Applications
Urgent Need to Assess the User Requirements
Prof. V. S. Ramamurthy
Secretary
Department of Science and Technology
Government of India, New Delhi
Tel: 91-011-6511439/6510068
Till recently, due to compulsions of national security all geographical data in digital form came under "restricted" category and was avialable to only government organisations. This seriously restricted the application of digital technology to real life problems of development. The government has recently relaxed some of the provisions. It is now possible for nine agencies of the government to digitise Survey of India unrestricted topographic maps on 1:50,000 scales and provide value added information specific to the field of application. SoI has already made a comprehensive plan for dissemination of digital data within the guidelines issued by the MOD.
However, I am aware that scientific user community and other user community is not satisfied by these provisions. There is an urgent need to assess the user requirements on a more rational and scientific basis so that efforts can be made to respond to these requirements by suitable policy formulations consistent with the sensitivity and defence provisions of the country. Demands for digital data is growing very fast and we need to devise ways by which these demansds can be adequately met. Our policy formulators will have to be consistent with the global trends and also take into account the rapid technological advances taking place in the field of IT and Communication technologies.
Excerpts of the presentation made at XIXth INCA International Congress’99.