“We have developed many customized Geoinformatics applications”

What are the applications of geo-information technology in rural development?

The major application of Geoinformatics in rural development sector primarily are natural resources development, watershed development, Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme asset monitoring, rural roads, drinking water & sanitation, rural health, agriculture, animal husbandry, minor irrigation, soil conservation, afforestation, disaster management, land records & revenue and a host of other related applications.

How have been the response of your training Programmes?

The response of our Training Programmes are very encouraging, We get overwhelming requests from State Governments, District Administration, Sectoral Departments, NGO Sector for training programmes every year

What are the main challenges in conducting training programmes?

The major challenges in conducting training programmes in this area are lack of computer infrastructure, converting the Training materials, Process Methodology and Manuals into Hindi and other regional languages and field personnel not getting sufficient days for hand holding practical sessions.

Have you developed any customized Geoinformatics application for rural development sector?

CGARD has developed many customized Geoinformatics applications, notable of which is appropriate identifi cation of watershed treatment structures using Geo Hydrology Model, developed Customised Estimation Software with local language interface on Watershed for 11 States viz. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Kerala and is in the process of developing Estimation Software for all States by the end of March 2013. GIS interface is also attempted for Estimation Software. Further a web based SDSS for convergence of Watershed and other RD Programmes is also being prepared. In agriculture sector, a knowledge data base, viz. Agro Climatic Planning & Information Bank (APIB) with 18 layers of data, plot wise have been developed for farmers advisory and fi eld functionaries for planning and monitoring, at 1:10,000 scale. An ICAR project on Farmers Advisory using Mobile is ready for implementation in Andhra Pradesh in KVKs of two districts, which is taken up in a Consortium mode with other Resource Organisations.

Does your Centre also undertake research activities?

Research is an integral part of CGARD Centre and currently engaged in research projects on Geoinformatics applications in Watershed, MGNREGS, Village Development, Agriculture, Soil survey, profi ling & mapping, Developing SDSS etc. We have also undertaken Watershed Impact assessment using Geoinformatics for selected watersheds in many States.

How do you take Geoinformatics Technology to local level applications?

CGARD is relentlessly evolving systems and processes for taking Geoinformatics Technology to local level with use of Open Source Software, local language interface, mobile based application, extensive hand holding at fi eld level, establishment of fi ve(5) CGARD Centres at Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Ralegaon Siddhi and Ahmedabad and developing Server based access to fi eld functionaries for Geoinformatics applications.

What will be your thrust areas in establishing the CGARD Centres in Africa and ICT Centre in Bangladesh?

The thrust areas in establishing the CGARD Centres in Africa and ICT Centre in Bangladesh are to reach out to the developing world, in sharing the innovative and best practices in Geo-ICT technology applications, creating manpower pool by developing their technical skill and knowledge level, familarisation of processes and methodologies, so that country specifi c Geo-ICT applications can be developed by these Centres.