Kerala Takes Lead In Setting Up State Spatial Data Infrastructure

Kerala Government has taken the lead to create, maintain and deliver geospatial data and metadata for their external clients, in real time. It has announced the setting up of a Spatial Data Infrastructure called Kerala State Spatial Data Infrastructure (KSSDI) and the state government has already approved Rs 937 lakhs for the project. The objective of the SSDI is to provide a basis for spatial data discovery, evaluation and application for users and providers within all levels of government, the commercial sector, the non-profit sector, academia and by citizens in general.

The Geo portal, once set up, will allow users spread across the Internet to view and query the spatial information and the related maps. KSSDI will act as a Web gateway to access geospatial data content with facility to search, locate and publish geospatial data, which end users can access, download, integrate, share and publish in response to the needs of diverse user groups. The portal will maintain, process, store, distribute and improve the utilisation of geo-spatial data for planners, decision makers and public.

Dr Ajay Kumar, secretary for IT, Government of Kerala, said, “The Kerala SSDI is a major initiative in Kerala, to satisfy data exchanges between users and provide integrated spatial information services. The SSDI is the next logical step of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) set-up at the national level and Kerala is one of the first states in the country to take this initiative forward.”

The KSSDI would be located in Tecnopark adjoining the new State Data Centre. The proximity with the State Data Centre is expected to bring in synergies for the State Spatial Data Infrastructure.

Dr Samsudin, scientist, Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS), said, “The objective of the KSSDI is to create a reliable and supporting environment to access geographically-related information using a minimum set of standard practices, protocols and specifications. With sustained support of the government, we aim for the Geo portal to be operational by August 2010”.