Orissa launches India's first Geo-Spatial Data System

Breaking News! In order to combat frequent floods, cyclones and other natural disasters like heatwave, the Orissa government has launched a geo-spatial daya system, which is the first of its kind in India. The service was launched by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The instrument used in the geo-spatial data system was designed by ISRO.

The geo-spatial system was a combination of a medium resolution camera, a GPS (Geographical Positioning System), a Palmtop computer and a mobile phone set. the geo-spatial data system was developed in collaboration with National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderbad.

The service was launched to mark the ninth anniversary of Super Cyclone that killed over 10,000 people and left millions homeless in 1999. The Orissa government has decided to set up five more units of Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and will install doppler radars in Paradip, Gopalpur and Sambalpur. Doppler radars will help in getting clear information three to four days ahead of the Cyclone if the cyclone is in the radius of 400 km of the doppler radar.