GIS policy framework initiated

Karnataka government kick started a process of collecting expert opinions and
viewpoints to formulate a policy framework for Geographical Information System
(GIS). Ashok Kumar C Manoli, Principal Secretary, IT&BT, Government of
Karnataka, stated that everybody is realizing the potential for businesses in
the special infrastructure.

“GIS emerged as an important technology 20 years back and now it has matured
to become the language of the future. It can be effectively used in disaster
management, water resources management, agriculture, mining, urban planning and
has the capacity to improve profitability of all these sectors. When made
available countrywide, combined with proper software applications, GIS can help
governmentt planners, policy makers, and many businesses”, said Manoli.

Manoli and the panelists discussed on GIS on the third day at Bangalore
IT.biz to provide necessary inputs to formulate a policy. He said that the
deliberations will be refined with inputs from experts and eventually made into
a policy framework.

Moderating and initiating the panel discussion, Dr Mukund Rao, COO, NIIT GIS
Ltd, said, “The entire economy will benefit from GIS, if the development
happening in a fragmented way can be integrated and some businesses take it
forward.”

Lalitesh Katragadda, Central Head, Google Engineering, explained how Google
Map Marker is using GIS technologies to bring the whole terrain of this earth to
the benefit of six billion people. He said, “GIS can have a great impact on
Indian economy. Gujarat using GIS data to inform fishermen where they can find
dense catch in the sea is one of the many instances of direct benefits.”

M H Balakrishnaiah, Director, KSRSAC, gave many specific examples of direct
financial benefits to various departments and businesses from GIS. He said,
“There were only 5,000 tax payers in the Gurappanapalya ward of Bengaluru. When
GIS mapped people's locations and businesses, that were followed by pursuits
from tax people, the tax revenues from that area were improved multi-fold and
thousands of people came into tax net.”

Balakrishnaiah explained how his organization mapped brackish water areas in
Karnataka and Goa that are useful to aquaculture. He further added, “His
organization helped generating topography details for Karnataka Municipal
Reforms Project. The project for Hassan Municipality is completed and Karwar
mapping will be over very soon. Through services like this, he explained how his
organization earned like a business entity, though it is a government
organization.

K R Sridhara Murthi, MD, Antrix Corporation said, “World Bank funded Sujala
watershed development project, implemented in five districts of Karnataka, is a
very good example for the direct economic use of GIS.”

Highlighting other benefits of GIS Rajesh Mathur, President ESRI India, said,
“GIS data and its proper interpretation can be used to predict emerging patterns
in global warming, river course changes, etc. With this, measures can be taken
to minimize damage and better crop patterns can be planned. Even planning at
very local level is possible. For example, when Yamuna floods, which parts of
the Delhi will be affected can be predicted in advance. Or how best a BPO can
reduce their transport costs by knowing traffic jam areas at that moment.” All
this and more went on into the Bangalore IT.biz and steps seemed to be taking
shape to formulate some very useful GIS policies, which will prove very
beneficial for a developing economy like ours.