Conference Proceedings: National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI)

A new wave of technological innovation is allowing us to capture, store, process and display an unprecedented amount of geographical and spatial information about Society and a wide variety of environmental and cultural phenomena. Much of this information is “spatial” - that is, it refers to a coordinate system and is representable in map form. Current and accurate spatial data must be readily available to contribute to local, state and national development and contribute to economic growth, environmental quality and stability, and social progress.

The nation has, over the past years, produced a rich “base” of map information through systematic topographic surveys, geological surveys, soil surveys, cadastral surveys, various natural resources inventory programmes and the use of the remote sensing images. Further, with the availability of precision, high-resolution satellite images, data enabling the organisation of GIS, combined with the Global Positioning System (GPS), the accuracy and information content of these spatial datasets or maps is extremely high.

Encapsulating these maps and images into a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) is the need of the hour and the emphasis has to be on information transparency and sharing, with the recognition that spatial information is a national resource and citizens, society, private enterprise and government have a right to access it, appropriately. Only through common conventions and technical agreements, standards, metadata definitions, network and access protocols will it be easily possible for the NSDI to come into existence.

With ISRO having championed the use of satellite images and the derived thematic maps in support of developmental activities in the country, we have also been at the forefront of envisioning a NSDI and I am happy that the "NSDI Strategy and Action Plan” report has been prepared and is being opened up to a national debate. The first steps have been taken but the end-goal is farther away but in sight now. While Government must provide the lead, private enterprise, NGOs and academia have a major role to play in making the NSDI a reality. NSDI will require for coming together of various “groups” and harmonizing their efforts in making this national endeavor a success. I urge one and all, associated with satellite images, maps and GIS, to help in finalizing the NSDI strategy so that the next steps for its establishment can be initiated.

I also take this opportunity to record appreciation to the NSDI Task Force for a job well done and having outlined a pragmatic NSDI strategy. Congratulations!!!

January 31, 2001

K. Kasturirangan

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