Implementation Details
User Needs Assessment
Based on the interaction with the various users and the available data the GIS system was likely to be used and data shared at various locations. These include - the Departments of BDA, Site office of BDA, NGOs involved in the project, other user agencies like BCC, KPTCL, BWSSB, Telecom, Police etc.
A system study was conducted to understand the requirements of the department and find out their functions. A specification report was created which was later used for the design of the GIS database.
Implementation of GIS
A detailed topographic survey was undertaken to prepare the map data for the study area. The features that were captured during the survey were Parcels, Roads, Storm water drains, Water bodies, railway lines, culverts, bunds, manhole, revenue boundary with subdivision number, village boundary etc. Further using walkthrough survey methodology the relative position of the above ground features like Telecommunication infrastructure namely pillar box, telephone poles, Electrical infrastructure like electric lines, electric poles, Electrical transformers, dust bins, roadside trees, public water taps etc were captured and marked on the base maps. These were later converted as GIS layers
The hardware setup was decided based on the data requirement of BDA department and state of the art hardware equipment was recommended and later procured and installed. Networking was done for sharing of data and accessing the Server. The GIS database is stored on a powerful Server and the Clients will access the data over a network. Leading GIS softwares were evaluated based on a benchmark test as per the requirements of the BDA department and finally shortlisted for procurement. Intergraph GeoMedia suite of GIS software was procured and installed.
A specification document for the GIS database as well as the GIS applications was prepared as per the requirements of the department. Based on this document the GIS database was developed and the Applications were created. An attribute data capture form was created and circulated among each department of BDA namely the Town planning, Engineering, Secretary Section, and Finance Section. They filled these formats from the records and these were converted to digital form. These were later attached to the map.
A series of training programmes were conducted for the benefit of the users. Firstly a basic computer awareness programme was conducted. This basically introduced the users to the computer fundamentals, Operating system, Word processing, Spreadsheets, Database management and hands on experience in using the computer. Further the some of the participants were earlier trained on the basic computing were trained on GIS.
GIS Database
The GIS database is having 47 different layers, like Parcels, Roads, Railway line, Water bodies, culvert, storm water drains, borewells, manholes, electrical poles, Telephone poles, Pillar boxes, Road sign boards dust bins, public water taps, Road side trees, public telephone booths etc to name a few. The GIS software that is being used to create, store and update the data is GeoMedia Professional version on the Server. The clients will be using the GeoMedia Client version software to access the data.
The map data input for creating the GIS database were received from the topographic survey group as CAD layers. The scale of the map is 1:1000. These were post- processed in the GIS software to build the topology and the appropriate spatial objects were created. To this map data the attribute data that were collected from each department using a data collection format were attached to form the GIS database.
The GIS data has been catgorised according to the each BDA department.
Engineering Department: This department handles the execution of site formation, laying and maintenance of roads and the infrastructures. They have parcel information storing the site status details, Roads information like width, segment length, type of road etc, CA-Sites (Civic Amenities sites) details, Culvert details, Land details showing the extent of land acquired and land formed, under litigation etc.
Secretary Section: This department handles the allotment of sites. The details that are stored in the GIS are about the allotment of the sites like the owner of the site, address, dimension, location, registration details etc.
Finance Section: This department handles the Finance related activities of BDA. The GIS data has information on the tax collection like the owner of the site, location, tax collected, tax arrears, balance etc.
Town planning section: This department handles the planning of the layout as per the guidelines. The data stored in the GIS gives the details about the sites planned, sites formed. The town planning department will also the Comprehensive Development Plan maps for layouts so that the landuse can be monitored.
Further the land acquisition department and the Legal department (which handles the litigation issues of BDA) will be using the GIS system for their day to day activities in future.
Under the IUEIP project one of the components is Solid Waste Management. The Resident Associations (NGOs) of the layouts will handle this Solid Waste Management activity. The GIS also has information about the houses participating in the door to door waste collection programme, information on the composting pits with photographs. Network module was used to find the optimum route for the waste collection and disposal. The GIS information will be used to monitor the solid waste management activity also.
The primary idea of the GIS created is to be shared between different departments of the Government like the municipal corporation, Water supply board, Telecom, Electricity board, Police, Transport Corporation etc.
Conclusion
An effort has been made into setting up the GIS for the Bangalore Development Authority. The usefulness of this has been demonstrated during the course of the implementation itself. Need for such system is very much required for a fasting growing city like Bangalore where monitoring, management and upkeep of the city have become a difficult task. It would help the decision-maker, if information system is capable of quickly retrieving information and provide with the relevant information at the right time.
Acknowledgments
I thank the Commissioner, BDA, Finance Member, Engineering Member, Secretary, Town Planning Member, Mr.Nair, IUEIP Project Coordinator, INEP Officials, EDP incharge, Staff at EDP, Chairman, TIDE, my colleagues at TIDE and many others who directly or indirectly supported for this project.
References
- Integrated Urban Environment Improvement Project for the Bangalore City, Detail Project Report submitted to NORAD, March, 1998, Prepared by Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Technology Informatics Design Endeavour (TIDE).
- Local Government GIS Development Guides,
Managers Overview, Needs Assessment, Conceptual Design of the GIS,
Prepared by Erie County Water Authority, National Centre for
Geographic Information and Analysis, SUNY at Buffalo, GIS Resource
Group Inc, June 1996.