ISRO arm Antrix, Scanpoint to do geo-mapping of Surat city

Earlier this year, Microsoft Corp had selected Surat to develop it as a 'smart city' under the CityNext initiative

Even as Surat is being developed as ‘smart city’ under Microsoft’s CityNext Initiative, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has now roped in players like Antrix Corporation (the marketing arm of ISRO) and Scanpoint Geomatics for geo-mapping of the city.

Earlier this year, Microsoft Corp had selected Surat to develop it as a ‘smart city’ under the initiative, wherein the company aims to use a combination of cloud technology, mobile applications, data analytics and social networks to provide real-time data of all civic services. Systems will also be developed to tackle natural disasters more effectively with the use of information technology.

While Microsoft is likely to submit a report next week on eight areas of utilities and services that would be digitised, the other two are assisting SMC in mapping the whole city that will soon provide details such as town planning schemes, vector-borne diseases prone areas and emergency services, among others.

The geo-mapping, known as geographic information system (GIS) mapping, will look to enhance present systems where digital world is integrated with real world in all aspects wherein accurate data on virtually anything and everything about Surat will be made available.

“Microsoft will be submitting a detailed report on the specific civil services that the company will tap as part of the initiative.  However, on its part, the SMC is also ensuring that the city moves quicker towards being a smart city. Hence, we have roped in ISRO arm Antrix Corporation and Ahmedabad-based Scanpoint Geomatics for geo-mapping of the city,” said CY Bhatt, deputy municipal commissioner at SMC.

Post the geo-mapping, citizens of the diamond city will be able to access important information online about the city such as civic locations, town planning schemes, last mile connectivity of utilities as well as information on vector-borne diseases prone city areas.  

“Citizens will not only be able to access information online but also take printout for documentation. While Antrix will be providing the necessary software and technology, the mapping is being done by Scanpoint Geomatics,” said Bhatt.

On the other hand, once submitted, the detailed report by Microsoft will be subject to SMC’s standing committee’s approval, post which the software technology major is expected to begin work on the smart city initiative.

As part of the project, several mobile applications will be developed for availing of civic services.

For instance, town planning department work will also be made simpler in the ‘smart city’ project, wherein a mobile application will allow developers and architects will be able to submit their town planning plans online and track progress.

Meanwhile, a Microsoft team had also visited existing SMC facility of e-governance in all the departments for the project.