What are the main activities of your Department?
Additional Directorate General Information Systems deals in both Management Information Systems as well as Operational Information Systems for the Indian Army. We are the nodal agency for development of Automated Battlefield Management Systems for the Army. We are also the nodal agency for executing all Information Technology Projects for the army as well as projects on Office Automation.

How important are Geospatial technologies in the activities of your department?
Since ancient times, Armies all over the world have been dependent on schematic representation of the terrain to carry out operations. With the advance in aerial & space based survey techniques, mapping, as related to armed forces has taken a new dimension. GIS is the base on which all modern Automated Battlefield Management systems function, integrated GPS provide real time information about the combat elements on digital maps. As regards remote sensing, the advancement in the field of Electro Optical as well as Synthetic Aperture Radars provides high resolution satellite imagery which forms the base for carrying out digital mapping. Hence, GIS, GPS and Remote Sensing are crucial to the development of Automated Battlefield Management Systems.

The Spatial data are critical for development projects but at the same time are considered to have security implications. How do you feel about the need to strike the balance between development needs and security concerns?
Data pertaining to sensitive installations will always have security implications. One way to overcome this issue could be by adopting a mapping projection systems like WGS 84 for civil use and have the existing system for the security forces. This will involve cost and time in survey and selection of new control points, but in the long run, application for purely development purposes will be able to exploit widely available GIS data. As regards GIS for the security forces and other government agencies dealing with sensitive information is concerned, the existing Everest projection system can continue. However, no amount of security authentication, encryption techniques and firewalls can ensure a secure redundant environment unless the nation embarks on development of indigenous GIS. One has to accept that the use of COTS products can only give us parity with the adversary and not superiority in terms of security.

In view of the availability of high resolution imageries, there is an opinion that the restriction on availability of spatial data is losing its meaning? What is your opinion about this?
High resolution imagery cannot undermine the importance of spatial data, which is collected and collated over a period. Spatial data provides that information which may not be visible and it is the analysis of both the imagery and the spatial data, which provides the correct picture. Hence, to say that restriction on spatial data has lost its significance would be incorrect. Spatial data of sensitive areas cannot be allowed to fall in wrong hands.

What are the key issues that need attention for the growth of Geomatics?
In my opinion, the growth of Geomatics in the country can be possible by pursuing the development of open standards along with creation of strong GIS database. This will only be possible with increased involvement and synergy by the industry, academia, government and private institutions. Development of indigenous GIS will be the correct step in this direction.

How do you look at the growth of geomatics science and community in India?
Unfortunately, the realisation of the relevance and importance of GIS has come very late in the country. However, in the recent years, we have tired to make up for the lost time and the things are now moving in the correct direction. With more and more users and applications coming up. It will not be long when the country has a larg GIS user base and i am certain, the need to meet the varied requirments of users will give the desired boost to the geo-matic science.