Annual Report 2005-2006

Management Information Systems

National Science and Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS)

The National Science & Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS) division continued its efforts of generating and making available information on resources both manpower as well as financial devoted to scientific and technological (S&T) activities by conducting national surveys both through in-house as well as sponsored studies.

S&T Resources Studies

The two national surveys 2000-01 & 2002-03 for collection of data on resources devoted to research and development activities were completed during the year. The report based on these surveys titled 'Research and Development Statistics 2004-2005' fifteenth in the series, is under print. In this report, the scope and the coverage of the R&D activities has been enlarged substantially by including the expenditure incurred on R&D in (i) Higher Education Sector (ii) Small Scale Industry (SSI) Sector; and (iii) Industries other than those recognized by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR).

The salient features of these surveys are that the national investment on R&D activities attained a level of Rs. 18000.16 crores in 2002-03 which was 0.80% of Gross National Product (GNP). The major share of R&D expenditure was met from Central Government sources (62.0%). State Governments share in R&D expenditure being 8.5%, Higher Education 4.2%, Public Sector Industries 5.0% and the remaining 20.3% being met from the Private Sector Industries. Nearly 2.96 lakhs personnel were employed in the R&D establishments. The publication also provides detailed information collected from secondary sources on patents, enrolment, out-turn, stock of S&T personnel, Plan/Non-Plan allocation for S&T, stock of scientists, engineers, technicians for selected countries, and R&D expenditure per capita and as percentage of gross national product etc.

A brochure reflecting the salient findings of the Research and Development Statistics 2004-05, was also brought out during the year. This brochure, second in the series, is very useful for the wider dissemination to various sectors like government, universities, firms, research organisations etc. It was highly appreciated by the scientific community. The questionnaires for launching the next national survey for the year 2004-05 have been framed to elicit more information from central, state and industrial sectors. To facilitate online submission of the data, e-questionnaire has also been designed.

Information System/Database Activities

With a view to disseminate information on research and development (R&D) projects for the benefit of different interest groups, the National Science and Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS) continued its effort to compile information on extramural R&D projects funded by different central agencies. Besides maintaining a computerised database on extramural R&D projects from 1985-86 onwards, the department publishes annually a directory of extramural research and development projects funded during the year. The directory for the year 2002-03 was published and disseminated to Planners, Policy makers and Scientific Community.

The directory for the year 2002-03, thirteenth in the series, contains information on 2718 new R&D projects approved by 19 central government departments/agencies. The total approved cost of these projects was Rs.448.69 crores. Projects in the Engineering & Technology area received maximum financial support (38%), Medical Sciences (14%) and Biological Sciences (13%) and together these received about 65% of the total R&D support. Fifty nine percent (59%) of the total support was given to the academic sector. The National Laboratories under government received 33% of the total financial support. Among the funding agencies, the extramural R&D support by Department of Science & Technology (DST) was the highest one. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that the DST provided overall support to extramural R&D to the extent of Rs.176.56 crores and the DBT Rs.41.38 crores.

The next two annual surveys for updating the above database and to produce directories for the years 2003-04 and 2004-05 have been launched. Also based on the above mentioned database, the DST has been bringing out reports giving quick analyses on the extramural research support by the central government agencies. Three reports on the funding pattern of the sponsored research by scientific agencies for the periods 1985-90, 1990-95 and 1995-2000 have already been brought out by the division. For the benefit of scientific community, the work to produce general information booklet is under progress. This booklet will provide details on various schemes being operated by Central Government funding agencies.

Sponsored Studies

With a view to build reasonable database/analyses on S&T investment, S&T manpower availability/ deployment/gap and S&T indicators, a number of studies were sponsored. Project Advisory Committee was constituted for each study involving local experts to monitor the progress of the project and to guide/advise Principal Investigator for smooth running of the project.

The following new projects were approved /Commissioned during the year:

• Assessment of Emerging Opportunities and Prospects of Careers in Science & Technology.
• Analysis of Output of Extramural R&D Projects Funded during 1995-2000 periods.
• Database of Indian Research Papers on Malaria (after Independence) and its Analysis.
• Study of Assessment of Waste & Pattern of Occupational Hazards in Plastic Industry.
• Study of R&D Gaps and Needed Thrust Areas in various Industry Sectors.
• Animal Diseases and Veterinary Care Systems.

The following projects were completed during the year:

• Economic Reforms, Industrial Structure and Innovation.
• Value Addition to Human Capital of India: Compatible to Liberalisation.
• Database of R&D Institutions by broad research areas in Punjab.
• Status of S&T Manpower in India: A Study of Emerging ICT & BT sectors.
• Pilot Study on the Magnitude, Career Profile and Professional Achievements of the PhDs in Science Faculty (SF) from the selected Central Universities/Intuitions in India.
• Quantification of Manpower and Financial Resources Devoted to R&D in S&T of Higher Education Sector -Northern/Southern Zones.
• Barriers to generation, diffusion and commercialization of indigenous technologies

International Collaboration

The Department has actively participated and contributed in the development and revision of standards/concepts/definitions used for collection of Science Statistics and development of Science & Technology Indicators in UNESCO and OECD meetings. The NSTMIS division organised "South Asian Regional Workshop on Science and Technology (S&T) Statistics-2005" (21-24 November 2005) at New Delhi in collaboration with UNESCO. The department also provided information for the country on Science & Technology indicators to UNESCO for their publication titled "UNESCO Statistical year book". Natural Resources Data Management System (NRDMS)

Natural Resources Data Management System (NRDMS) programme is a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional R&D programme aimed at developing methodologies for promoting and use of spatial data management and analysis technologies in local area planning. For developing necessary inputs for local planning strategies, NRDMS is supporting several academic and R & D Institutions with projects specially focusing towards the need of local level planning. Keeping in view the current system of governance, technological advancement and the end-user requirements, vision of the NRDMS programme has been upgraded to empower people, communities and institutions of self-governance, with Spatial Data Management Technologies in decision-making at district and sub-district levels.

The present objectives of the programme are as follows:

• Demonstrate and promote the use of Spatial Data Management Technologies for micro level planning under diverse terrain conditions including software support for data management, modeling and operation research; Promotion of R & D in spatial data technology; Technology Transfer & Capacity Building of potential users; and Forging linkages with the users at different levels.
• Provide S&T inputs for framing Policies related to Spatial Data Management Technologies.
• Develop & Demonstrate pilot scale spatial infrastructure and provide research support to National Spatial Data Infrastructure.
• Documentation and dissemination.

The new thrust areas for R&D applications are:

- Advanced Technology Applications in large scale spatial data gathering

- Land & Water Management at local level

- Landslide Hazard Mitigation

- Bio-geo database and ecological modeling

- Coastal Zone Resource Management

- Technology Transfer and Capacity Building

The following are the important activities undertaken during the year:

GIS District Database Centers

Some of the NRDMS Database Centers were updated with the emphasis of large scale mapping to provide spatial information for local area development planning. In this context, village has been identified as planning unit. To develop methodology for village information system, few pilot studies have been supported. The four NRDMS District Centers have been set up in Karnataka State to cover the entire state upto 2007. Setting up of one district database center has been supported in J&K State. Updation of Kurnool & Mehboob Nagar Districts in Andhra Pradesh and Almora District in Uttaranchal has been supported.

Hydrology of small watersheds

Considering the importance of Small Watersheds in micro level planning the NRDMS Division launched a sub-programme on "Hydrology of Small Watersheds" in 1997. Intensive hydrometeorological monitoring and modeling were undertaken for four different agro ecological regions of the country, in which five different research institutes participated. First phase of the sub-programme completed on September 2003. The second phase has been started with the focus on information generation for the stakeholders in the selected watersheds.

Landslide Hazard Mitigation

Under this programme, landslide hazard zonation mapping and risk assessment on larger scale has been undertaken in selected areas of Uttaranchal State and parts of Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu. Compilation work of publication of a Landslide Hazard Zonation Atlas was completed. Some R&D projects on landslide hazard mitigation were supported to undertake detailed studies on Geological and Geotechnical aspects to help in developing models for slope stability analysis.

A Mission Mode Project on Landslide Hazard Mitigation focusing in Uttaranchal State has been launched. 8 specific landslide sites (4 with Border Roads Organistion and 4 with Public works Departments in Uttaranchal State) have been selected for detailed mapping and analysis to design the site specific preventive measures. These 8 sites have been undertaken for detailed studies with the view that user agencies will implement the preventive measures which would be formulated based on the research work being supported by DST. Thus, it is a user's need based project.

Two short term course on landslide have been organized in IIT, Roorkee and SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur. A workshop focusing landslide problems in North Eastern States has been organized in Manipur University, Imphal.

Bio-Geo Database & Ecological Modeling for the Himalayas

An attempt has been made to upgrade the data standards on the Land use & Soil whereas codification for biological resources have also been generated based on the field experience gathered for the HP study transect. A draft document on data standards/ codification (version 1.0) is proposed to be prepared for submission and further modification to NSDI secretariat.

Interoperability

Interoperable products / systems are essential to barrier-free exchange / sharing of geo-spatial data and services. Efforts are on-going at national and international levels for developing interface standard specifications for developing such products / systems. A Working Group has been constituted on 'Interoperability' to test the efficacy of standards for exchange of geospatial data and maps and suggest strategies for adopting those as a part of creation of spatial data infrastructures in India. As a part of a related test bed experiment, a sample data set has been created in the Open Geospatial Consortium's (OGC's) Geography Markup Language (GML) format displayable in standard browser softwares. In order to test the utility of standards on web-based map and feature data service, a geoserver has been developed and web-enabled using Web Map Service (WMS) and Web Feature Service (WFS) specifications of OGC.

Geo-Information & Communication Technologies (Geo-ICT) for crop diversification in Punjab

Under the recently concluded ITSAP project, integrated multi-thematic pilot databases at a select group of districts and a state level information hub at the State Directorate of Agriculture has been developed for utilizing decision support models in sectors like hydrology, soil-water budgeting, energy management, and pest and disease control. Core capacities at the district level and associated R&D institutions have been developed to further strengthen the state/ district level data system for sustaining agriculture. Presently the State Government is emphasizing on crop diversification and strengthening agricultural infrastructure. Several programmes like "Crop Adjustment", "Maize cultivation", "Cultivation of Summer Moong", and "Intensive Cotton Development" etc. are proposed to be implemented to help shift 1 million hectare area mainly from rice to other potential crops of oilseeds and pulses in the next few years. These require up-gradation and continuous updation of the databases, development of models to understand the interdependencies and interrelationships between different natural processes/ systems and dissemination of the outcomes to the authorities, farmers and other stakeholders. A programme has thus been launched to upgrade the existing information hubs in the State Directorate and the five district level nodes with emerging Geo-ICT tools like spatial database management system, networking etc. to improve availability of existing data and user's accessibility to information. Study of the impact of adoption of alternative cropping systems using the resulting information is receiving greater attention.

National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI)

National Spatial Data Infrastructure Programme is focusing on standardization of the data sets, make the standard sets available on a network, and set up a set of mechanisms and policies for facilitating authentication and availability of various types of spatial data sets collected in the country for use in various developmental purposes. The Committee of Secretaries has approved the Creation of NSDI. A new map policy has been announced to make the maps and map data easily available and accessible to the stakeholders of NSDI. The policy envisages two series of maps one for defence and other for civilian use. Maps in the public domain will have different content, different datum and projection. These maps will also be depicting contours and graticule values.

PURA (Providing urban amenities in rural areas)

As per the directives of His Excellency the President of India, an innovative project for providing urban amenities in rural areas (PURA) was launched in 2003. The basic aim of the project is to develop a typical rural economic model involving physical, electronic, economic and knowledge connectivities. Since, it is a unique project having inter connectivity of various sectors; it may require inputs from multi-disciplinary groups working in the area. DST under NRDMS programme has taken lead to select a block in District Haridwar to develop a model on physical connectivity. To facilitate this, three projects have been supported to various agencies for providing their inputs related to development of comprehensive GIS database of the block on larger scale, development of energy model and development of models for locating the various infrastructure facilities and their interconnectivity.

Damage assessment along with East Coast after the tsunami 2004

Just after the tsunami on 26th December 2004, a multi-disciplinary team of experts was sent to visit the tsunami affected areas in Tamil Nadu for assessing the extent of damage that occurred due to tsunami. On the basis of the assessment report of the team, it was decided to undertake detailed studies on the pattern of damage, preparation of damage maps, which can be efficiently used for relief and rehabilitation operations. Also, soil salinity and drinking water problems were taken up for detailed studies. The deposits and erosion caused by the tsunami were also analyzed.

Creating Awareness about Applications of Geo-Informatics for Local problem solving

Pilot studies launched in the States of Punjab, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh with the goal to create awareness about utility of maps and Geo-informatics for local problem solving among rural masses. Ten schools from each of the four districts of the above States have been selected under the sub-programme. At the end of the sub-programme, about 25,000 students of Class VIII & IX from the selected Schools will be made aware about the application of Geo-Informatics and thus will satisfy the thrust area of "empowerment of people through Information Technology" under Year of Scientific Awareness - 2004.

Indo-Norwegian Programme on "Geo-hazards"

A joint project on "Institutional support and human resource development in applied research for assessment, prevention, mitigation and early warning of tsunamis and landslides in India was approved in May, 2005. The main objective of the project to develop suitable models and methodologies for natural disasters (tsunamis and landslides). A joint Indo-Norwegian Workshop on "Geo-hazards" (tsunamis and landslides) was conducted on 24-25 November, 2005 in Chennai. 10 scientists from ICG, NGI, Oslo University and Norwegian Survey Institute participated in the workshop. Tsunami modeling - wave propagation and Landslide hazard zonation and risk assessment would be the focus in next one year.

Indo Canadian Project in the field of Geomatics and Spatial Information

A joint project between DST and Department of Natural Resources, Canada launched in July, 2005. As a part of this programme, a joint workshop was organized in Mussoorie on June 5-9, 2005. Four Indian scientists have been sent for training in Canada under this programme.

Training and User Workshops

National Workshop on NSDI and was organized. A sensitization workshop for Southern State on NRDMS has been organized in July, 2005 at Bhartidasan University, Trichi. A training workshop for Senior Officers of Survey of India officials on GRAM++ was organized at Visakhapatnam in September, 2005. A summer school on remote sensing and GRAM++ GIS was organized at IIT, Mumbai in July, 2005.