Kapil Sibal unveils GIS Technology to Aid Realtime Monitoring of Delhi

The Ministry of Science & Technology in a pioneering endeavour is seeking to apply advanced technologies to realtime monitoring of diverse activities in Delhi. In the first phase, a pilot project is being monitored to integrate different state-of-the-art technologies that includes the use of high resolution satellite imagery and spatial multi-media mapping to build a 3D Geographical Information System (GIS) with live cameras for Zone 1 of Delhi covering approximately 20 Sq Km.

Addressing the Media following a demonstration of the pilot project in Chandni Chowk, Delhi,.Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Kapil Sibal said that technology is a tool for good governance and it is time to use this tool.

The use of satellite imagery and multi-media technologies allows mapping of urban structures with emphasis on building elevation. By supplementing the conventional satellite imagery with video, photographs and field surveys, the system can be used for a number of applications. The satellite imagery forms one of the essential components, which combined with spatial multi-media technologies, makes the system unique and usable for multiple applications. This pilot project is being monitored to evaluate the use of the advanced integrated technologies in the Indian context and to assess its use as a tool to help in management of a metropolis like Delhi.

In the project, multiple technologies such as high resolution satellite imagery, vehicle borne and static laser systems, Global Positioning System (GPS) and other attribute information collected from door-to-door surveys will be utilized for making a comprehensive 3-Dimentional database to enable the modern tools such as GIS to be utilized for various applications. It is expected to have immense potential in application areas such as:

- Visualisation of data in 3D

- Real time monitoring of illegal constructions

- Land encroachments

- Crowd management

- Traffic management

- Tax collection for properties

- Planning and development of the areas

- Utilities management such as Water, Power, Gas, Sewage etc.

- Disaster Management

- Environmental monitoring such as pollution control

- Surveillance

The project would also be useful in tracking unauthorized construction in the city as and when it happens. Since it would provide realtime monitoring, nobody would then be able to escape from it. Ignorance will be no excuse for evading responsibility. As senior officials would have instant knowledge of the developments in this regard and they would not be able to pass on the blame to junior officials for not bringing it to their notice. Hence it would create sense of accountability on their part.

Shri Sibal informed the media that Shri Sri Prakash Jaiswal, MOS(Home), Govt. of India, Smt. Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister, Govt. of NCT of Delhi, Dr.A.K.Walia, Minister for Finance, Planning, PWD & Urban Development, Govt. of NCT of Delhi and senior MCD officials were shown this presentation. They have appreciated this technology and have assured that this technology would be implemented all over Delhi and later to other metropolitan cities.

This technology would provide common platform to all the Ministries/Departments, which can use it for different purposes.

Various user agencies will be trained to use / constantly upgrade this system.

The learning and feedback from the pilot project will be utilized to fine-tune its use and applications & apply it to other parts of Delhi and also for use in other Metropolitan centres.

Source : Press Information Bureau
Date : October 31, 2006