Urban and Infrastructure

Regional Plans

Regional plan preparation is an urban application that utilizes medium and high-resolution satellite data. In 1999, regional land use for the National Capital Region (NCR) was prepared at 1:50,000 scale using IRS LISS-III satellite data, which served as a major input for the formulation of Regional Plan–2021.

In 2012, regional land use at 1:50,000 scale was updated for the Mid-Term Review of Regional Plan–2021, and land use change analysis for 1999–2012 was provided to the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB). These inputs were used to formulate and review planning policies for NCR development. In 2013, six new districts were added to NCR, and regional land use mapping for these was undertaken using Resourcesat-2 data.

NUIS

The National Urban Information System (NUIS) is a national mission initiated in 2006 by the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) to generate 1:10,000-scale urban geospatial databases for 152 towns using high-resolution satellite data.

To enhance the use of NUIS geospatial databases and build the capacity of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in remote sensing and GIS technologies, a customized web application “Bhuvan-NUIS” was developed. The NUIS GIS database has been hosted on the Bhuvan platform, enabling users to access, edit, manage, and utilize data for master plan formulation. A total of 2200 town planning personnel across all states and union territories have been trained on this application.

AMRUT Cities

(Click to see the Image)

Government of India launched "Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation" (AMRUT) in 2015 with the aim of providing basic services (e.g. water supply, sewerage, urban transport) to households and building amenities for 500 cities through a set of eleven reforms, with the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) as the Nodal Ministry and the Town and Country Planning Organisation (TCPO) as the focal department.

GIS based Master Plan formulation is one of the important reforms under AMRUT Mission, in which NRSC, ISRO has played a major role. Urban Studies team at NRSC has contributed to the preparation of AMRUT Design & Standards which are published on MoHUA website and are adopted as a national guideline for preparation of large-scale urban GIS database using Very High-Resolution satellite (VHRS) data.

In addition, NRSC is carrying out a major activity under the Mission – creation of large-scale (1:4,000 scale) Urban GIS database for 238 AMRUT cities spanning 20 States and Union Territories using VHRS data. These databases are to be used by respective Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for GIS-based Master Plan formulation.

This project involves GIS base map preparation by NRSC (completed for all 238 AMRUT cities) and handing over the data to ULBs for ground verification and attribute data collection. The ULBs conduct field verification of the base maps, after which NRSC incorporates the field information and finalizes the geospatial database. So far, NRSC has finalized and delivered GIS databases of 181 cities to ULBs for formulation of GIS-based Master Plans. The diagram illustrates the process sequence adopted for GIS database creation.

Major takeaways from this project include – handholding and capacity building of State Town Planning Departments and ULBs through national workshops; involving ULBs in GIS database creation to make them owners of data and responsible for its content; establishing a state-of-the-art (cloud-technology-based) facility at NRSC for geospatial data preparation, storage, retrieval and dissemination; engaging private geospatial industry for participation and empowerment; and developing value-added products from this data for various societal applications.

The project is due for completion by March 2023.

Monitoring of Pipeline Corridor for GAIL

GAIL India Ltd. maintains 11,900 km of pipeline infrastructure for gas transportation. Regular surveillance of the entire pipeline is mandatory for any physical disturbances over the pipeline Right of Usage (ROU) of 30 meters, typically carried out through monthly helicopter inspections and six-month walker inspections. This process is costly and prone to human error. NRSC has developed a web-based geospatial technology that enables monitoring using satellite data.

This technology of change detection can be extended to various sectors where ground truthing over large areas is required, and can also be applied to monitor new or illegal constructions in specific areas under observation.

Heritage Management Plans

India is a vibrant and culturally diverse country with more than 3,600 heritage sites and monuments of national importance, of which 36 are recognized as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. These are precious, non-renewable resources requiring conservation, protection, and monitoring. With rapid urbanization, combining conventional techniques with emerging geospatial technologies is vital for creating databases and management plans for efficient preservation.

NRSC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, has initiated a national project titled “Site Management and Inventory of Heritage Centres” (SMARAC), for systematic inventory creation and preparation of site management plans for nationally important monuments and heritage sites. The project is implemented in partnership with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the National Monument Authority (NMA), New Delhi.

A on-line decision support system (DSS) has been developed to enhance the operation efficiency of augmenting inventory, Site Management Plan preparation and other scientific activities of ASI and other stakeholders. The scope of DSS is also for on-line no objection certificate (NOC) processing for NMA which involves the development of two mobile apps, namely SMARAC-G2G and SMARAC CITIZEN, an auto geo-processing system and a web application for faster processing of NOC requests from citizens. SMARAC - CITIZEN app is operationally used by some local planning authorities like the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and Greater Mumbai Municipal Corporation (GMMC) for processing NOC applications on-line within a stipulated time.

Web GIS for Electrical Transmission Infrastructure

Maharashtra State Electrical Transmission Corporation Limited (MSETCL) is utilizing geospatial services to create an integrated spatial view and analysis of electrical transmission infrastructure — substations, transmission lines, and towers — in Maharashtra State. This setup will be extended as a DSS tool by integrating real-time operational data from ERP systems and developing tools for monitoring and decision support. The thematic database added to this portal can be used for planning new projects to improve power generation capacity (for restricted departmental use).

National Health Resources Repository (NHRR)

India’s first ever national healthcare facility registry with authentic, standardized and updated geospatial data of all public and private healthcare establishments. This is being carried out with Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW). It is envisaged to provide customized geospatial solution for healthcare resources assets mapping and development of web portal for Decision Support System (DSS). Nationwide data collection of health establishments is in progress using the mobile (tablet) application. This will provide comprehensive data on all health resources including private doctors, health facilities, chemists, and diagnostics labs, establish a National Health Resource Repository for evidence based decision making – aligned with digital India mission. It will also enhance the coordination between central and state governments for optimization of health resources, making ‘live’ and realistic state Project Implementation Plans (PIPs) and improving accessibility of data at all levels, including State Head of Departments, thus, decentralize the decision making both at state and district levels.

Monitoring of Judicial Infrastructure for Ministry of Law and Justice (MoLJ)

This project envisages development of mobile and web application system for hosting and monitoring of Infrastructure facilities for Judiciary in the country.‘Nyaya Vikas’ – a BHUVAN web portal and mobile app for monitoring of the projects under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for development of infrastructure facilities for District and sub-ordinate judiciary in all states and union territories of the country. Specific components are mobile application for geotagging of assets, attributes information with pictures and for periodically updating the status. Database added in this portal can be utilized for monitoring the activities to improve efficiency and accountability(for restricted use by the department).Capacity building of the judicial officers and PWD officials of 35 states and Union Territories for utilization of the ‘Nyaya Vikas’ System.