Annual Report 1999-2000

Scientific Services

Survey of India

Survey of India, with its headquarters at Dehra Dun, has been charged with the responsibility of preparing various types of maps on various scales and generating the topographical data for the last 233 years. It bears a special responsibility to ensure that the country's domain is explored and mapped suitably to provide base maps for planners, administrators and academicians and ensure that all resources contribute their full measure to the progress and security of the nation. Besides, it has also been carrying out Geodetic and Geophysical Surveys and allied research work in the areas of tidal, gravity, geomagnetic and project surveys for tunnel alignment, crustal movement and dam deformation studies etc. Some of the highlights during the period under report are as under:

Technology Development Projects

i) Modernization of Tide gauge network along Indian Coast line and Islands is in progress under Sea-level Monitoring and Modeling (SELMAM) Project assisted by the Department of Ocean Development (DOD). Tidal data from Acoustic Type Tide Gauges and Float Type Digital Tide Gauges installed at various parts is being generated and received at National Tidal Data Centre, Dehra Dun for processing and analysis of results.

ii) A Standing Committee for Cartography under NNRMS is working out the procedure and specifications of a National Spatial Data Infrastructure aimed to enable users to access a standard cartographic database for superimposing their thematic information for research and analysis in GIS environment.

iii) The following Projects are in hand in Digital Mapping Centres:

• Formulation and Updation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to standardise the procedure for preparation of DCDBs on 1:250,000 and larger scales.
• Standardisation of symbols to be used in topographical maps compatible with digital techniques.
• Development of GRAM-GIS Package for use in rural development in collaboration with IIT, Mumbai under NRDMS programme of DST.

Basic Research Projects

(i) Geodetic and Geophysical

• Data generation and its processing for redefinition of Indian Geodetic Datum.
  
• Adjustment of Second Level Net of India to refine Vertical Datum.

ii) Oceanographic work

• Analysis of Tidal Data for updating the Tidal Constituents for using these for improvement in prediction of Tides.
  
• Maintenance of National Tidal Data Centre and receiving/ processing of tidal data of various ports.

Technologies Transferred/ Commercialised

i) Proposal for setting up a Geomatics Centre at Delhi for the purpose of making the digital/ geographical data available to public and other organisations engaged in development planning has been submitted. This will enable scientists and planners of various Government and Non-government organisations to extract useful information from the digital data base and model it in desirable formats. Besides imparting job experience to the participants, the centre will earn revenue for its sustainability.

ii) Technology for indigenous production of Photo opaque as an import substitute item for touching of film negatives has been developed in collaboration with Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad. The production of photo opaque is being supplied to various Survey of India Directorate/ Reproduction units.

iii) The production of touch-up fluid again an import subsitute item, required to correct scribed originals is being undertaken in R&D directorate for using within the department.

Technology Demonstration Projects Undertaken in the Area of Socio-Economic Development

i) District Planning Map Series - A project on preparation of district planning maps containing thematic information is continued. 135 maps have been printed out of 249 maps covering half the districts of India. Districts planning maps for remaining half of the area are being processed by National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation (NATMO). These maps are being utilised by the Government, non-government organisations and private agencies in socio-economic development of the nation.

ii) Coastal Mapping - Coastal mapping along the Eastern coast line has been in progress to study the effect of submergence due to rise in sea-level and other natural phenomenon. Ground surveys have been completed for the proposed coastal region and maps are under printing.

iii) Geodetic surveys : Geodetic surveys for tunnel alignment and other structures such as Dam, Power House Complex etc. for Tala Hydro-Electric Project in Bhutan had been in progress. Large scale surveys and mapping on various scales for about 27 developmental projects have also been in progress.

- Geodetic and Research Branch (G&RB) is responsible for carrying out Geodetic Horizontal and Vertical control for national mapping programme. Tidal, gravity and magnetic observations across the country for various scientific studies and control for the project surveys involving tunnel alignments, dam deformation studies, crustal movement studies etc. During the year, the Geodetic and Research Branch (G&RB) is committed to provide 350 GPS stations, 3140 lin km of high precision/ precision leveling besides gravity and geomagnetic observations as departmental commitment.

Research Highlights

i) Geodetic & Geophysical Surveys viz. Tidal observations, Gravity observations, Geomagnetic observations, Tunnel alignment, Crustal movement studies have been carried out in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Daman and Diu to generate data for further research work with regard to seismic and seismotectonics activities, in earthquake prone areas.

ii) With the operationalisation of Digital Mapping Centres in the department, several application softwares have been developed to create DCDBs for value added digital products. Some of the S/W developments are listed below:

• Development of Programme for DVD-1 format to DGN format and DGN format to DVD-1 format.
• Development of S/W for conversion of DRW formats to DGN format.
• To demonstrate the capability/ feasibility of the digital environment regarding digitisation of tidal charts, interpolation and error correction.
• A team of two officers from Survey of India participated in the 18th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica. The objective of this team was to provide precise ground control points for Geographical & Geophysical field work and densification of the Topographical control (Horizontal & Vertical) in the area covering additional base stations for carrying out contoured mapping at 1 M vertical interval. Two officers from Survey of India will participate in the 19th Antarctica Expedition during October 1999 to March 2000.

Any Other Information

i) International Boundaries

Demarcation, Relocation and Construction of boundary pillars and preparation of Strip-Maps of Indo-Nepal, Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh boundaries remained in progress during the year.

ii) Topographical Surveys and Mapping

• Survey on 1:25K scale are being taken up on selective basis according to the priorities indicated by the Central/ State Governments and other user communities.
• Most of the maps on the primary scale of 1:50K covering the entire country have been printed. Revision surveys for updating these maps is in progress.
• Maps on 1:250K scale covering the entire country have been published and updation of maps is in progress.
• Compilation of various Geographical maps, State maps, Guide maps etc. are being continuously carried out. Also, surveys and mapping pertaining to various developmental schemes and projects of national importance are being executed.

During the year, 703 Departmental, 250 Extra departmental, 24 Geographical maps and 72 I.A.F. maps/ charts are expected to be printed.

iii) Digital Cartography

• Digitization of 1:250K scale and 1:50,K scale sheets is in progress. 547 topo sheets on various scales have so far been digitized and 55 sheets are at various stages of digitisation.
• Digitization of 1:25K scale maps is also being carried out directly from the field P.T. Sections. Digitization of 35 sheets is expected to be completed during the year.

iv) Gazetteer of Geographical Names - Preparation of Gazetteer of Geographical names district wise has been started to standardise use of names in all references.

v) Printing and Publication

Other than the regular printing/ publication of the topographical maps on various scales, Geographical maps etc. the following special purpose maps/ publications were also brought out:

• Wall Map of India & Adjacent Countries on 1:8 M scale in Hindi & English.
• Motoring Map of India.
• 135 District Planning Maps.
• Road Map of India (New Design) on 1:2.5M scale.
• Indian Tide Tables - 1999.
• Hugli River Tide Tables - 1999.
• MSS copies of the Indian Tide Tables and Hugli River Tide Tables for the year 2000 are in process.

vi) Human Resource Development and Training

Various courses connected with surveying and mapping, digital cartography were continued at the Survey Training Institute, Hyderabad. Officers/ trainees from the department, extra department and private organisations and foreign nationals are undergoing training in the Survey Training Institute.

In addition to above, special training in digital cartography and GPS observation was given to the trainees in Digital Mapping Centres, Modern Cartographic Centre and Geodetic and Research Branch, Dehra Dun.