Question

Geospatial technologies are becoming ubiquitous and are finding applications across multiple domains. What do you understand by Geospatial Technology? Explain using some real-world applications

Answer 1

Approach:

• Write what you understand by Geospatial technology.
• Write some real-world applications.

Geospatial is a term widely used to describe the combination of spatial software and analytical methods with geographic datasets.

Geospatial Technology is commonly known as geomatics. The technology is used for visualization, measurement, and analysis of features or phenomena that occur on the earth.

Geospatial technology find application in various fields such as civilian, business, government and military. The advancement of these technologies helps in the effective management of natural resources.
These Technologies helps in many applications like soil, geomorphology, hydrogeology, land use, agriculture, land records, urban, infrastructure development, water resources, watershed management, disaster management, health, education, security and defense etc.

1. Hydrogeology: Watershed Studies

• Watershed management is an integration of technologies within the natural boundaries of a drainage area for optimal development of land, water and plant resources to meet the basic needs of people in a sustainable manner i.e balanced utilization of resources with minimum risk to natural resources.
• With the use of GIS-based (Geographical Information System) modeling framework for local-level planning, the spatial tool helps in estimating the related parameters such as water spread area and available water storage capacity at that location.
• This is also useful to help the watershed managers in prioritizing the watersheds with respect to the predetermined norms.
• It is also be used for monitoring and evaluation of the watershed programs.

2. Flood Studies:

• Floods are the most recurring, widespread, disastrous and frequent natural hazards of the world. India is one of the worst flood-affected countries. In India, about 40 million hectares of geographical area falls under flood-prone.
• Flood Hazard Mapping is a vital component for appropriate land use planning in flood-prone areas. It creates easily-read, rapidly-accessible charts and maps which facilitates the administrators and planners to identify areas of risk and prioritize their mitigation/ response efforts.
• Using Geospatial technologies flood hazard map and flood hazard index of the study area can be prepared.

3. Soil Management:
Geospatial technologies are used in the management of soil resources of the country. GIS, GPS and remote sensing have much to offer soil fertility maps.
Once soil fertility maps are created, it is possible to transform the information into spatial fertilizers recommendation maps, seeds and water recommendations.

4. Health issues:

• The GIS can be used to link the spatial and significant socio-cultural indicators like frequency of days of cleaning of water storage containers, housing pattern, mosquito protection measures, frequency of water supply and waste disposal with the disease data.
• Analysing data and spatial modeling with these socio-cultural indicators, risk categories ranging from “very low” to “very high” can be identified and steps can be taken to reduce vector-borne diseases.

5. Security and Defense Studies:

• Geospatial technology uses the latest computer technology to assist the police in responding faster to distress calls with greater accuracy. It would improve the quality of services to the public.
• Distress Call Management with GIS/GPS based Vehicle Tracking & Dispatch is operational in many states.

6. Disaster relief and Management:

• Geospatial and satellite technologies help in identifying disaster-prone areas like droughts, floods and landslides.
• Satellite communication technologies can also be used for early warning.
• Satellite data can also be used to assess damage from disasters like Earthquake, floods, landslides, oil spill, etc.

Geospatial technologies forms an important component of the Digital India project and should be leveraged for decision support systems and development. While e-Gov is the current paradigm, the future lies in embedding geographic information in governance and service delivery.

Geospatial technologies are becoming ubiquitous and are finding applications across multiple domains. These technologies are becoming a catalyst for several transformational changes in the world, primarily in environmental management, urban planning, utilities, security, emergency response, governance and citizen engagement.

Location is an important parameter in virtually every aspect of government functioning and hence Geospatial technologies would always be a critical component of most of the mission mode projects conceptualised and implemented by the government.