was the average minimum temperature of the coldest month, which we considered to be linked to the biology of snakes and possible animal holding practices.

Farm practices behind increasing snakebite cases?

People working in agricultural fields are more exposed to encounters with snakes that hunt rodents and other animals in these fields. In our study, higher NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) values indicated a reduction in snakebite risk. As discussed in the paper, one possible explanation is the difference between the average NDVI value of forests (higher) and that of crops (lower). However, in other circumstances and countries, the same high NDVI values have been associated with higher snakebite incidence.

Poverty contributes to increased risk of snakebite incidents As per the study, there are some covariates directly or indirectly related to poverty that were found to have an influence on the risk of snakebites. These covariates are: Poverty Probability Index (PPI), distance to water, food storage, and straw storage.

Despite a complex dynamic, the snakebite risk of a household inevitably increases with the number of its members.

Carlos R. Ochoa is a PhD candidate at the institute of Global Health of the University of Geneva. He is a biologist with expertise in biostatistics and who is working in geospatial health with snakebite.

Prof. Nicolas Ray is Head of the GeoHealth group at the Institute of Global Health of the University of Geneva, Switzerland. He is a specialist in geospatial approaches to improve access to healthcare in low and middle-income countries.

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 01 » ISSUE 02

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REPORT

Homegrown Mapping Company Shows Rapid Growth Indigenously developed MapmyIndia is moving up the geospatial value chain post its Initial Public Offer. The company has moved beyond digital maps to IoT platforms and provides end-to-end software solutions to customers.

By Jitendra Choubey

M

apmyIndia (MMI), India’s indigenously developed navigation and mapping technology company, which competes with Google Maps, registered a stellar performance in its debut Initial Public Offering (IPO) in December 2021, creating a buzz in the competitive market.

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This happened at a time when many big players like Paytm had failed to live up to market expectations. Since then, the total market value of MMI has increased to over USD 1 billion (approximately Rs. 8,000 crores).

It has made two acquisitions, inroads into drone technology, and partnered with the Indian

Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to do quality 3D mapping.

Response to IPO According to Rakesh Verma, founder of MMI, “We required funds to move up the value chain, so we chose to go for an IPO. We needed to accelerate ourselves as the sector started thriving due to the government’s liberalized geospatial policy.”

The public offering received an overwhelming response from bidders and was subscribed 155 times. It made a great debut at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), which resulted in the net worth of its founders rising to Rs. 4,400 crores (USD

REPORT 586 million). Financial experts have termed the performance of MMI as “stellar”.

MapmyIndia has always been an asset-light and profitable company,” said Nikhil Kumar, Vice President, Geospatial Technology, MMI.

Services and products offered Founded on February 17, 1995, MapmyIndia, officially known as CE Info Systems, offers three things — proprietary digital maps as a service (MaaS), software as a service (SaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS). The tech company provides services to top brands and partners with different government agencies. It has over 500 clients, including MercedesBenz, Maruti Suzuki and Bharti Airtel. It partners with government ministries and agencies, such as, ISRO and the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The company primarily provides services to corporate and government entities through its technological offerings such as the navigation app Mappls, GPS, IoT technology and gadgets.

The company offers professional maps and products directly to retail customers. The digital maps cover over 98% of India’s road network, constituting 62.9 lakh kms. The company has a niche club of investors, including PhonePe, Zenrin and Qualcomm.

“We have some prominent customers including PhonePe, Flipkart, Hyundai, Yulu, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, MG Motor and Safexpress,” said Kumar. He further added that MMI provides analytics, location and navigation to 7,933 towns, 637,422 villages, over 1.45 crore houses, and almost 1.8 crore restaurants, malls, ATMs, etc.

MMI has also forayed into drone technology and partnered with ISRO for 3D mapping. With Earth Observation data from ISRO, MMI’s Mappls app can give consumers a real-time view of routes MMI is the market leader in the automotive map market.

According to its Red Herring Prospectus (RHP), MMI controls around 90% of the domestic automotive map market.

The company has been registering strong profits for the past three years. For the financial year ending March 2022, it registered a profit after tax of Rs. 87 crores.

For the preceding years, it was Rs. 60 crores and Rs. 23.2 cores.

Post-IPO developments Verma termed the successful IPO as another successful milestone: “After this financial event, some interesting things happened, which are increasing our visibility in the geospatial value chain market.”

According to him, post-December 2021, MMI has strived to expand its presence and embark on the road to acquisitions, increasing its stake in different start-ups engaged in innovations.

“We acquired 75.98% stake in Delhi-based Gtropy Systems, a startup, in March 2022, valued at Rs. 13.5 crore,” said Verma.

Gtropy is engaged in improving GPS vehicle tracking solutions and data analytics. MMI also acquired a 9.99% stake in another Delhi-based startup, Pupilmesh, which works in metaverse-based Augmented Reality solutions.

MMI has also made forays into drone technology software

and partnered with ISRO for 3D mapping. With Earth Observation data from ISRO, MMI’s Mappls app can give consumers a realtime view of routes. Users will be able to see other information like air quality, vegetation maps and heat maps of their routes of interest as well.

MMI is also moving towards capturing the hyperlocal market. It will target prospective customers directly in a highly specific, geographically restricted area. This could be either a few streets or blocks, or educational institutes.

Global vision In terms of plans for global acquisitions, Verma said: “Acquisition is a delicate thing. Our assessments show that 50% of the acquisitions do not materialize due to poor management practices. For the international market, we will take our mapping platform global.”

Verma cites the example of German automobile companies that have globally expanded, while serving domestic users: “One needs to create a strong base in the domestic market and then make the next move.

For example, German car companies have grown and expanded globally while using local resources. Currently, our focus is on the Indian market and to create a strong base here. It is only after this that we will take our platform to the international market.”

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REPORT

CORS Makes Inroads Into Private Sector Instead of using the traditional base station and radio to send correction data to a rover, a Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) provides unmatched precise positioning with respect to a reference point that empowers multiple sectors. A CORS network stores data, in some circumstances processes it, and then transmits this data to rover receivers. By Priya Chadha

About CORS CORS collects and records Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data from a given location for relative positioning. It provides a high-precision platform for surveying, mapping and monitoring large infrastructure projects like irrigation, railroad, canals, dams, smart cities, and drainage planning, besides enabling better management of revenue maps and state boundaries. The data is then streamed to a master control center for better control and monitoring, with one redundant control station (that serves as backup) for uninterrupted service in case maintenance is needed, or if there is a requirement for updating data centre and communication.

“In the first phase, we introduced the service for internal users; in the second, for government organizations; and in the third, our focus was the industry (private sector),” said Neeraj Gurjar, Director, Geodetic & Research Branch, Survey of India, to Geospatial Artha.

S

ince the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the apex regulatory agency in the US, built a network of Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) base stations to augment positional accuracy provided by the Global Positioning System (GPS), many countries and private agencies have followed suit by estab-

lishing a Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) network. Unfortunately, India did not have such a network in place until very recently, even as other developing countries jumped onto the bandwagon. That has now changed as the Survey of India (SoI) is offering the facility to the private sector for free. At present, SoI has CORS facilities in place in 81 locations.

The move has cheered all stakeholders and will add teeth to the geospatial industry.

CORS has unmatched ability to provide precise positioning — a well-established network can allow users to obtain accuracies in the order of centimeters. This accurate location of an object with respect to a reference point empowers multiple sectors and with ever-increasing connectivity and digitalization, its utility will rapidly expand.

CORS has a fault-tolerant ability that makes it the most sought after mechanism for geophysical survey. It is also affordable, accurate, reliable, and saves time.

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 01 » ISSUE 02

REPORT At present, CORS is functional in Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, NCR, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, enabling accurate geopositioning infrastructure and real-time data acquisition. Other states where the network is expected to be operational within the next two months are Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Those left out will get the facility within six months.

“CORS enables a user to do relative positioning without operating the base station, by depending on that role being fulfilled by the network’s reference stations. While the GNSS work can be supported by a reference station, it usually involves more than one field receiver. But CORS does not need two receivers, which means a user can collect data in the field with a single GPS receiver, send it to the nearby reference station, and later retrieve the data,” Gurjar went on to add.

“Usually, users can subscribe to the CORS network on a monthly or yearly basis to receive Network Real Time Kinematic (NRTK) corrections with their rover, instead of having to set up their own base station. But this time, they will be able to avail it for free for three months,” he elaborated.

The network ambiguity resolution should be conducted within a single observation epoch, which means in real time. Hence, the CORS network. But there are certain ambiguities that need to be worked on.

Advantages of CORS CORS has a fault-tolerant ability that makes it the most sought after mechanism for geophysical surveys. It is also affordable, accurate, reliable, and saves time. Another advantage is that

CORS enables a user to do relative positioning without operating the base station, by depending on that role being fulfilled by the network’s reference stations. it works without expensive data radios to broad RTK positioning.

A CORS network of reference stations will be established, which provides a Virtual Reference Station (VRS), allowing users to access long-range high-accuracy corrections.

On the advantages of the facility in boosting the industrial sector, Amit Saxena, Regional Sales Manager (India & SAARC)Geospatial, Trimble, said, “Be it land management projects or transportation, particularly railways and roads, the CORS network provides a precise positioning platform for mapping and monitoring large infrastructure projects. With the CORS network in place, the staff of the hosting facility does not have to be confined to a particular area and can be sent to multiple locations, thus cutting down on time and maximizing efficiency.”

Beneficiaries of CORS Surveyors, GIS users, engineers, scientists, and the public at large that collect GPS data can use CORS data to improve the precision of their positions.

CORS-enhanced post-processed coordinates approach a few centimeters relative to the National Spatial Reference System, both horizontally and vertically. While CORS can be configured to support differential GNSS (DGPS) and RTK applications, as in Real-Time Networks, most networks constantly collect GNSS tracking data from known positions and archive the observations for

subsequent download by users from the internet.

The major obstacle lies in cutting down the convergence time, which is imperative to resolve the integer carrier phase ambiguities between the network’s reference stations.

Once these are resolved, the network is able to provide precise corrections of the atmospheric (ionospheric and tropospheric) delays between the reference stations. Subsequently, these accurate estimates are used to predict the differential atmospheric delays at the approximate location of a user, enabling him to obtain high-precision positions while applying these atmospheric corrections.

Towards self-reliance In India, the CORS network makes use of NavIC receivers for high-precision positioning, translating into reducued dependence on foreign satellite systems and increased self-reliance. The development of CORS applications for the Indian context was an amalgamated effort by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), various academic institutions, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and SoI. The new shift in the outlook towards geospatial and data policies in India signals greater collaboration among public and private entities, ensuring widespread adoption of CORS for various applications, and a strategy that ensures commercial success as well as the realization of larger public interest.

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 01 » ISSUE 02

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REPORT

Quest for Accurate Weather Prediction Fourteen cyclones since 2004, thousands of casualties, coastal flooding and torrential rainfall — Tamil Nadu has weathered many a storm in recent years.

Though the State Government, Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) have been chalking out mitigation strategies, an infrastructure upgrade is the need of the hour. By Priya Chadha

O

n December 30, 2021, the weather bulletin issued at noon in Chennai, predicted ‘light-to-moderate’ showers in some areas of the city. An alert issued a little later again warned that there would light-to-moderate rain at isolated places in Chennai and nearby districts for one or two hours. However, by the time an ‘orange alert’ was sounded, there was a heavy downpour in Chennai and three other districts, inundating most areas and leading to gridlocks. There was loss of property and human lives. Apparently, two of the three radars had not been working since November 6, 2021, and as per a report, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had been issuing conflicting predictions.

The state government relies on IMD for any weather-related

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information. But the department’s predictions have not been so accurate of late, and its failure to do so is costing the state dear as it is unable to put in pre-emptive efforts to save lives.

Technology upgrade is the need of the hour as in such a situation, not only is normal life crippled, but health services are also affected.

An automated weather station On plans to set up a new weather station, Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology, India Meteorological Department, said that like other states, Tamil Nadu too wants to improve its early warning system. “For instance, if we issue a warning, some action has to be taken, and to act as per the warning, a decent support system is required by districts,

tehsils or blocks concerned.

In addition to our automated stations, states are also establishing their own automated weather stations, which is why the Tamil Nadu government, too, wants to set up a similar weather station,” he said.

The automated weather station will be an observatory station, and will automatically record temperature, pressure, rainfall, etc. Mohapatra added, “IMD issues the forecast. No separate prediction is issued

by Tamil Nadu. All our data is stored in GIS now. It is a collaborative work between IMD and the Tamil Nadu government. As per our guidance, we are working together and there is no separate meteorological facility. It will be augmented by setting up a few observatories by the Tamil Nadu government like any other government is doing. For

REPORT instance, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Kerala and Karnataka are also working on it. So, if you go to smaller areas for forecast, we need more observations, which is why IMD is supported by the states concerned.”

part of their expansion plan. On the inaccurate predictions, the official said an error-free forecast is not always possible. “At present, we have 75 automatic rain gauges and 35 automated weather stations.”

Current infrastructure “We have around 735 automated weather stations across the country. Then, there are 570 manned observatories, and 1,350 automated rain gauges. And, this number will keep going up. For the purpose, respective state governments are purchasing some equipment, but the cost of these cannot be commented upon,” Mohapatra said.

Sharing his views, Nagaraj, MSSRF, said that for predictions to be precise, the equipment at weather stations needs to be updated. He also highlighted the poor drainage system plaguing the state for long: “The Cooum river has become highly polluted.

Flooding has made its condition even worse.”

Referring to inaccurate predictions in Chennai on November 7 and December 30, 2021, he said a forecast cannot be 100% accurate always. “Over the years, if you look at the forecast accuracy of IMD, heavy rainfall warning has improved by 40% in the past five years. At present, we can predict heavy rainfall 20 hours in advance with 75% accuracy.

Forecast accuracy is inaccurate worldwide, not only in India. Our target is that by the next five years, our forecast accuracy should improve by 10-15%.”

When asked about the weather station, Dr. S. Balachandran, DDGM, Head, RMC Chennai, said the project was

The automated weather station will be an observatory station and will automatically record temperature, pressure, rainfall, etc.

Data collection A lot of data is sent to Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models for analysis. Observations are made round the clock in three dimensions. Observatories, which are under the surface of the earth, take measurements. Also, balloons and sensors are used to generate upper air data by tracking with radars. There are, at present, 33 radars for weather in the country. There are also two satellites — INSAT 3D and INSAT 3DR. In addition, international satellites are also used for the purpose of collecting data.

Western Ghats block most rain-bearing clouds The northeast monsoon is responsible for most of the rainfall in the state as winds and rain-bearing clouds come from the Bay of Bengal, which ensures good rain activity over Tamil Nadu. On the other hand, the southwest monsoon has a minimal role to play in the state’s rain pattern. About 48% of the annual rainfall is received during the northeast monsoon from October to December.

Only the Nilgiri areas get rain from the southwest monsoon

as winds are obstructed by the Western Ghats that dominate the entire western border with Kerala, effectively blocking much of the rain-bearing clouds from entering the state. The eastern parts are fertile coastal plains.

The northern parts are a mix of hills and plains. The central and the south-central regions are arid plains.

CM’s letter to the Centre Following IMD’s alleged failure in warning the authorities about the heavy showers that lashed Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging the Centre to take steps to rectify some lapses on part of the regional wing of the IMD in predicting rainfall.

Stalin pointed at the “need for making additional investments in advanced weather prediction mechanisms and upgradation of technology being used in IMCs (Indian Meteorological Centres).”

He also urged the Centre to enhance the capacity of the weather forecast center in Chennai to enable it to make predictions in high alert situations and to inform the state government well in time.

GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 01 » ISSUE 02

45

DELHI KOLKATA MUMBAI

SURVEY OF INDIA

CHENNAI

CONTINUOUSLY STATIONS REFERENCE SYSTEM (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

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