Collecting data about complex real-world problems is the first step in solving them. This step has been successfully pioneered by drones. their use in mining, construction, rural development, and other fields. is well established.
However, processing such a large amount of data presents a constant obstacle. As a result, businesses have begun investigating cloud computing.
India is a diverse nation with a vastly different topography. The government of India (GOI) will need to create a large database of high-resolution GIS data in order to develop rural areas.
While drones can collect data at a relatively rapid rate, the problem has been converting this data into datasets that can be used.
In April 2021, the Government of India (GOI) and the Survey of India (SOI) launched the SVAMITVA scheme to map all rural lands using drones. Landowners are provided with a “Record of Rights” via property cards, and land parcels are being mapped.
The liberalization of geospatial (GIS) policies is one of the many factors that contributed to this mission’s success. The GOI liberalized geospatial data in February 2021, making it easier for private organizations to process data.
Cloud computing plays a huge role in this project. Drone-collected GIS data can be directly processed on a cloud platform without the need for permits or approvals. Processing time constraints, the requirement for data labs, pricey software licenses, and hardware to view and share processed datasets are all solved by cloud computing. As a result, land surveying can now be simplified thanks to workflow automation thanks to cloud computing.
SVAMITVA is a nationwide initiative that encompasses approximately 6.65 lakh villages. It is impossible to set up the physical infrastructure to handle such a large amount of data. Over 4,000 TB of data would be collected if all SVAMITVA villages were mapped, according to estimates. Numerous issues arise when this data is stored in a decentralized system. First, the cost of physical drives and Network Access Storage (NAS) for storage is high. Additionally, data cannot be shared or used by multiple parties simultaneously, and there is always a high risk of loss.
A centralized system that can be viewed, shared, and analyzed simultaneously from anywhere is made possible by cloud computing. It truly empowers business intelligence by eliminating hardware and software restrictions. Survey data typically serve no other purpose than updating land records. However, geospatial data captured by drones can be used to plan rooftop solar projects, fibernet networks, water pipeline networks, and effective sewage planning. As a result, cloud computing generates valuable datasets that can be used in a variety of fields.
Security is yet another significant obstacle encountered when working with decentralized datasets. Physical drives are more vulnerable to attacks and security flaws, in addition to corruption loss. A solid cloud platform ensures that there is a management hierarchy. In addition, it establishes a storage standard that can be followed by businesses all over the country. As a result, there is less effort required to exchange information.
It becomes harder to misuse the data when you have a centralized repository that is accessible to everyone in real time. Comparatively, drones are more effective than manual survey methods. However, their adaptability is compromised without cloud computing. For instance, the process of rectifying errors or lost data in a mapped area can cause months of delay in the entire process. It can happen immediately with cloud integration.
Empowering Business Intelligence Cloud-processed data becomes a valuable resource due to its multi-sector application. It has the potential to become a dependable source of revenue for businesses and governments alike. These high-resolution datasets are crucial to the planning process as new urban and rural projects are ordered. It helps satisfy a number of government programs, including the PM Awas Yojna, Bharat FiberNet, and PM Gram Sadak Yojna.
For instance, officials can use DEM layers and SVAMITVA data to figure out the best way to run power lines through rural areas for electrification. In a similar vein, engineers can use digital terrain maps to design effective gravity-aided sewage networks and determine the natural slopes.
GIS data can be centrally stored with cloud computing, which has the potential to spur innovation. This kind of data sharing had software and hardware limitations prior to cloud processing. However, accessing high-quality data is simple thanks to the cloud’s national unified data standards. This data can also be easily distributed to stakeholders in academia, industry, and the scientific community with the help of AI, ML, and image processing in order to extract more impactful outcomes more quickly.
Cloud computing can help eliminate unnecessary components in addition to improving processing speed, providing unlimited storage, and making it easier to access information. For instance, the SVAMITVA plan will eliminate the requirement for physical land record registers by utilizing drones and cloud processing.
This has a series of advantages that will directly affect the lives of those who live there. In addition, the country is benefiting from the implementation of end-to-end solutions in the creation of thousands of high-skilled jobs and a cutting-edge drone industry. As a result, a single geospatial database has cascading advantages that will affect over a billion people and their children.
