People with problems and people with expertise in geospatial technology could come together to address societal issues. The Government of India (GoI) has paved the way for this with an announcement made earlier this year. GoI has announced liberalised guidelines for geo-spatial data. Drafted by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) the guidelines bring sweeping changes to India’s mapping policy, specifically for Indian companies. It means that granular geospatial data and services, many of which were in the restricted zone, will be made available publicly.
As the government-led 'Smart City Mission' rolls out, satellite imagery could throw light on urban analytics. This includes buildings, farmlands, regional boundaries and land use planning. In all likelihood, these parameters could shed information on accessibility and live-ability. “Satellite imagery could give inputs on location intelligence, which includes the development of land over time...