The unveiling of
the National Map Policy by Ministry of
Science and Technology, Government of
India in May 2005 is a historic decision,
a major step forward. However, the policy
raises both expectations and questions.
The section contains National Map Policy
and views of following experts:
Dr
Muneendra Kumar, Senor WGS 84,
consulted to 100+ countries around the
world
All socio-economic
developmental activities, conservation of natural
resources, planning for disaster mitigation and
infrastructure development require high quality
spatial data. The advancements in digital technologies
have now made it possible to use diverse spatial
databases in an integrated manner. The responsibility
for producing, maintaining and disseminating the
topographic map database of the whole country,
which is the foundation of all spatial data vests
with the Survey of India (SOI). Recently, SOI
has been mandated to take a leadership role in
liberalizing access of spatial data to user groups
without jeopardizing national security. To perform
this role, the policy on dissemination of maps
and spatial data needs to be clearly stated.
2 Objectives
• To provide, maintain and allow access
and make available the National Topographic Database
(NTDB) of the SOI conforming to national standards.
• To promote the use of geospatial knowledge
and intelligence through partnerships and other
mechanisms by all sections of the society and
work towards a knowledge-based society.
3 Two series
of maps
To ensure
that in the furtherance of this policy, national
security objectives are fully safeguarded, it
has been decided that there will be two series
of maps namely
a. Defence Series Maps (DSMs)- These will be the
topographical maps (on Everest/WGS-84 Datum and
Polyconic/UTM Projection) on various scales (with
heights, contours and full content without dilution
of accuracy). These will mainly cater for defence
and national security requirements. This series
of maps (in analogue or digital forms) for the
entire country will be classified, as appropriate,
and the guidelines regarding their use will be
formulated by the Ministry of Defence.
b. Open Series Maps (OSMs) – OSMs will be
brought out exclusively by SOI, primarily for
supporting development activities in the country.
OSMs shall bear different map sheet numbers and
will be in UTM Projection on WGS-84 datum. Each
of these OSMs (in both hard copy and digital form)
will become “Unrestricted” after obtaining
a one-time clearance of the Ministry of Defence.
The content of the OSMs will be as given in Annexure
‘iA’. SOI will ensure that no civil
HOPE vs HYPE and military Vulnerable Areas and
Vulnerable Points (VA’s/ VP’s) are
shown on OSMs.
The SOI will issue from time to time detailed
guidelines regarding all aspects of the OSMs like
procedure for access by user agencies, further
dissemination/sharing of OSMs amongst user agencies
with or without value additions, ways and means
of protecting business and commercial interests
of SOI in the data and other incidental matters.
Users will be allowed to publish maps on hard
copy and web with or without GIS database. However,
if the international boundary is depicted on the
map, certification by SOI will be necessary. In
addition, the SOI is currently preparing City
Maps. These City Maps will be on large scales
in WGS-84 datum and in public domain. The contents
of such maps will be decided by the SOI in consultation
with Ministry of Defence.
4 National Topographical
Database
SOI will
continue to create, develop and maintain the National
Topographical Data Base (NTDB) in analogue and
digital forms consisting of following data sets:
a. National Spatial Reference Frame,
b. National Digital Elevation Model,
c. National Topographical Template,
d. Administrative Boundaries, and
e. Toponomy (place names).
Both the DSMs and OSMs will be derived from the
NTDB.
5 Map dissemination
and usage
•
Open Series Maps of scales larger than 1:1 million
either in analogue or digital formats can be disseminated
by SOI by sale or through an agreement to any
agency for specific end use. This transaction
will be registered in the Registration database
with details of the receiving agency, end use
etc.
• Through the agreement, SOI will allow
a user to add value to the maps obtained (either
in analogue or digital formats) and prepare his
own value-added maps.
• The user should be able to share these
maps with others – the information of all
such sharing will also require to be logged in
the Map Transaction Registry.
6 Applicability
of previous instructions
The Ministry
of Defence has from time to time issued detailed
guidelines on various aspects of map access and
use. These instructions shall continue to hold
good but for the modifications cited herein.
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