All Things Policy Why India Needs Unified Geospatial Data Portal System
Jan 14, 2026
Y. Nithiyanandam, a professor and head of the geospatial research program at the Takshashila Institution, dives into the vast world of geospatial data. He explains how everyday devices generate this data and its role in shaping urban governance. The discussion highlights the issues of fragmented data across various portals and advocates for a unified, user-friendly system. Nithiyanandam also explores the potential of thematic portals and Geo AI, positioning India as a future leader in geospatial technology.
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Everyday Sources Of Geospatial Data
- Geospatial data is any dataset with a spatial reference like latitude/longitude.
- Our phones, cars and IoT devices constantly generate such location-tagged data.
How Traffic Apps Turn Movement Into Maps
- Traffic apps convert millions of users' movement into live congestion maps.
- Users supply the raw location data and receive back colour-coded traffic insights.
Government Portals Publish Diverse Geodata
- Governments and private groups publish satellite, pollution and flood data on portals for public use.
- Portals often provide both raw and processed data for download and analysis.