GIS@development February 2002; Maponomics: Map products and their Commercialisation

The mapping technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Remote Sensing allow synergism of map data and tabular data in the most efficient manner. Commercial availability of databases has also provided a new dimension in information processing and decision making. The integration of information derived from map data with remote sensing and other databases, both in spatial and non-spatial formats, provides tremendous potential for characterisation and analysis of earth natural resources. This understanding is the basis on which planning and development for sustainable growth is oriented.

The Department of Science & Technology, under its wings, has two major mapping organisations which are carrying out excellent work in the domain of map making and dissemination of spatial information. Survey of India (SOI), which is the premier mapping organisation of the country enjoys the unique distinction of producing topographical maps for the entire land mass of the country on 1:250,000 and 1:50,000 scale and it has also generated 1:25,000 scale maps for about 50% of the land coverage to meet the spatial planning requirement at micro level. These maps, being rich in geo-spatial data contents, are being utilised extensively by most of the organisations involved in planning process of the country. National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation (NATMO) is another premier organisation actively engaged in preparation of the maps and atlases. The charter functions of this organisation include compilation of National Atlas of India, preparation of Atlas maps in regional languages, preparation of thematic maps based on research studies on environment aspects and their impact on social and economic development and geographical research etc.

In the recent past, the Department of Science & Technology has taken initiatives regarding various aspects related to commercialisation possibilities including cost studies of map products. The paper will focus on a few aspects of commercialisation and the economics of map.

Fig. 1: Trends in Mapping Requirements for National Highway Survey during 1970-71 to 2000-2001

A substantial investments over the years have been made by Government of India in the field of information technology and cartographic activities. With the change in the economic scenario of the country in the recent past, it has become essential to find out ways and means to reduce financial burden, increase quality and quantity of map products by making use of digital techniques, outsourcing of certain sectors of cartographic activities.

Global Scenario
Commercialisation of cartographic data and services can be done by private sector such as by property managers, asset managers and traffic managers. The national building data sets that can be derived from the survey maps are also available for commercial use. In case of United Kingdom (UK), the Ordnance Survey (OS) also identifies partners or companies and gives licensee for 3-5 years based on credit record. They are allowed to disseminate data at an agreed cost and by protecting intellectual property rights. University groups also have similar arrangements with the OS. It has introduced “partnership concept”. It has given degree of freedom but not independence from the government. It is a new model where the revenue can be retained with the OS as in the case of industry. It has stopped uneconomic mapping activities and allowed industry to work with the OS.

Fig. 2: Trends in Mapping Requirements for Railways during 1950-51 to 2000-2001

Canada has an excellent relationship with carto-graphic industry. They jointly take jobs within the country and abroad, even in the United States (US). There is a confederation of such industries. The US has decided to outsource its jobs to the extent of 80 percent by 2007.

In the US, the business in the year 2001 in the private sector for extending cartographic services and products has been about 20 million US $. This is due to the fact that 40-50 percent of the mapping work is contracted outside. Some year it is even more. The quality of the out-sourced work is generally good and cheaper. However, header and sample check are carried out by the Survey. There are Canadian firms engaged in such jobs, including aerial photography. However Management Association of Photogrammetric and Surveying does exist. Manpower is also hired from the market for on-site jobs.

In most of the countries, there is less concern about copyright and profit sharing as the cartographic activities are considered to be services out of tax payers money. However, in the UK the situation has been different, particularly after the introduction of Agency Concept. Nevertheless, the OS encourages users and industry to gain maximum benefit from their products. For reproduction maps of the areas or use of data (including digital data) in variety of ways, licenses are required. Accordingly, OS offers a variety of range of straightforward, standard copyright licenses to meet the needs of business, the professionals and other users. In case these licenses do not meet a particular situation, OS tries to find suitable and fair licensing arrangements that can be applied. Further, OS also encourages to use their maps in innovative ways and are keen to promote their use in the new technological scenario.

Fig. 3: Trends in Mapping Requirements for Foreign Tourist during 1971 to 2001

Land Information and Land Markets
In a changing world, the government departments including National Mapping Agencies (NMAs) like private sector organisations, require business flexibility and the ability to react rapidly to change. Within the land information sector political changes have lead to the demand for increasing cost recovery, efficiency saving and customer focus which require streamlined structures and service expansion. There is a necessity to develop knowledge and skills to advise on the commercial exploitation of the considerable investment in land information and cadastral mapping.

It is felt that the key factors which shape and influence the market for geographic information can develop effective country specific strategies for meeting and stimulating the demand for data in order to increase the financial returns on the investments. In case of the UK, OS extends services for a wide range of mapping and geospatial information both in digital and graphic form at varied scales. It has identified 21 types of business user and four categories of consumers. Other related activities are market analysis and segmentation, product management, product and service distribution, intellectual property rights and institutional changes. The key issues in access to land information and land market are:

Who are the likely providers and users of land information and is land information widely available ?
What are the current uses of land information ?
Who are the potential users of land information ?
What are the benefits and costs of using land information?

In order to develop a national land information service, a number of institutional issues are to be considered. Some of them are organisational structure, communication, product development, policy and strategy formulation and the role of the private sector; as well as the technical issues including standards, data specifications, creation and maintenance of core data sets, infrastructure and system options. There are intellectual property issues also involved. It concerns the management of ownership of land information and includes copyright, licensing trade marks, patents, registered and unregistered designs. All the NMAs have some window for taking up projects, consultancies, services and products in other countries. ITC Netherlands is well known for such services. Canada takes up cartographic jobs in other countries, including the US. IGN France does jobs for the OS. On the other hand, the US helps different countries in this regard. In case of OS, since 1946 through their international operations has worked in more than 60 countries worldwide, mapping over six million sq. km. The operations are in the following fields: (a) Digital mapping (b) Data capture, maintenance and revision (c) Aerial photography (d) Contract management (e) Cadastral surveys (f) Institutional strengthening (g) Global positioning system and (f) International library - map production, revision and reproduction. Skills are also available in extremely specialised fields such as audit, business analysis, change management, communication networks, contract management, database management, data products, environmental studies, geospatial database, geodesy, GIS, human resource management, intellectual property, IT, land reform, land survey, management training, marketing, product development, project management, quality assurance, strategic planning and system analysis.

Fig. 4: Trends in Mapping Requirements for Towns and Cities during 1951 to 2001

Cartographic Products of Two Major Mapping Organisations in India
The products of two major organisations i.e. SOI and NATMO are either in hard copy map form or digital form. Since the policy regarding digital map production and its dissemination is yet to be finalised, the digital products are limited and are mostly for official use. Details of major products of SOI and NATMO are mentioned in Table 1.

Table 1: Major Products of SOI and NATMO

Organisation	Products	Remarks
Survey of India	a) Topographical maps on 1:250,000, 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 scale b) General wall maps c) State maps on 1:1 million scale d) Plastic Relief maps, e) Tourist maps on 1:50,000 scale, f) Guide maps on 1:20,000 scale, g) Trekking maps on 1:250,000 scale, h) World Aeronautical Charts and International maps of the World, i) Outline maps j) Antique map series, k) Discover India series, l) State map series, m) District Planning maps series, n) Aerial photography and o) Miscellaneous/ special maps	The maps are sold from Map Sale Offices located all over the country. It has a sale counter at Janpath, New Delhi. Besides, there are recognised sale agents for selling products. Map sale counter are also arranged at various national and international conferences for sale of products.
National Atlas &Thematic Mapping Organisation	a) National Atlas Sheets at 1:12,000,000, 1:6,000,000,1:2,000,000 and1:1,000,000 b) District Planning Map Series c) Thematic Atlases: Agriculture, Forest, Irrigation, Water Resource Development, Land Resources, Students' Reference, National School and Socio-economic, etc. d) Land Use maps for districts and blocks e) Landform maps for districts and blocks f) Special Map Seriesg) Monographs	Publications are being sold from NATMO head quarters n Salt Lake, Kolkata. Recently, NATMO Sale Counter has also been opened in DST, New Delhi. Sale of products through participation in exhibitions and seminars is also done.

Possible Commercialisation
It may be gathered from the international scenario, as well as from the current activities of the mapping institutions that commercialisation is possible in the following ways:

Taking up projects in the respective field of specialisation
For the mapping organisations, it is possible to take up jobs in different fields of cartography. NATMO is already preparing maps and atlases for government institutions and industries, such as for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Ministry of Rural Development and Panchyat (Government of West Bengal), West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation, DK Publication, MacMillan and the like. Survey of India also takes up large scale mapping projects for constructions of dams, canals and roads etc.

Out-sourcing of a part of the activities
Due to the fast changing technological scenario and scarcity of required manpower, it is felt economical to get a part of the work done outside. This will reduce burden in the government departments and projects can be completed in time. Printing is one field where out-sourcing is possible. Indian industry or private sector is well developed in this area and advantage must be taken of such potentiality. Other areas for outsourcing could be Surveying, data collection, Aerial photography, Digitisation, Research and Development, use of new technologies like ALTM (Airborne Laser Terrain Mapping (ALTM), selling of popular maps, and development of knowledge-based data banks etc.

Joining hands with industries and universities
In foreign countries, the cartographic institutions join hand with the industries for profit generation. In fact industries become their front organisation and sales outlets. Survey of India does have such outlets. However in case of NATMO, the process is under way. In some countries, particularly Canada and Japan, the government cartographic institutions become front organisations for getting or bargaining large projects internationally. The projects are then sub-divided into smaller jobs and passed on to the industries. A sort of back arrangements is made which benefits the government and the industry as well. On the other hand, when there is a potentiality in the government due to long term investments, the industry also gets a part of the job done by the government. These projects in an Indian situation can be applicable for aerial photography, control surveying and preparation of correct maps of thematic nature. Software development is another sector where the government and the industry can co-operate. India has a lot of potentials in this area.

Tie ups with institutions abroad is another possibility, such as with the Royal Geographical society, London for bringing out publications jointly. For the forthcoming Bicentenary celebrations of the Great Trigonometrical Surveys, such publications can be brought out. Another activity can be “Finding Roots” of Europeans and even Indian settled abroad.

Services
Over the years, mapping institutions have developed expertise and infrastructure in several fields which can be shared with other institutions. Some of the possible areas could be:

Training in conventional and digital mapping
Consultancy
Guidance for preparing maps and develop expertise
Vetting
Providing consultancy in all projects for data creation, management and decision support.

Commercial Potential
There are very good factors both in government and industry, which may be treated as their strengths and each other should share these for betterment in nation building. Similarly there are certain weak points also, especially in government sector. These unwanted weaknesses in government sector need to be removed with mutual confidence and co-operation. But, the Government of India and the state union territory governments have voluminous jobs in cartography or mapping in all areas of development and management, and are not in a position to do the same.

Similarly management of land and land records has unlimited work to be done. The jobs in the private sector or industry in cartography is not much. Self-generation of work within the industry is also less, but is now picking up momentum. On the other hand industry can take up larger volume of jobs. In the case of government, several types of jobs, such as linked with efficient tax administration are self-financing or financially more rewarding. There are companies who would like to step in if favourable conditions are provided. The trends in mapping requirements and supply in some of the major areas are given in figure 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Conclusion
It has become imperative for the survival and flourishing of mapping organisations that their products should be market viable. These products should be directly linked with economy and its changing facets. In this context, it is mentioned that effort and amount of resources involved in producing a map and the expenditure involved in the map making process can not be straightaway correlated to map economics. However, once a map is produced after undergoing various operations and its database is created then it is possible to use the database for producing other digital products as per users’ requirement without much efforts and expenditure. Hence, the results of a big investment on mapping organisations are visible only at a later stage and not at the beginning.

In the present scenario, the remote sensing and photogrammetric industries are going through a massive change. The era of 1-metre satellite imagery presents new and exciting opportunities with Space Imaging’s IKONOS and DOS’s high resolution imagery. With these technological advancement and new opportunities the map making and its updation process is likely to bring a revolutionary change.

All Figures Courtesy : Y S Rajan, (‘Todarmal Lecture’ delivered at XVIII INCA International Congress at Calcutta in December 1998).