| Policy | |
India’s National Map Policy: HOPE vs HYPE
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There is an urgent requirement of largescale maps
There are few directional changes that the proposed map policy must undertake in its initial take off/rampup period. Some of the lessons learnt in other countries are in front of us. As Kampsax India is associated with the Positional Accuracy Improvement (PAI) Program of Great Britain I would like to touch upon some of the available highlights in public domain as a back drop to the directional changes referred above. The PAI program is aimed to improve absolute accuracy of existing maps (including rural areas) to the level of about 1 meter (RMSE). Most of the existing maps were based on overhaul mapping from 1950s and subsequent 1996 update. It was also aimed to sell web enabled digital map to all users across the nation via Internet. Ordnance Survey that had continued making losses for 35 years, were converted into Trading Fund in 1999 with target of 9% return on Capital employed in 5 years. The target was achieved in 2004 as the PAI program started with 7 consultations (1997-2000). The major directional change at that point was recognition of the fact that greater use of GPS was essential to survey assets. The PAI Program started in April 2001 and is due for completion in early 2006. The sale of maps was started by Ordnance Survey via their website and through identifi ed stockists in all major cities. In FY 02-03 a turnover of Rs 851 crores was achieved with a loss of Rs 3 crores which turned into profit in FY 03-04 to the level of Rs 72 crores against a turnover of Rs 913 crores; the surplus contributing to meeting target of 9% 5-year Return on Capital Employed , set by treasury when Ordnance Survey became a Trading Fund in 1999. In the Indian context and at this historical moment, Survey of India need to take the leadership role as a national agency who shall be the custodian of one single map (mosaic) of the entire country that shall provide uniform accuracy of atleast 1 meter for the entire nation. That such a map shall be updated periodically atleast every 5 years. For urban areas, local civic agencies or even Survey of India may undertake large scale mapping which shall provide accuracy levels in the range of 5-10 cm. Such a step would lead to 5-year mapping program covering 6 lakh Sq-km of mapping every year that shall require doubling of existing strength of Survey of India from present 4000 to 8000 level (mainly to undertake quality control activities), involvement of industry to undertake matching production deploying 40,000 production staff for a period of 5 years and investment of about Rs. 2000 crores. Needless to say required funds would be available from International lending agencies such as DANIDA, ADB, World Bank etc. or alternatively from Central Government. In case Government does not have the funds for such an important activity, the private sector would be more than willing to undertake this financing once request is made public. Coming to some of the specific issues relating to the proposed map policy it may be pointed out that (1) For value addition to the SOI digital maps, the essential inputs are Aerial Photographs. This has not been dealt with in the proposed policy. Without the availability of aerial photographs to the private mapping companies and users, the new map policy will not achieve the desired target. (2) Map policy should make it mandatory for all civic authorities, planning bodies, custodian of cadastral maps and other users of public money to use this one single map as a means of reducing conflicts while digging the roads or by judiciary while deciding the Title of Land to the Poor. (3) From the List of Map Features given in the Annexure to the New map Policy, it appears that the new policy basically deals with smallscale maps like 1:25,000 / 1:50,000 / 1:250,000. These small scales will not serve the purpose of most of the users of geo-spatial data both in Government, Industry and public. (4) There is an urgent requirement of making the maps of the entire country available at scale as large as 1:2,500 providing uniform 1- meter accuracy across the nation. For mapping on this scale, the list of features should include atleast 1000 features of interest, 78 of which are listed in Annexure – 1 to this note as a starting point. (5) From the New Map Policy, it appears that the Open Series Maps produced by SOI will remain tile-based as before. The World is moving toward ‘Seamless Data’ or one single mosaic of the entire nation. This concept should be incorporated in the new policy as a starting point. Recommendation of features for inclusion in open series public domain (large scale) maps Let’s give spatial applications a new life
The map policy is truly a positive step as it corrects a long time anomaly in the existing laws. With this forward looking document, the spatially enabled services in our country will get a big boost benefi ting the common man and also enhancing efficiency across industry segments through various high-end applications. I feel that there is still scope for improvement; by restricting the availability of the data through specific channels and seeking that each copy be tracked and recorded we are increasing bureaucracy and burdening the industry. While it is understood that the restrictions appear beneficial as per national interests, it should be kept in mind that people who buy data with ill intentions are not likely to purchase it from the Indian market. The global market has many other sources which they will utilise and then misuse the data. Even the Google Earth images show entire Delhi and specifically Rashtrapati Bhavan etc with great precision. The city of Mumbai, which is completely “restricted” as per SOI guidelines, is also clearly visible. We need to ask ourselves what we are achieving by a restrictive policy? Let’s give GIS and Spatial applications a new life by further improving the policy, make map making and mapping a noncumbersome effort so that good quality databases come into the market and those can be used for even life saving applications like flood mapping simulation etc to avoid the kind of calamities that recently happened in Mumbai.” |
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