Aryabhatta Geo-informatics & Space Application Centre(AGiSAC)

"Committed to bring geo-information for the benefit of people and sustainable development "

Aryabhatta Geo-Informatics and Space Applications Centre (AGiSAC)’, to carry digital planning of the state under the supervision of Department of Science, Technology and Environment, on the analogy of Bhaskaracharya Institute of space Applications and Geo-Informatics (BIGSAC).

Set up in technical assistance with Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-Informatics (BISAG)’ Gujarat, a model of inter-state technical collaboration .It would cater to studies relating to the change in climate and formulation of policies to reduce the impact of the same in a scientific manner and to take benefit of geo-informatics application in decentralized planning and decision making.

        The spatial information had been playing vital role in planning process for effective implementation of various developmental activities. wider usage of geo-spatial applications through simultaneous support systems/software. Directly linked with common man departments of Revenue, Forest, Education, Health, Agriculture, Horticulture, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development would be taken up under the project in the first stage, which would be carrying digitization of their records to make the same transparent and available to the people on internet.

Role of Bisag

BISAG would provide expertise in the area of conversion of satellite images into ortho-images, imposition of data on satellite imageries and linkage of attribute data, connectivity with BISAG, system development software output, development of HIMSAT and other technical guidance and support in the field of geo-information and remote sensing application.
BISAG would also provide training and capacity-building to scientific and technical personnel of the hill State.

Objectives:The following objectives were envisaged for the State Centre:

• To facilitate decentralized planning and decision making.
• To facilitate Monitoring and Evaluation of Government Schemes &Programmes.
• To set up integrated natural resources data management system.
• To provide services/consultancy based on specific user needs in the field of Remote Sensing and GIS.
• To provide wider usage of geo-spatial applications through simultaneous support systems/ software.
• To promote the use of SATCOM networks for distant interactive training and education in the State.

Services :

Geo-Informatics
AGiSAC shall endeavour for conceptualization, creation and organization of multi-purpose common digital database for sectoral/integrated decision support systems.
Remote Sensing
For Inventorization, Mapping, Developmental Planning and Monitoring of Natural & Man-made Resources.
Global Navigation Satellite System
For Location based services, Geo-referencing, Engineering Application and Research.
Cartography
For Thematic Mapping and Value added maps.

Photogrammetry
For creation of Digital Elevation Models, Terrain Characteristics & Resource Planning.
Software Development
For wider usage of Geo-spatial applications, Decision Support Systems (Desktop as well as Web based).
Mapping services
Mapping services to the Governments and Non-Governments Organizations for planning, documentation and other purposes. Mapping services for Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environment Management Plan (EMP). Mapping solutions to the Governments and Non-Governments Organizations for the purpose of EIA and EMP preparation and implementation monitoring.

EFFECTIVE UTILISATION OF APPLICATIONS OF AGiSAC IN STATE

Application in schemes monitoring

Geo Database Generated Spatial database of various MGNREGA schemes, Land Development Flood Control Micro Irrigation Pedestrian Way Rural Connectivity Fisheries Related Work Livestock Related Work Agriculture Related Work Construction of Play Field Construction of Anganbari centre, Rural Drinking Water Related works Provision of Traditional Water bodies Bharat Nirmal Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendra Water conservation and Harvesting Drought ,Other Work Asset Mapping of MNREGA works. Spatial Panchayat Information System (SPIS) for PujarliPanchayat of Shimla Site suitability of water tanks for PujarliPanchayat. Mapping of Plan Head works for Mashobra Block. The different layer i.e. Contour Map, Soil Map, Landuse Map, Drainage Map, Drainage Density, Drainage Order, Slope Map, Road Network, School Locations and Demographic Map has been generated to develop the proposed Action Plan Map. Applications Developed Online Automatic Work Monitoring & Assessment and Estimate of irrigation tanks. Generation of Proposed Action Plan Map of MNREGA works for future Planning Status of the on-going MNREGA Works Monitoring of MNREGA works progress through GPS enabled Mobile Application and geo-tagged photographs. Surveillance of the field visiting officials through GPS based mobile phone,SMS Services .

GIS Applications for various Departments :

AGiSAC has developed web-based and desktop applications for the State user Departments such as Forest, Health, Education, Irrigation & Public Health, Environment, Science & Technology, Tourism, Agriculture, Horticulture, Rural Development etc; and is in process of developing applications for other State user Departments/ Agencies.
The Decision Support Systems (DSS) would be hosted on a web portal and efficient low cost data gathering devices like GPS enabled mobile phones would be used for automatic updating of the databases. 

Depatmental Information System :

Various Departmental databases on Staff, Physical Infrastructure, Equipments etc. can be mapped and interpreted geo-spatially. This would aid the user Departments for HR purposes such as planning postings of staff in vacant areas, monitoring of capacity building measures, planning upkeep of existing infrastructure. Further regional and sub regional balance in all spheres can be measured, monitored and maintained effectively.

Applications in department of horticulture

Geo ?Database Generated Mapping of Polyhouses, Vermicompost, Water Storage tanks and Orchards Online Quarter wise database Updation for four components viz. Polyhouses, Vermicompost Units, Water Storage Tanks & Orchards. Impact Assessment of Polyhouses&Vermicompost Units in Kandaghat Block of Solan District Applications Developed Online SMS based advisory/recommendation to orchardists regarding leaf sample analysis. Resolving of interdepartmental Issues with other departments. Online Web forms for the data Updation& automatic mapping of following parameters PolyhousesVermicompost Units Water storage tanks Orchards Report generation of above databases, infrastructure and staffing position of the entire state.

Applications in development of tribal areas :
Geo ?Database Generated Asset mapping of works with various departments for tribal areas is in progress Mapping of AtalAwas& Indira AwasYojna of Rural Development for tribal areas. Mapping of Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan Scheme for Nichar block of Kinnaur District. Mapping of tribal villages of non-tribal areas. Tribal resource Information System. Applications to be Developed Spatial mapping of tribal & Non-tribal infrastructure Online mobile based monitoring of works in tribal areas Gap Analysis & Decision Support Application for expansion of Infrastructure.

Developmental Planning, Decision Support Applications & Yes Or No Decision :

This type of application would help the user Departments to decide on establishing an asset/scheme/project etc., based on geospatial analysis of various variables including terrain, topography etc. A gap analysis of existing infrastructure coupled with inputs like user base, routes etc, would help them to identify ideal locations for siting or establishing an infrastructure. For example, opening of new facilities such as fair price shop, health facilities and schools, finding nearest routes to locate health facilities, finding suitable sites for timber/non-timber based plantations, action plan generation for MGNREGAS works can be carried out.

Advisories & Alerts :

These are applications intended for user agencies to disseminate important information in the form of alerts/advisories to the grass-root level functionaries in case of exigencies as and when they arise. Such applications are vital in disaster management as it can provide effective early warning which can minimize loss of life and property. Few of the identified applications include alerts to card-holders on the availability of ration in fair-price shops, seasonal advisories to the farmers about the soil health based on soil health cards, disease or pest outbreak alerts, forest fires and flood early warning systems etc.

Survillence & Regulatory Applications :

Surveillance is very useful to Governments and law enforcement agencies to maintain control, recognize and monitor threats, and prevent/investigate unwanted activity. With this application, Government agencies now possess an unprecedented ability to monitor the activities of their people and works. Some of the potential applications are surveillance of near-real time occurrences of diseases, enforcement of regulatory measures in environment and other sectors, surveillance of field level Government functionaries operating in field and temporal and spatial monitoring of ear-marked sites/areas on regular intervals etc.

Monitoring & Evaluation Of Developmental Work And Schemes :

Various user Departments are undertaking/executing development schemes throughout the state which need regular monitoring during it’s implementation and evaluation of its impact post-implementation. Near real time monitoring and evaluations of Government sponsored schemes/programmes such as MGNREGS, watershed development projects, Catchment Area Treatment schemes etc., can be carried out by photo tagging of assets.

GIS Mobile Applications :

Near real-time integration of mobile-based applications into the web-applications for updation, visualization of vital information such as alerts from field, presence monitoring of staff using advanced communication technologies are being carried out by AGiSAC. To and fro mobile based information dissemination among different levels of government functionaries and public is not only quick but also cost-effective.

Conclusion :

Modern technology to deliver people prompt, accurate and efficient services to the people of the state. It is the need of the hour to dovetail the system with latest advancements in science and technology for carrying forward with developmental programmes, that directly linked with common man departments of Revenue, Forest, Education, Health, Agriculture, Horticulture, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development would be taken up under it which would be carrying digitization of their records to make the same transparent and available to the people on internet.