Digital Mapping To Take Off Thanks To The New Map Policy

Sify.com: The New Map Policy announced by the Centre is expected to boost the Geographical Information Systems (GIS)-based industry, as well as help create a range of databases, which could be used in better planning and implementation of development projects.
The policy, announced by the Union Minister for Science and Technology, Kapil Sibal, will allow for two sets of maps – one for civilian utility, the Open Series Maps (OSMs), and the Defence Series Maps (DSMs). The Survey of India, under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), will be the nodal agency to make available these maps.
There has been persistent demand from the growing private industry using the maps, especially the GIS, Global Positioning Systems, travel and tourism and the infrastructure developers for the removal of restrictions on access to maps. At present, for example, GIS-based companies in India do 90 per cent of their business through foreign projects and only 10 per cent domestic due to the restrictions on the access to digital maps. This situation would significantly reverse, if the policy is implemented in toto, said G.S. Kumar, Chairman of the Map World Technologies and former Director of Survey of India.

Comments have been disabled for this post