friends: Here is a news story from The Times of India. Digital mapping of India on fast trackAdd to Clippings [ Monday, June 12, 2006 10:59:44 pmIANS ] NEW DELHI: India hopes to complete digital mapping of around 70 percent of the country in a year, leading to leveraging data assets for multi-functions like traffic management and infrastructure development. An example of its multi-dimensional use would be illustrated with the completion of a three-dimensional model of Chandni Chowk neighbourhood in the walled city area of the national capital by next month, Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal said here on Monday. The 3D model being developed with an investment of around Rs.100 million would enable civic authorities to not only chart the development that needs to be undertaken in one of the most densely populated parts of the capital but also monitor any violations of the city norms, Sibal said. On the digital mapping of the country, he said with the approval of the ministry of defence, task is to be undertaken by an autonomous body, the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), to be created under the ministry of science and technology. The cabinet had approved June 2 a proposal to set up the NSDI, which is to be manned by a 10-member panel headed by a CEO. "NSDI is a kind of soft infrastructure to be built at the national level for coordination, acquisition, processing, storage, distribution and improved utilisation of spatial (geographic location) data," said Sibal. A liberalised National Map Policy, approved last year, has helped India emulate the success of several developed countries, many of which are helping create a Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI). "Having got the go-ahead from the defence ministry about the areas that can be digitally mapped, the NSDI will utilise the data created by 15 national agencies like the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the Forest Survey of India (FSI) for its gigantic task under a public-private initiative," the minister said. T. Ramasami, the new secretary of Department of Science and Technology, explained that the digital mapping is to be achieved primarily by leveraging the data assets of major data generating agencies through the process of standardisation, creation of metadata and Internet-enabled access. "We hope to complete mapping of 60-70 percent of India within a year. The ministry of defence has cleared most areas barring (a stretch of) 50 km along the international borders on the land surface in Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast region," said Brigadier R. Siva Kumar, director of NSDI. The digital mapping would allow the user to click on any geographical location to get details like longitude and latitude, altitude, forest mapping and other vital up-to-date inputs that are critical to any investment decision. The digital map has multiple uses including for navigational purpose. ---- Hope these digital maps are made readily available [open access] to the general public (on the Internet) at no cost. In most western countries taxis and cars are fitted with a device which clearly shows the map of the locality (at several levels of magnification) so the driver can choose a path avoiding traffic congestion. Arun [Subbiah Arunachalam]