GEO-SPATIAL DATA AND CARTOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES TO TRACK, COMPARE AND REPRESENT LONGER TERM DEVELOPMENTS : SURVEY

INFORMATION TO BE USED FROM SATELLITES, DRONES AND MOBILE PHONES ALONGSIDE IMPROVEMENT IN CARTOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY

GEOSPATIAL AND CARTOGRAPHIC DATA USED TO ANALYSE PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

METRO-RAIL NETWORK OF CITIES CAN BE USED FOR TRACKING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND DEVELOPMENT

ANNUAL WATER STORAGE CYCLE, POPULATION DENSITY, URBAN EXPANSION AND WASTELAND REDEPLOYMENT ALSO COMPARED IN THE SURVEY

The usage of new forms of data and information for tracking the economic activity and development is an important theme this year. The Economic Survey for FY 2021-22, tabled in the Parliament today by Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, lays emphasis on this approach and mentions that geo-spatial data and cartographic techniques can be used to track, compare and represent longer term developments.

The Survey highlights the importance of Geospatial maps in visualizing data to better understand trends, relationships and patterns. The availability of plethora of information from satellites, drones, mobile phones and other sources alongside a dramatic improvement in cartographic technology allows a better use of this data set for public good..

The Economic Survey illustrates some of the interesting ways of depicting Geo-spatial data:

1. Comparison of Night-time luminosity data between 2012 and 2021

It provides an interesting representation of the expansion of electricity supply, the geographical distribution of population and economic activity, urban expansion as well as growth of ribbon developments between urban hubs. 

                    

India Night-time Luminosity 2012                             India Night-time Luminosity 2021

2. Expansion of National Highways

India’s National Highway Network has grown from 71,772 Km in August 2011 to 1,40,152 Km August 2021.

         

India’s National Highway Network                                        India’s National Highway Network

 (As of August 2011)                                                         (As of August  2021)

 

3. Comparison of Number of Operationalised Airports in India between 2016 and 2021

The number of Operationalised Airports (Pre-UDAN) has grown from 62 (As of Nov. 2016) to 130 by December 2021.

      

Number of Operationalised Airports (As of Nov. 2016)        Number of Operationalised Airports (As of Dec. 2021)

4. Comparison of Metro-rail network between 2011 and 2021

The Survey studies the Metro-rail Network of various cities and makes a case for the usage of data for tracking economic activity and development.

• Delhi Metro-rail network between 2011 and 2021

    

          Delhi Metro-rail Network 2011                              Delhi Metro-rail Network 2021

          The Delhi Metro-rail Network has grown from 145 operational Stations with a length of 196.35 Km (As of Dec. 2011) to 286 operational stations and a length of 390.14 Km (As of Dec. 2021)

• Bangalore Metro-rail network between 2011 and 2021

              

 

          Bangalore Metro-rail Network 2011                      Bangalore Metro-rail Network 2021

 

The Bangalore Metro-rail Network has also grown from just 6 stations being operational with a length of 6.7 km (As of Dec. 2011) to 52 operational stations with a length of 56.2 km (As of Dec. 2021)

The Economic Survey has also presented the data/information using the satellite imaging for Annual water storage, Population densities of various cities, Kharif Crop Cycle and Wasteland redeployment among others to focus on the theme of using “new forms of data and information for tracking economic activity and development.”

Geo spatial data to track and visualise long term economic and infrastructure development for policy relevant monitoring. Geospatial data and advanced cartographic techniques are recommended as systematic tools for tracking, comparing and representing long term economic and physical development using satellites, drones, mobile phones and improved cartography. Applications illustrated include night time luminosity mapping for electricity access and economic concentration, satellite monitoring of annual water storage and agricultural cycles, and comparative mapping of transport and urban infrastructure - national highways, operational airports and metro rail networks - to quantify spatial expansion and inform policy relevant tracking of development.