Geospatial Mapping, 3D Digital Twins Pave The Way For Smart Urban Development In India
The concept of digital twins has emerged as an innovation poised to transform effective planning and resource management. Digital twins, essentially 3D high-resolution images, extend beyond traditional mapping, offering detailed, accurate representations of cities, including precise shadows of buildings and room layouts.
Amid the backdrop of the central government’s Smart Cities Mission (SCM), aimed at developing 100 cities across India, experts highlight the pivotal role that digital twins of cities will play in urban development. The mission seeks to drive economic growth and enhance the quality of life through comprehensive efforts across social, economic, physical, and institutional pillars of the city.
As India's urban population rapidly grows, reaching 487 million people, constituting over 35 per cent of the total population, cities face both opportunities and challenges. The increase in urbanisation brings forth the need for innovative solutions in urban governance and planning.
Geospatial mapping emerges as a powerful tool for urban planning, offering a comprehensive database, visualisations, and infrastructure modelling to address the complexities of urban development. Sajid Malik, Managing Director of Genesys International, emphasised the advantages of geospatial information in enhancing public service delivery and disaster management initiatives.
In urban planning, engineering-grade geospatial data facilitates the creation of detailed 3D digital maps, aiding in identifying areas for development and planning crucial infrastructure projects. This technology also improves the delivery of public services such as citizen safety, security, healthcare, and education.
Cities like Bangalore have successfully implemented geospatial technologies in property tax systems, digitised reference data, and integrated technology for better administration. Varanasi effectively coordinates traffic management with Genesys geospatial data, while Mumbai utilises geo-spatial data for efficient land taxation collection.
Upkar Pathak, Technical Secretary at Survey of India, highlights the utility of 3D digital mapping for infrastructure development and urban planning. Looking towards the future, Hitesh Kumar Makwana, Surveyor General of India, envisions a seamless future where land parcels will be transacted and registered akin to Unified Payment Interface (UPI). Geospatial mapping and digital twins are heralding a new era in smart urban development in India.
