Technical Session – III

GIS APPLICATIONS FOR RESOURCES MANAGEMENT – NATIONAL INITIATIVES

SPACE TECHNOLOGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
A.Perumal

National Remote Sensing Agency
Balanagar, Hyderabad 500037, INDIA


ABSTRACT

The ecological system, the very base of production is under great stress in many parts of the country due to growing pressure of human and livestock population and ever increasing development demands. The challenge is to make the ecological resources more productive and their exploitation less hazarduous. A strategy based on integrated management of soil, water and other resources coupled with appropriate technologies should be adopted. It is in this context, the concept of sustainable development assumes greater significance. Brundtland commission (1987) defined sustainable development as the one that meets the needs of present population without compromising the ability future generations to meet their own needs.

In monitoring the real world and adjusting human activities in constructing the future world towards sustainable development, planning is the controlling system. The objectives for planning are very complex and problematic. Planning on a scientific basis needs necessary information on history and changes, status and description, structure and interrelationships, development potentials and trends and possible impact of certain human actions relating to the natural resources.

Without a careful analysis of our limited resource condition, environment and the nature of the socio economic system, it would be very hard to maintain sustainable development. A good planning decision must be deducted through the analysis of the available data. The criteria for planning are often multi faceted and spatially distributed. The complications of comprehensive evaluation are an important reason for the significant conflicts among planning goals. To solve this problem, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have been introduced. A GIS can facilitate a multi criteria evaluation through the overlay of maps containing relevant factors and constraints.

SPACE TECHNOLOGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Space technology, one of the latest but very powerful additions in the sage of achievements resulting from humans’ relentless pursuit of scientific explorations has emphatically proved its capability in our efforts towards sustainable development. The direct benefits of space technology have been in the areas of communication, education, health and entertainment, meteorology, resource inventory monitoring and management enrichment of knowledge and development of science & technology thus addressing the most of crucial issues towards sustainable development. In this paper the discussion, however, will be limited to the role of space systems especially remote sensing towards sustainable development.

REMOTE SENSING TECHNOLOGY IN RESOURCE INVENTORY, MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT

Remote Sensing can supply some of the useful land information particularly natural resources that is needed for the planning of sustainable regional development. The development of remote sensing as a technique for gathering land resource information has a history of more than 25 years in India. (Rao, 1996). Remote sensing can range from black and white aerial photographs to colour infrared photographs, radar images and satellite images. Remote Sensing is often used to detect land use changes over large areas. The use of remote sensing with geographical information systems further enhances their utility.

INTEGRATED MISSION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (IMSD) – A NATIONAL MISSION PROJECT

Satellite based remote sensing inputs over the past two decades have been playing a key role in India in the management of its natural resources with the active involvement and participation of all the concerned user departments in the country. With the experience gained through, the extensive use of satellite imagery for deriving vital inputs of relevance to the sectors of national economy, the Department of Space in India has embarked upon the major national mission of great significance for integrated land and water resources management. The primary goal of IMSD is to generate the information on natural resources through remote sensing technology and integrate it with relevant collateral socio-economic data at watershed level to arrive at locale specific action plans for development.The study has been taken up in 175 districts from all over the country, covering nearly 25% of the geographical area.

The resource themes considered are Landuse / landcover, soil, slope, hydrogeomorphology and drainage surface water body. Of these landuse/landcover hydrogeomorphology and soil have been derived from remote sensing data. The slope map was prepared on the basis of contour information available in SOI toposheet on 1:50,000 scale. Information on drainage has been obtained from the Survey of India toposheets. The surface waterbody map was augmented with two season IRS satellite imagery. To derive any meaningful conclusions on sustainability alternatives, these themes cannot be analysed in isolation. They have to be studied in an integrated approach. GIS has been used in the development of digital database, to assess the status and trends of the areas' resources and to support and assess various resource management alternatives. Socio-economic conditions are also included for the refinement of the suggestions.

Generation of location specific action plans for land and water resources development and their handing over to the district administration is not the ultimate objective of IMSD. The logical conclusion would be the utilisation of IMSD outputs (thematic maps as well as action plans) by various line departments (forestry, agriculture, soil conservation, ground water etc.) during the preparation of their annual plans. Thus internalisation of IMSD maps in the district planning process has to be ensured. Towards this end, workshops were conducted at respective district hqrs, involving the district administration, officials of various line departments, members of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and some progressive farmers before handing over of thematic maps as well as action plan maps. The participants were appraised of IMSD project, map reading and utilisation of IMSD maps in the planning and implementation of various developmental activities on ground in the district. In these districts, the team members also visited the study areas along with the line department officials and helped them in locating various action plan items on the ground.

With the involvement of user agencies and the departments, selected watersheds in some districts of six states covering diverse situations have been taken up for the actual implementation of IMSD strategy to convincingly demonstrate the efficacy of methodology itself. Detailed action plans for the above identified watersheds in these districts have been prepared which include demarcation of sites for

* Construction of rainwater harvesting structures.
* Soil conservation measures.
* Afforestation of agro forestry, agro horticulture, fuel as well as fodder development.
* Appropriate locale specific agricultural practices for optimizing food grain output and protection of natural environment.

The action plans have been critically evaluated by the expert committees for their implementation. The results obtained in respect of watersheds clearly demonstrate the potential of IMSD strategy for benefiting the people at a grass root level and improving food and economic security of these people.

UTILISATION IN WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

Planners and decision makers at state and district levels have accepted utility of IMSD inputs in Watershed Planning and Management, in principle. IMSD maps have been adopted in the planning process of watershed development in 65 watersheds/study areas.


DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHIC AND GIS DATA STANDARDS – THE DVD1 AND DVD3 STANDARD EXCHANGE FORMATS

Ashok Prim
Modern Cartographic Centre
Survey of India, Dehradun, INDIA


ABSTRACT

The worldwide thrust in information technology and the expanding concept of the Geographic Information System (GIS) has profoundly influenced the acquisition, processing and use of topographic and thematic data. By the early 90's Digital Cartography came to be recognised as an established technology in Cartographic Map Reproduction. By the mid 90's it was realised that Digital Cartographic Data could also be efficiently used in a GIS to produce vital information for planning and development. However by this time a huge amount of Digital Cartographic Data was already in use in different agencies and problems arose in their translation to other platforms with different standards and formats. Most Cartographic and GIS software provided rudimentary format translators, Import/Export facilities and other GIS functionalities. While these provided the user with some support they were nowhere near what was desirable. At times the cleaning and editing session for a translated data was nearly as long as digitising from scratch.

The current scenario is much improved with vendors providing efficient Import/Export facilities embedded in their software. However, even now, comprehensive and complete data conversion from one proprietary format to another is fraught with difficulties and one must be very careful to ensure data completeness. More complex problems arise out of issues arising from change of datum and scale during data exchange.

From 1981 onwards, Survey of India, with the foresight of harnessing a still evolving technology, embarked on a course to establish Digital Cartography as the new vehicle not only for topographic mapping but also for myriad GIS applications.

It was soon realised that other agencies were also exploring the use of the digital technology for their own Cartographic and GIS applications. It was decided to evolve a national standard format for the exchange of digital cartographic data. A working group comprising of Lt. Col. K. K. Naithani, Shri T. K. Bandhopadhyay and Shri Hari Om Prasad submitted a draft exchange format to the Department of Science and Technology. Thereafter, in June, 1991 an expert committee headed by Shri A. K. S. Gopalan, Director, ADRIN, Hyderabad was constituted to deliberate upon and finalise the draft Standard Exchange Format. It was only after further user interactions, that in May, 1992, the Committee finalised the draft format. In June, 1992 the National Standard Exchange Format for Digital Vector Data was released by Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao, Prime Minister of India. The DVD exchange format, as it is now popularly known, is the vehicle for exchange of Digital Data amongst all user organisations.

The format named "Digital Vector Data Format" or DVD had three variants the DVD1, DVD2 and the DVD3. Subsequently Survey of India delivered data only in the DVD1 format as it was most easily managed by the users for their graphical data displays. The DVD1 format portrays graphical data in which features can be identified with code but the inter-relationships between feature is not immediately established. However, some basic relationships can be appreciated when the data is visualised on a computer screen or on hardcopy. On the other hand the DVD3 format has interrelationships built into the format so that the adjacency, connectivity and association are at once appreciated with the help of common IDs and codes. This lends itself to being more useful for GIS purposes as well as reduce redundancies in data archival.

The topology in the DVD3 structure is built around the Node, Line & Area concept. As we all know Nodes, Lines and Areas are the basic cartographic elements on which digital cartography is based. The interrelationship between the cartographic elements is uniquely brought out in the DVD3 structure, given briefly as follows:

i) Connectivity: The presence of common Nodes is an indicator to connectivity between Lines as well as their association with the same cartographic feature e.g. connecting streams, canals etc. or with different cartographic features e.g. Railway lines intersecting roads etc.
ii) Association: Common Nodes of point symbols and Lines are indicative of the association amongst these two types of cartographic elements. For example a common Node of a siphon or aqueduct and a canal points to the association indicating that the siphon is on the canal.
iii) Adjacency: Areas adjacent to other Areas co-exist as cartographic entities having a common boundary. Each Area displays a unique ID of Areas situated to its left and/or right.

In Survey of India, data capture in the digital domain is done in the dgn format with the help of Microstation based softwares. The database of each colour separate is generated separately, in which all the cartographic elements, i.e. points, lines, areas and text are present in the same digital file.

This .DGN file is the input to generating both the DVD1 and DVD3 data files. The dgn file is easily amenable to the generation of the DVD1 data file as no topoglogical relationship are required. On the other hand, the DVD3 data is structured around the topology built into the digital cartographic data. Unfortunately, the major drawback of a dgn file is that it does not have any topology built into it. Therefore, the inter-relationships between the basic cartographic elements do not exist. As topology is an essential feature of the DVD3 structure, it is important that first and foremost topology be built into the digital data. This has been implemented in Survey of India by translating the digital file from the dgn format to the Arc/Info coverage. However before the DVD3 file is finally obtained a lot of processing and interactive editing has to be done. As such the generation of a DVD3 data file from a dgn file needs careful data preparation as well as data reorganisation and is therefore time consuming.

As standard data formats and better telecommunications facilities are available, it is easily possible to have data exchange and sharing. Web based GIS offer immense scope of viewing, analysing and downloading Cartographic and GIS data in different formats with the help of a browser. Administrative issues related to data exchange have to be solved if digital cartography and cartography based GIS is to flourish. The digital topographic database being created by Survey of India on 1:50,000 scale may soon be available to users on commercial basis. However there is no coordinated approach in digital data generation in the country. There is hope that the NSDI movement will bring better coordination to data generation and data exchange. Department of Science & Technology, Survey of India, Department of Space and GSI are coordinating to bring out an exchange format which will cater to the exchange of Vector, Raster and GIS data. This exchange format is drawn predominantly from the current DVD format. However, as a first step a meta-data base needs to be created which details the availability of information by source, content, quality and use. Such a database will go a long way in reducing costly duplication in creation of digital cartographic databases and cartography based GIS databases.



DEVELOPMENT OF SPATIAL DATABASE FOR WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
A.K. Barman and S.N. Das
All India Soil and Land Use Survey
I.A.R.I. Buildings, New Delhi-110012, INDIA


ABSTRACT


The concept of watershed for management of soil and water resources has been introduced by Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India during Third Five Year Plan with the launching of Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Soil and Water Conservation in the catchments of River Valley Projects (RVP). Subsequently the scheme has been expanded with the inclusion of flood prone catchment area (FPR). As on date, Soil and Water Conservation schemes are implementing by the State Governments in 33 RVP Catchments and 12 FPR catchments. The planning and implementation of Soil and Water Conservation in the catchment area need scientific database on catchment characteristics. The responsibility of generating soil and land information for all the catchment area had been entrusted to the All India Soil and Land Use Survey (AISLUS) by the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India.

The database generation for catchment area treatment has been accomplished by employing two working models comprising :
(a) Rapid reconnaissance survey for identification and demarcation of priority watersheds in the catchment area using 1:50,000 scale SOI of India toposheet aerial photographs/ satellite imagery and

(b) Detailed soil survey in the selected very high and high priority watersheds using large scale aerial photographs or Cadastral map for detailed acquisition soil and land characteristics.

Voluminous information has so far been generated by AISLUS for watershed management planning both at macro and micro level. Till date, 160 m ha area has been covered for watershed prioritization whereas an area of 12 m ha has been covered towards generation of detailed soil information on watershed basis. Thus, huge information comprising both statistical and spatial data on macro and micro level are available to undertake watershed management in the country. The state of arts of the methodology of watershed prioritization developed by AISLUS is that all the watersheds prioritized under RVP/FPR schemes could also be prioritized with respect to the objectives of others schemes of watershed management being implemented by other Ministries.


The management of voluminous database on soil and land information with reference to their spatial distribution is a difficult proposition in conventional mode as collation and compilation of huge information is a time consuming process that do not allow to extend timely support to the decision making process. The watershed management programme has gained momentum in the country as due importance are now being given to the conservation of precious natural resources i.e. soil and water. It led to the increasing demands of database on soil and land resources not only by the scientists and the policy makers but also by the politicians in order to meet up the needs of the people of their respective constituencies. It thus calls for development of spatial database using Geographic Information System.

Simultaneously, the updating of database to meet up the demand of the Decision Support System is also essential which is a stupendous task. The dynamic land attributes viz., land use / land cover, land degradation and human interventions in the watershed also warrant updating of the database in order to provide realistic information for planning and implementation of watershed programme. The advent of remote sensing technology by virtue of unique capabilities paved the way of the updating of soil and land information.

The development of spatial database using Geographic Information system and Remote Sensing Technique would not only facilitate storing, updating, editing, manipulation, analysis and retrieval of required information accurately and quickly but will enlarge the scope of the use of database for multifarious activities namely, monitoring and evaluation of various land development programme, accountability and national auditing.

All India Soil and Land Use Survey organization contemplated the development of spatial database for watershed management programme in the country. The system environment comprises SUNSPARC-10 Workstation along with SUNSPARC-4 terminal and other hardware. The software consisting of ARC INFO GIS Packages, ERDAS image analysis software package and INGRESS RDBMS package are being used by AISLUS. The development of spatial database comprises development of digital watershed atlas on 1:1 million scale, development of map library for RVP and FPR catchments on 1:50,000 scale and development of soil information system using large scale soil information. Various applications of spatial database could be attained as per the needs of various programmes and decision support system could be developed subsequently. Some of the applications of spatial database developed by AISLUS for scientific land use planning, soil water conservation measure, soil health and monitoring and evaluation of the impact of watershed management have been explained in the paper.

Development of spatial database using GIS technology and remote sensing is a time consuming process as it involves collection, compilation and correlation of information in order to maintain standards following universal terminology. It needs strengthening of infrastructure and development of trained manpower. The development of spatial database once accomplished could serve the country in a more scientific and effective manner for centuries.


NICNET BASED GIS DEVELOPMENT AT NIC

Vandana Sharma
NIC, Ministry of Information Technology,India


ABSTRACT

NIC is a premier IT Center in India to provide state-of-art solution for IT needs of Government at all levels. The organization carries the distinction of being the largest IT organization in the country and has set up a satellite based nation wide computer communication network, NICNET with over 1400 nodes connecting the national, state capitals and district head quarters to one and another.

A host of databases today exist at various NIC centers and MIS developed around the data core address to a large number of activities of government. With the dawn of new millenium and INTERNET, however, there has been a paradigm shift in the way information can be processed and presented. The present millenium has emphasis on integration of every bit of data be it raster, vector or text, and make it accessible through network in a manner a common man can understand. GIS to this effect has emerged as powerful tool which has potential to organize complex spatial environment with tabular relationship.

Development and implementation of GIS addresses a number of issues. One of the major challenges is to organize the accurate, geo referenced database with careful examination of requirements. The practice of digitization and utilization of spatial data base has still not aquired structural form and needs concentrated efforts at the national level. Apart from this there are host of issues such as IPR, security measures, volume of data sets, cost etc which are required to be looked into.

Keeping all the complexities in mind a distributed GIS development has been planned carefully at NIC. Decreasing cost of hardware , versatile graphic peripherals and high speed of network have made the prospects of development of databases at decentralised locations a feasible preposition. Multi-dimensional approach is being adopted by NIC in the prime areas of remote sensing, GIS, utility mapping, hazard management etc. NIC has set up facilities for processing of remote sensing data with program to utilize data from IRS and other satellites. The facility aims to provide high performance computing using the concept of parallel processing technique through PARAM 9000 US in the area of image processing. Powerful software provide the environment to process and analyse these satellite images and their integration with other datasets as obtained from Survey of India and other sources and use it for GIS application.

A major component of GIS program envisages development of national level thematic database. Indigenous software along with customized high end solution on NICNET provide powerful tool for processing of images and strengthen GIS program for spatial data analysis. NIC has been integrating various projects in the area of GIS and thematic mapping with a view to establish the procedures and technologies. A two pronged strategy is adopted for development. First for the vertical development in complex areas and second horizontal transfer of technology up to the district level. During the process of implementation efforts are also underway to knit the existing MIS as operational on NICNET.

Present paper gives an account of activities with regard to development and implementation of distributed GIS over NICNET. It also presents infrastructure as set up along with the case study and examples in specific area.



INTELLEGENT MAPS FOR LOCAL LEVEL ADMINISTRATION AND PLANNING

Dr. P. Nag
National Atlas & Thematic Mapping Organisation, Kolkata, INDIA


ABSTRACT

Before the introduction of topographical maps, revenue maps were prepared during the Mughal period basically for tax collection. These maps took the shape of cadastral maps in the British or colonial period. The native states also followed almost similar practice. The territorial boundaries, plots or parcels of land, their numbers, roads and some topographical features were considered to be essential for locational references. These details were depicted on the maps. But they could not be related to a geographical co-ordinate system. Nevertheless, they proved to be an important tool as they provided some basis for spatial understanding. Till now these maps are being used in the census operations and their modified forms appear in the district census handbooks and other publications brought out from the office of the Registrar General of India. These maps are still popular with the administrators.

The topographical maps have a different orientation. They are geographically correct containing certain topographical features. They are at standard scales and projection. But they do not reflect the administrative structure up to the lowest level; hence, these have limitations for administrative purposes.

But the definition of administration is boundless. It has gone beyond the conventional understanding as a tool of governance. Today administration looks after not only tax administration or land records, but also people oriented planning and development strategies such as panchayati raj, pollution control, district level plans, tourism promotion and the like. In order to provide a glimpse of the current scenario of the requirements of administration, following examples from NATMO can be mentioned.

(a) District Planning Maps

While preparing the proposals for the eighth plan. NATMO and Survey of India proposed to prepare the district map series for a number of districts of the country. It was decided that a single sheet for each district should contain a detailed map at 1:250,000 scale showing the basic topographic and infrastructural features of the concerned district. The maps was to include the following details as well:
* Index map of the district
* A representative photograph/picture showing socio-economic and cultural aspects.
* A small write-up indicating the geographical, historical, and economic aspects
* Inset maps (1:1M) on:
(i) Relief and Slope
(ii) Rocks and Minerals
(iii) Soils
(iv) Irrigation and Hydrology
(v) Population
(vi) General Landuse and Cropping Patterns
(vii) Climatic conditions
(viii) Industry
(ix) Central part of district headquarters
(x) District specific issues, like hazards, tourism, etc.

The project provides a comprehensive picture of the development parameters for possible science and technology inputs. The maps of this mega project were meant to be useful not only for the administrators, but also for planners, development authorities, NGOs and decision-makers. NATMO has published about 60 such maps and in the current year (1997-98), it is likely to complete 40 more. Further, by the turn of the century, NATMO plans to complete its share of responsibility, i.e. half the number of districts of the country. These DPMS maps have proved to be very popular with the administrators. The 2,000 copies of Birbhum DPMS map have already been exhausted. We would be reprinting it soon. In fact these maps have given a new lease of life to NATMO.

(b) Development of Data Base: The Case of Sikkim

The Department of Science & Technology plays a vital role in the development of the state of Sikkim. In fact it is likely to become a nodal agency for all the S&T inputs in the state, regional and district plans. It is also responsible for remote sensing activities and formulation of S&T related research activities. Hence, a spatial database is likely to make an overall impact in state S&T activities.

The database is likely to include information on the following aspects that are very vital for development activities:

1. Land use
2. Population
3. Water, Drainage Basins
4. Energy
5. Environmental Hazards: Landslides, droughts, diseases
6. Soils
7. Livestock
8. Establishments: Schools, Health Centres, Community Centres, rural industrial centres and the like.

The database should be useful for following activities:

1. Resource scenario
2. Socio-economic interactive patterns
3. Current and optimum land use
4. Water and energy use
5. Micro watersheds and micro-level planning
6. Control and monitoring of wastelands
7. Decision support system

In addition to above, there can be several exercises for model building based on the data collected for this project. Due to the proposed database, the planning and development exercise would be more sound. The inter-sectoral linkages would be possible for an all round development strategy. It will provide useful information for environmental impact studies, sustainable development and management of natural resources.

The likely user agencies are the state planning authorities, the district planning authorities and agencies involved in regional, aerial and socio-economic development. Such agencies will be involved from the initial stage, i.e. from data collection. They will become familiar with the proceedings and thus can make gainful use of the information system. The system will thus become self-sustaining.

(c) Block Maps:

There are over 5,500 development blocks in the country. We found that there is a demand for block maps that should be able to replace the old cadastral maps at 1”: 1 mile scale and include latest information, which are required for planning and development. In a way a continuity of the old cadastral maps is required as the administrators are used to such maps showing details with current priorities in administration. Hence, the current information is to be included within the conventional cadastral maps. Remote sensing data (Panchromatic 5.8 million resolution) from the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite has been considered. Multi-coloured maps were not the priority.

The Government of West Bengal, Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayats approached NATMO to prepare such maps. After having a long discussion with the relevant authorities of this Ministry, it was decided to show the following details:

* Boundaries: District, block, panchayat, mauza.
* Roads: Highways, metalled, others.
* Rivers, canals and water bodies
* Railways, power lines.
* Mauza names

(d) Bankura: Block Profiles

Bankura district is important as it is considered as a test site for development and planning initiatives by several government agencies. The Natural Resources Data Management System (NRDMS) of the Department of Science & Technology has an important project concerning this district. In fact DST has sponsored a NRDMS Centre in Bankura town in collaboration with the Government of West Bengal. NRDMS projects are aimed at developing and demonstrating spatial data management technologies in order to facilitate operationalization of the concept of decentralised planning. Under this project, data on natural resources in the form of thematic maps at the scale of 1:50,000 and collateral information on social and agro-economic parameters at the village level are collated.

The development of Block Profiles has an additional objective in comparison to other activities or projects under the NRDMS. Nevertheless, data used for preparing the profile has been from NRDMS projects. One of the objectives was to have a general purpose map which the administrators and planners in the district would like to keep in the relevant files for immediate reference or under their glass tops for a quick glance. The additional objective is to prepare a sample map, also popularly known as 'Poster Map’, for other development blocks of the country. In a way, this map is supposed to serve users of spatial data in non-computerised environment.

The purpose of this map is also to make best use of the printing space available by including maps, inset maps, diagrams, tables and write-ups so that the reader can get the total picture of the concerned block. In this particular map the following details have been shown:

(A) Main Map at 1:50,000 scale showing:

Boundaries: district, blocks, gram panchayats and Mauzas.
Administrative Place names: district, block, gram panchayat
Roads: metalled, unmetalled, cart track, railways, power line.
River: perennial, non-perennial, tank
Settlement, Arable Land, Plantation, Forest, Scrub,
Barren Land, Stony Waste, Fallow Land, Gully/Ravines
Post office, Bank, Hat/Market
Educational Institution, Health Centre, Veterinary Dispensary

(B) Inset Maps : Location, Physiography, Slope, Soil, Hydrology, Density of Population, Occupational Structure.

(C) Inset Diagrams: Livestock, Production of Crops, Variation of Population Density

(D) Tables: Change of Population, Development Indicators

(E) Write-up

Perhaps more information could have been included. But keeping in view the readability of the map, information of lesser significance has been omitted. The basic source of information is Village Level Development Indicator, 1993-4, Bankura and the Census 1991. Information has also been collected from the printed maps of NATMO, National Bureau of Soil Science and Land Use Planning (ICAR) and the Central Ground Water Board. Similar maps are being prepared for Kolar district, Karnataka.

CONCLUSION

From the above case studies, we get some idea about the use or application of maps in administration and development. A general awareness about the requirement of maps in running the administration does exist. There is significant deviation from the old maps regarding the contents, however the basic features are still considered to be important. Further, there is demand for maps in digital form though every administrator may not fully understand the implications. It is considered important that all cartographic activity should some how be linked with GIS. The objective of the maps is not necessarily for administration per se, but also for planning and development. Digital maps are also considered an important tool for record and generation of revenue. Organisation of cartographic data is being considered as a part of greater activity for administration, policy making and decision support system.

It has been noticed that the maps prepared based on the specifications given by the administration are appreciated. The government or municipalities are willing to fund such expensive projects. Further, due to digital facilities, cartography has come closer to administration. But still there is a scope for better co-operation. Administrators are not always comfortable with maps. Perhaps they consider it one of the last options.

REFERENCES

Arora, Ramesh K. (Ed) (1979) Perspectives in Administrative Theory, Associated Publishers, New Delhi.

Chattopadhyay, S. et. el. (1966) “Micro/Village level Resources Survey with People’s Participation for Sustainable development”, in R. B. Singh (Ed) Research in Geography: Land Use Changes and Sustainable Development, Volume I, A.P.H. Publishing Corporation, New Delhi, pp. 47-77

Harvey, David (1979) Explanation in Geography, Edward Arnold, London, pp.369-76

Jain R.B. & P.N. Chaudhuri (1982) Bureaucratic Values in Development, Uppal Publishing House, New Delhi.

Nag, P. (Ed) (1984) Census Mapping Survey, Concept Publishing Company for the IGU Commission on Population Geography, New Delhi.

Nag, P. (1992) “Role of NATMO in promoting Indian Geography” in R.L. Singh & Rana P.B. Singh (Eds.) The Roots of Indian Geography Search and Research (Homage to S.P. Chatterjee), National Geographical Society of India, Publication No.39, pp. 293-300

Shendge, Malati J. (1982) “Myth and governance in early India”, The Indian Journal of Public Administration, Vol. XXVIII, No.4, pp 863-92

Sukhwal, B.L. (1971) Modern Political Geography of India, Sterling, New Delhi



NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE (NGDI)

R Siva Kumar
Survey of India, Dehradun


ABSTRACT

Maps are older than alphabets, so it is reasonable to hypothesise that Geographical Information Systems (GIS) will play a big role in future of our using digital information systems. Through GIS, everything looks like overlay of thematic maps that can be combined to provide new thematic maps. This technology instils a mental habit of analysing spatially, temporally, visually, above the fray, non-linearly, aware of boundaries but unconstrained by them, and aware of the overlaid human and natural elements of the planet. It is a kind of analysis that synthesises and integrates rather than divides, and thus may influence our values in a direction which is more in line with needs for an integration amongst diversification, a unique phenomenon in India.

Survey of India (SOI) has been fulfilling the needs of geospatial information conventionally in the form of maps. Though efforts have been made to convert the paper maps into digital data, no initiatives have been taken in creating a National Geospatial Data Infrastructure (NGDI). During the past decade the user community in India has become very aggressive and demanding for structured data for various applications. The user community, both government and NGOs, have realised the need for this data and its availability in a streamlined form.

This scenario resulted in mushrooming growth of private firms carrying out activities related to surveying, mapping and digital data generation. The have also churned out large volumes of data of poorer quality, resolution and doubtful data integrity. Decisions based on incorrect data can at times lead to disastrous consequences thus resulting in increase in costs of projects.

Thus there is an urgent need to take the initiatives to create NGDI. To start with, in our case, we need to bring together data producers, data users, software vendors, central/state Govt departments and NGOs. This forum should come out with a vision statement for the next quarter century and set the goals to be achieved. A permanent arrangement of a Governing Board for NGDI has to be created by an act of Parliament. Although the concepts of National Geospatial Data Infrastructure have been around (in Canada for example) since the early 1980’s, the Executive Order of President Clinton (1994) focussed international attention on its significance as a necessary condition for social and economic development.

Typically the initial focus was on the ideas about a National Information Infrastructure made possible by the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) of the “Information Highway”, finding its realisation in the public Internet, which had an immediate public appeal. The reactions of governments around the World to this context for NGDI were the development and imposition of a variety of standards that would facilitate access to, responsible use of geospatial information at affordable costs. In most cases these overlooked the realities of the ICT environment which in itself is decentralising and customising in character. As a consequence, numerous GIS applications got underway at all levels without any thought being given to standardisation to gain the economic advantages of sharing instead of developing data and making provision for this in the system design and data models.

Over the past few decades the computer has made geospatial information about the natural world and its inhabitants much more useful to Government, business and communities for making critical decisions. Once confined to paper, geographic information is increasingly migrating to digital form. Geographical information systems (GIS) allow users to integrate, analyse and manage information abut locatins in ways never before possible. Improvement in software, increase in storage capacity and plummeting hardware costs have brought geographical information systems and associated technologies on desk tops everywhere. Government organisations should use GIS as tool to coordinate disaster relief, manage land and understand and solve environmental and social issues.

Why do we need geospatial data?

Government agencies and other organisations are frequently asked for quick response to natural disasters, industrial accidents and environmental crises. Much of the information needed to make sound decision in such cases is based on geography. There is a constant pressure to make these decisions faster and more wiser at lower cost. Accurate and current geospatial data is critical to these decisions. Absence of data can at times lead to disastrous consequences, one example in the recent memory is that of cyclone in Orissa in 1999.

How geospatial data is managed?

GIS that facilitate spatial analysis play an increasing role in decision making at all levels of government and private industry. GIS analyses, in turn, depend on the availability, quality and compatibility of digital geographic data. Development of this data is normally the highest cost factor in the use of the technology to redress today’s problem. Substantial amounts are invested annually in producing geospatial data. Many of these data collection activities are redundant. Data already exists, but it is hard to find frequently undocumented and in incompatible formats. Thus there is a need to have a reliable means to share geospatial data amongst all users which could result in significant savings for data collection, enhanced use of data and better decision making.

What is to be done?

One major issue, which needs immediate attention in our country, is devising the strategy for NGDI and establishment of Central Geospatial Data Council (CGDC). The importance of this activity can be gauged from the Executive Order dated 13 April 1994, issued by the President of USA. The NGDI is seen as the technology, policies and people necessary to promote geospatial data sharing through out all levels of government, the private non profit sectors and academia. Infrastructure in this context means as under.
 

* an underlying base or supporting structure.
 

* the basic facilities equipment services and installations needed for growth and functioning of a country, community or organisation.
 

* A Governmental or administrative apparatus.

The NGDI will provide a base or structure of relationships among the data producers and users that will facilitate data sharing. The increased ability to share data through common standards and networks will, in turn, serve as a stimulus for growth.


Making NGDI a reality


CGDC has to be constituted speedily by an act of parliament to coordinate geospatial data activities. In order to make NGDI a reality, there are three major activities which are listed here under:-

* Establishment of National Geospatial Data Bank (NGDB) which is a distributed electronic network of data producers with a gateway to internet. through NGDI node.
* Development of standards for data documentation, collection and exchange so that data can be shared across state and local boundaries on many different hardware platforms and with many different software programmes.
* Development of procedures and partnerships to create a National Digital Geospatial Data framework that will include important basis categories of data significant to a broad variety of users.


Geo-Spatial Data assumes significance in almost all aspects of the human development such as urbanisation, transportation, communication, governance, business, agriculture, natural resources, disaster management, environment etc. There are several agencies in the country acquiring geo-spatial data on different formats for various applications. A need has been felt to draw up a vision for geo-spatial data infrastructure to clearly bring out the policy framework, the mapping requirements, action plan/strategic plans and R&D requirements at the national level.

TASK FORCE

The task force constituted by DST in November 2000 with Surveyor General of India as Chairman met a number of times and brought out strategy & action plan document which is discussed in various fora including an International Workshop conducted in Feb 2001, professional institutions and Government Departments besides the public at large through internet. The task force constituted working groups for various activities such as standards, metadata etc., The task force has decided to call it National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) after deliberating over it for a long tome. The NSDI will have an apex body, CGDC consisting of Secretaries of major ministries/departments as members and Minister for S & T as Chairman. There will be an NSDI Executive Committee (NSDIEC) with heads of departments of data providers as members. NSDI will be serviced by a Secretariat with permanent staff drawn from various departments of Government of India.

The task force held 11 meetings in the past one year and constituted 4 working groups to recommend metadata, data standards, web sites/CD/Logo and community strategy. It is hoped that by the end of the year NSDI is in place and a few nodes start functioning. To start with SOI, NATMO, GSI and ISRO should be able to demonstrate the NSDI by the turn of the year. Sample data is being evaluated by these departments.


VISION:


Foundation Data for NSDI

1. Topographic data from Survey of India (SOI)
2. Geological maps of the Geological Survey of India (GSI)
3. National coverage of soil maps of the National Bureau of Soil Survey and Landuse Planning (NBSSLUP)
4. National coverage of forest maps of Forest Survey of India (FSI)
5. National coverage of the hydrology maps of the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)
6. National coverage of landuse maps; wasteland maps; urban maps; groundwater and other thematic maps of National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA); Command area maps of Central Water Commission (CWC) National coverage of coastal landuse maps of Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEnF)
7. Census maps and census data of the Census Department
8. NATMOs national atlases, District Planning Maps
9. National coverage of Satellite images on 5.8m/23m/188m resolution
10. National (Natural) Resources Information System (NRIS)
11. NRDMS of DST

Anticipated benefits of NSDI
* Synergy of information, technology and access.
* Expanding information inter-dependence.
* Increasing emphasis on sustainibility.
* Emergence of community based governance.
* Meeting user aspirations for geospatial data
* Capacity building in the use of geospatial data for decison making
* Empowerment
* Good governance
Decentralised approach

The NSDI would aim to have a de-centralised approach to:

1. develop and maintain Standard digital collections of spatial information
2. develop common solutions for discovery, access, and use of spatial information in response to the needs of diverse user groups
3. build relationships among organizations to support the continuing development of the NSII
4. increase the awareness and understanding of the vision, concepts, and benefits of the NSII

ELEMENTS OF NSDI:

NSDI Standard – defined and agreed to national agencies and defining content and schemas, design and process, network protocols, exchange and transfer. Standards are the crux of the NSDI and would be of relevance to database standardisation - formats, exchange and interoperability; Networks-gateways and protocols; communication equipment, software standards, etc. Standards enable applications and technology to work together. Tools, applications, and data affect each other, and processes for developing standards must consider these interactions.

NSDI Metadata. The NSDI Metadata would get evolved from the NSDI Standard and as digital spatial information is populated. As a part of NSDI, one of the critical steps would be the development of a metadata standard and development metadata files.

NSDI Nodes and GIS servers of the actual spatial information – in conformity of the NSDI Standard. The NSDI Nodes would be mainly GIS based spatial databases and development oriented information systems servers - all integrated and linked to basic spatial/geographic units. The value of NSDI would be to aid as a decision-making tool and more in the context of assisting planning for developmental activities.

NSDI Search and Access Protocols which would enable search and location of spatial information. The protocols would provide the gateway for users to access NSDI. The basic issue in the operation of the NSDI is the backbone on which the information travels from one point to another. The backbone carrier will be high-speed carrier capable of providing bandwidth on demand to intermediate levels of the NSDI and to users of the NSDI.

NSDII User Interface that would be the front-end interface for user queries and access of spatial information. With regard to design of NSDI much depends upon the level of penetration and upper-end level of applications and services available on it. For a completely ubiquitous NSDI, the penetration will have to reach public domain and the capabilities will include online access of information applications.

NSDI Communication strategy a programme to outreach and create awareness so as to increase the public and professional use of NSDI services and encourage e-governance concepts.

ORGANISATIONAL FRAMEWORK

* An executive order after the resolution of government
* NSDI act to be introduced in the winter session

The act envisages a three tier structure with an Apex body, National Geospatial Data Council (NGDC), an executive committee of NSDI (ECNSDI) and a secretariat with permanent staff (NSDI Secretariat). All data provider ministries/departments will be represented in the NGDC at the level of Secretary and chaired by Minister for S & T. Surveyor General of India will be the member secretary of NGDC. ECNSDI will have all the heads of data providing departments and will be chaired by Surveyor General of India. The Executive Director(ED) of the secretariat will be the member secretary of the ECNSDI. The staff for the secretariat including ED will be drawn from various departments in deputation.


FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Most of the departments have commenced converting the analogue data into digital form. They need to be equipped with a server and the nodes. The departments should include this activity in the proposals for 10th plan, if not done already. DST will take care of the expenditure involved in running the secretariat. NSDI will ultimately adopt the modern cost recovery mechanisms so that budgetary support will become minimal.

CONSENSUS

Most of the ministries /departments have favourably responded to the request of Secretary DST in endorsing the concept of NSDI as well as the draft legislation. Comments received from the government departments and views expressed by professionals have been incorporated.