February 6, 2002
'28'
POWER MINISTRY TO MAKE USE OF GIS IN TRANSMISSION, GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION REFORMS
The Minister of Power, Shri Suresh Prabhu has said that his Ministry has decided to make use of the Geographic Information System (GIS) technology in pursuing reforms in the transmission, generation and distribution sector. The Minister of Power was speaking here today while delivering the Presidential address at the 5th Annual International Conference - Map India 2002. This is Asia’s largest conference and exhibition on GIS and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS), Aerial Photography and Remote Sensing. Shri Prabhu said GIS and GPS are useful in attempting to fully utilize India’s hydro potential which stands at 1,50,000 MW. GIS would also help in giving information for developing a correct balance in protecting the environment and developing of hydel power and transmission networks, he said. GIS can synthesize micro and macro level analysis of such problems, the Minister emphasized. The Ranking Study on hydro power projects conducted by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) which was released by the Minister yesterday extensively uses GIS in its report. The Minister also released a document "Role of GIS, GPS in the power sector".
In recent years, India is emerging as a major data conversion center for GIS with major importers from US, Europe, Japan and Australia operating directly or subletting work to Indian Information Technology Companies. The present export of the Indian GIS industry is around US $80 million of which around US $60 million is exported to North America alone. The GIS export industry employs more than 8000 people. Industry estimates say a 15-20% growth in service exports to the US is expected in the next couple of years.
GIS is a computer system capable of assembling, storing, manipulating and displaying geographically referenced information. The computerized integration of information through spatial links has the ability to greatly enhance decision making across a wide range of applications.