The opening session on the 2nd day at the Geospatial Artha Summit focused on the theme of “National Geospatial Infrastructure through Public-Private Partnerships.” Here’s a deep dive into the key insights and perspectives shared by leading figures in the field.
Dr K Sreenivas, the Deputy Director at the National Remote Sensing Centre, highlighted the crucial role of academia in the national geospatial infrastructure.
“The integration of educational institutions with industry players is not just beneficial but necessary for the advancement of geospatial technology. This collaboration can provide a fertile ground for innovation and practical application of academic research in real-world scenarios,” he said.
SK Sinha, Additional SG of the Survey of India, emphasized the importance of collaboration in implementing geospatial infrastructure effectively. He outlined the need for multifaceted partnerships, encompassing government-to-government (G2G), government-to-private (G2P), and private-to-private (P2P) collaborations.
“These partnerships are instrumental in leveraging the strengths of each sector to achieve a common goal,” he emphasised.
Learning through Global Practices
Sajid Malik, Chairman & Managing Director at Genesys International Corporation, urged the audience to consider successful global geospatial models. He discussed the potential of public-private partnerships in bridging the gap between public needs and government capabilities. Malik’s insights into Genesys’ projects, like the digital twin cities of Ayodhya and Dharavi, served as practical examples of what these collaborations can achieve.
Milind Wadodkar, the Chief Soil Survey Officer at Soil & Land Use Survey of India, delved into the complexities of the geospatial database, particularly regarding urban features. He stressed the need for optimizing the utilization of resources from both the public and private sectors to manage these vast databases effectively.
Transformative Strategies
Sameer Datar, State Information Officer at NIC, raised crucial points about the readiness and transformation of government datasets. He called for innovative solutions to integrate and accurately interpret extensive land records, highlighting the necessity of collaboration for effective data management.
Vijay Kumar, Senior Vice President and CTO at Esri India presented a strategic framework for geospatial success. He identified four key pillars: findable data, interoperable technology, collaborative efforts, and the application of geospatial solutions to solve real-world problems. His emphasis on capacity building and awareness underscored the holistic approach needed for success in this field.
Ramakrishnan Ramamurthy, Principal Advisor at Geokno, reflected on the evolution of public-private partnerships in the geospatial sector. He illustrated this evolution through the example of Bombay Airport and highlighted the transformative potential of PPPs in creating market opportunities and impacting communities positively.
Policy and Infrastructure Development
Pankaj Gupta, Director of Sales at Hexagon GeoSystems, expressed satisfaction with the current geospatial policy and discussed the ongoing developments in infrastructure. He emphasized the importance of consistent, quality-controlled data collection for the future of geospatial technology.
Dr K Sreenivas reiterated the importance of Intercoordination in site selection and the evolving role of government in owning geospatial infrastructure. He used the partnership of Genesys as a model for future collaborations, emphasizing the vital role of geodetic and knowledge infrastructure.
The session provided a panoramic view of the current state and future possibilities of the geospatial sector showcasing the power of public-private partnerships and potentially charting a course for future innovations and collaborations.