POTENTIAL OF GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE WATER SECTOR IN INDIA

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POTENTIAL OF GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE WATER SECTOR IN INDIA

Association of Geospatial Industries (AGI) has come out with a detailed report on the opportunities in Water sector that can benefit from the use of geospatial technologies. Given the population density and requirement of water for agriculture, India is heavily dependent on groundwater and is one of the worst hit countries as far as the water crisis is concerned. Government is making lot of efforts to tackle this situation. To support the government combat this pervasive challenge and to ensure better water management in the country, the Association of Geospatial Industries – a geospatial technology industry body, has released a report titled, “Potential of Geospatial Technologies for the Water Sector in India”.

As per the report, a plethora of Geospatial and Digital Technologies, like satellite based remote sensing, surveying and mapping, GPS based equipment and sensors, GIS and Spatial Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, Internet of Things, 5G, Robotics and Digital Twin, can be effectively used to combat the water crisis. Outlining key water sector programmes and projects in the country, the report provides an overview of how each of these programmes is currently using geospatial technologies, and how to improve technology adoption in the future. Over 60 water and geospatial technology experts from across the country provided inputs for this report.

The report was released by Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga through an online event. Mishra mentioned, “I am happy to see this initiative by our industry colleagues. It is critical for us to use the latest and best digital and spatial technologies to make data-based informed decisions. These technologies help us in delivering better and timely outcomes for key programmes and helps save valuable resources. I hope through such knowledge sharing, more and more government bodies will understand the value of geospatial technologies and adopt it for their work process.”

On the occasion, Agendra Kumar, President of the Association of Geospatial Industries and Managing Director of Esri India said, “The geospatial industry is geared to assist the government in tackling the severe water crisis our country is facing. Availability of clean water to all for personal, industrial, and agricultural use will not only ensure India reaches its vision of becoming a USD 5 Trillion economy but will also enable our country to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Through this report, we hope that professionals dealing with water resource and water utilities management are able to increase their use of Geospatial technologies to deliver better results.”

Several recommendations have been given in the report to strengthen the adoption of technology to realize better outcomes. As a quick resource meant for the professionals in the water domain, as well as technology enthusiasts, the report has also listed several case studies highlighting the use of geospatial technologies in different contexts related to water problems. It has also shared a list of openly available geospatial and digital tools that are being widely used by the global, national, and sub-national level agencies for measuring, monitoring, and taking positive action to combat water related issues.

Foreward:

Water is intrinsically related to human life. Civilizations have depended on the availability of water to flourish since time immemorial. However, as the world around us undergoes developmental and natural processes, access to this elixir of life has increasingly become difficult.

To the extent that water is now being traded as a commodity, like gold or silver. India has about 17% of the world population, but only about 4% of the world’s freshwater reserves, and is currently facing a severe water challenge. Hence, ensuring water security is a high priority for the Government of India.

As providers of geospatial content, services, solutions and platforms, the geospatial industry is geared to assist the government in accomplishing this critical goal. Availability of clean water to all for personal, industrial, and agricultural use will not only ensure India reaches its vision of becoming a USD 5 Trillion economy but will also enable our country to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Through this report, AGI India endevours to highlight the benefits of using Geospatial technologies for the on-going water programmes in India and how the industry can work with the government to deliver better results.

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Agendra Kumar President Association of Geospatial Industries

 

 

 

 

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