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Multidisciplinary Centre for Geoinformatics at Delhi Technological University
Overview
Out of the nine strategic pathways laid down by the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM), Capacity and Education focuses on the long-term sustainability of geospatial information management and entrepreneurship. The emerging field of Geoinformatics, which includes cartography, geodesy, GNSS, photogrammetry, remote sensing, spatial analysis, web mapping etc., has immense potential for innovation and development in line with achieving the UN SDGs, and can truly transform the technology landscape in the country with the right skilled force behind it.
This prompted the need and vision for establishing the Multi-Disciplinary Centre of Geoinformatics (MCG) at the Delhi Technological University (DTU). The focus was on the full spectrum of Geomatics as the art, science and technology dealing with the management of the entire chain of the utilization of geoinformation, combining geospatial analysis and modelling, development of geospatial databases, information systems design, human-computer interaction, and both wired and wireless networking technologies.
Vision: To establish a world-class multi-disciplinary Centre in the field of Geospatial and Geoinformatics education, research, and consultancy.
Objectives
y To establish and develop MCG as a global centre of eminence in its field. y To establish partnerships and collaborations with various national and international space agencies, institutions of eminences in the field and the associated industries. y To develop the Centre as a non-profit and self-sustainable Centre. y To provide research, development, and consultancy support to the government and industry in attaining various UN Sustainable Development Goals. y To provide training and capacity-building support to the government and industry through a worldclass institution. y To hold national and international seminars, workshops, etc. for networking and knowledge dissemination y To offer quality programmes and short-term courses, as well as B.Tech, M.Tech, Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral degrees y To regularly publish papers, books, and other research work.
Stakeholders Involved
y Government: Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Ministry of Earth Science (MoES), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and the
National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS). y Industry: The Association of Geospatial Industries (AGI), private sector companies spanning Remote
Sensing, GIS, GNSS, Survey and Mapping organizations y Academia: Faculty and students y Research labs: Government labs such as the Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE),
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), and the Geological Survey of India (GSI). Solution and Implementation
The MCG was planned to initially be created under the Department of Civil Engineering and made independent later. Functions of the MCG would include research, consultancy, training/workshops, publication, and conduct of multidisciplinary Geoinformatics programmes and courses.
A few major areas of multidisciplinary research and development at MCG were proposed and outlined, including specialisations in Cartography, Geodesy, GNSS, Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing, Spatial Analysis, and Web Mapping. The proposed sectors for focus include Disaster Management and Risk Mitigation, Environmental Pollution, Urban Affairs, Defence and Security, Sanitation and Sewerage Hydrological Studies, Geoinformatics in mission-mode projects like Clean Ganga, and Swachh Bharat, and other relevant areas.
The planned areas for training and capacity building spanned Remote Sensing and GIS fundamentals, knowledge of the electromagnetic spectrum and exploitation of different bands, Geodesy, Surveying, and Mapping using Satellite/Airborne Optical, Microwave/SAR, and LiDAR data, GIS, GPS, Satellite Image Processing and their major applications, tools such as the Spectro-radiometer, DGPS, total station and mobile GPS, and other applicable areas.
Some major areas for consultancy-related work were also identified, including empowering the Digital India Mission using Geoinformatics, creation and maintenance of Government land records, environmental pollution monitoring, e.g., in the Clean Ganga Mission, GIS and Health GIS, Disaster Management and Risk Mitigation, urban planning and monitoring, drainage, desilting, garbage disposal, and other relevant areas.
Several key institutes were identified for partnerships and collaborations, such as:
