What are the applications of space technologies in rural development ?

• A web based application named Srishti enables the monitoring and evaluation of IWMP Watersheds using satellite remote sensing and sample field data.
• GOI is implementing activities realigned to water conservation based on ridge to valley principles and has made role of remote sensing, GIS and GPS technologies central to their planning, implementing and monitoring.
• Geo-MGNREGA, developed by ISRO is a geo information enabled web service/portal that assists the planning and management of activities of MGNREGA ranging from support functions to the delivery of work to the end users.
• MGNREGA is monitored through Bhuvan Geoportal involving geotagging of completed assets through Smartphone applications across the country.
• A dedicated Bhuvan portal was also developed for the Agricultural produce mapping, in which the assets are geotagged which are used for the easy maintenance of the land records, crop mapping, pesticide usage, etc.
• Facilities are made using Geo informatics in rural road projects to assess the conditions and vehicular traffic of the rural roads.
• Wasteland mapping is also started and an inventory was created for the better utilization of wastelands and to prevent the land degradation and encroachment.
• Space based information is being utilized for support decentralized planning by empowering the local bodies to prepare developmental plans.
• Crop Insurance Decision Support System (CIDSS) - A web based integrated package for implementing Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.

What are the benefits of Geo Spatial Solutions ?

• Enhanced ease of governance with improved monitoring and evaluation for integrated development activity.
• The Geo Spatial solutions are transparent and efficient compared to traditional approach with manual surveys in the field.
• Linking management information system to geo spatial visualization.
• Comprehensive planning and development at local level as it provides an opportunity to spatially analyze the impact of having assets by combining the data from multiple projects.
• Also aids in qualifying the need for having an asset at particular location and knowing if there is any damage caused to the assets due to human or natural causes.

What is Bhuvan portal ?

• ISRO’s Geo-portal, Bhuvan is providing visualization services and Earth observation data to users in public domain.
• Besides, the portal also services several users for their remote sensing application needs.
• The Government agencies use this platform to share and host their data as per their requirements, enabling specific applications of their choice.
• The crowd sourcing services are very popular for field data collection of various government programmes.
• As per the recent direction from the Government on the most effective use of space technology by user ministries, more than 20 ministry portals are unveiled and have been discussed during the National meet on the use of space technologies, chaired by Hon’ble Prime minister of India.
• Many of the Ministries/Departments have linked their web portals to Bhuvan for online services.
• Bhuvan has become a popular platform that hosts one of the largest repositories of GIS map and services in the country.
• Bhuvan is also acting as a clearinghouse for satellite data and value added products.
• The information in Bhuvan Portal can be effectively used for scientific studies and help students, researchers and organizations to take up the scientific projects for applied research. 3.6 lakh products have been downloaded by users in the last three years and the NRSC Open EO Data Archive, as clearing house, has become widely popular.