NATMO To Make Indian Maps Go Digital Within A Year

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is currently considering a proposal by NATMO or The National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation to develop a digital library where anybody can check an e-version of Indian maps (since they will be put up on an open-access domain). On approval this move will let all Indian maps go digital in several regional languages. The maps will be thematic and represent the different views on fronts such as environmental, physical, socio-economic, cultural, demographic, etc. This National Atlas will be of great help for scientists, researchers and students.



If things go as planned, the thematic maps of India will be available in the digital world within an year. A committee of scientific experts will oversee the development of these maps so that they are formed by keeping in mind the scientific vision. Moreover, several web applications based on location-based services of the maps will also be developed at NATMO.

In accordance with the Government of India's 'Digital India' initiative, DST is contributing in a very big way. The organisation is in the process of designing several training programmes for working with the Survey of India for digital mapping. The team also feels the need of an scientific interface which can guide them about the technology upgrades and in which direction they should move. For this purpose, they need the involvement of digital communication experts and web technology developers.

Source: NATMO