SURVEY OF INDIA (SoI)

Related Topics: Science & Technology, Digitisation of Land Titles

News

• India’s oldest scientific department, the Survey of India (SoI) — historically tasked with mapping the country — will for the first time rely on drones to map the country.
• The aim is to map 75% of India’s geography— about 2.4 million sq km of the 3.2 million sq km — within the next two years.

High Resolution Maps

• Currently the best SoI maps have a resolution of 1:2500, meaning a 1 cm on the map represent 2500 cm on the ground.
• The maps being prepared, according to senior officials associated with the project will be of 1:500 resolution, meaning 1 cm will represent 500 cm.

Use of Drones

• The organisation aims to procure about 300 drones — so far about 30 have been sourced — for the gargantuan exercise.
• However forests, hills and deserts are likely to be left out.
• As a prelude, the SoI, which is affliated to the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has signed agreements with 6 districts in Haryana, 2 in Karnataka and 2 in Maharashtra to undertake such drone-based mapping exercises.

Significance

• A major consequence of the drone-based exercise will be the mapping of settled habitations in villages (called abaadi areas in legal parlance).
• Mapping will create high resolution maps of land in villages facilitating the digitisation of land titles in villages.
• Based on the availability of accurate maps, residents will finally be able to get property cards as well as proper legal titles to their lands.

About Survey of India

• It is the National Survey and Mapping Organization of the country under the Department of Science & Technology
• It is the oldest scientific department of the Govt. of India.
• It was set up in 1767 and has evolved rich traditions over the years.
• It bears a special responsibility to ensure that the country’s domain is explored and mapped
• It provides base maps for expeditious and integrated development.
• It ensures that all resources contribute with their full measure to the progress, prosperity and security of the country now and for generations to come.
• It is headquartered in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

[Source: The Hindu, ddnews.gov]