Survey of India announces six states to have more detailed maps

Survey of India (SOI), the national survey and mapping organization of the country has announced that a total of six states in the country will soon have maps 100 times more detailed than existing ones. The project covers Haryana, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, and is expected to be complete by mid-year. In addition, SOI will also conclude the first part of its project to create high-resolution maps for nine states, by the end of the year, making it the first national cartographic update in 16 years.

Post Independence, India used a 1:63,000 scale for its official maps for a few years, before being tightened to 1:50,000 in 1958. Now, the scale will be further enhanced to 1:500, making it 100 times more detailed.

While so far, SOI has used Cartosat satellites and optical devices mounted on aircraft to capture data, the devices could only capture objects larger than 100m x 100m. Hence, SOI will now be using drone-based mapping and optical airborne high-resolution satellite imagery.

The last topographical survey of India was carried out in 2005, and the database is still used by all government agencies including the National Highways Authority of India, the Archaeological Survey of India, Census of India, mining, and defense. This makes the update all the more important as it will help address inter-state border disputes, flood forecasting, rural property rights, urban planning, public asset management, and commercial activities around natural formations like rivers, drains, mountains, or deserts

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/by-june-six-states-will-have-maps-100-times-more-detailed/articleshow/80680132.cms#:~:text=NEW%20DELHI%3A%20By%20mid%2Dyear,more%20detailed%20than%20existing%20ones.