SpatialNews Press Release

Media Lab Asia and CSDMS launches world’s first open-source GIS software for handheld computers

www.csdms.org/gramchitra

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New Delhi, April 29,2002- At the Elitex exhibition organised by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India, Media Lab Asia launched the world’s first open-source Geographical Information System (GIS) software for handheld computers.

The software, GramChitra, has been developed in collaboration with research partner, Centre of Spatial Database Management and Solutions (CSDMS). GIS software enables creation, storage, editing, and accessing of map related databases for visually intuitive and effective decision making.

GramChitra has been developed on the popular Linux operating system to serve as a cost effective means of enabling community level resource management. The software has vast potential applications in areas like census data collection, revenue maps, block-and panchayat level planning for water wells, tube wells, epidemiological data collection for rural healthcare etc.

Typically, the cost of GIS software on PC starts at around Rs. 65,000 and goes up to Rs. 4-5 lakh. Media Lab Asia has decided to release GramChitra free of cost in order to promote the use of GIS software for developmental purposes. The software can be downloaded from www.csdms.org/gramchitra.

Speaking at the release of the software, Prof. Alex Pentland, Director, Media Lab in Asia said that GIS software can serve as a fundamental tool for planning at all levels. “We developed GramChitra on the open-source platform to ensure that this technology can be used at the grassroots level for strategic planning.”

Ravi Gupta, Director of CSDMS said that GIS software like GramChitra is an example of how IT can be used to help the masses. “Maps can be an effective way to collect data and simultaneously display results. Simple national maps are a good starting point for identifying and planning basic village resources. We have worked with village youth and school children to bring about awareness of the utility of maps using the GramChitra software. Henceforth, GIS software need not be limited to scientists and technologists.”

Media lab Asia has also integrated GPS (Global Positioning System) with the GramChitra GIS Software. Users can automatically incorporate on a map, the date, time, location where the data is captured. In future, GramChitra’s capabilities will be extended to support data collection using low cost sensors for water and soil analysis, meterological data, livestock management, environment and ecological conservation and planning etc.

About Media Lab Asia (MLA)

Media Lab Asia (MLA) is a network of R&D institutions dedicated to bringing the benefits of new technologies to everyone, with a special focus on meeting the challenges in learning, health and economic development. MLA’s initiatives revolve around partnerships with three core groups - research, industry and NGOs.

Media Lab Asia has been set up as a not-for-profit company by MIT with seed-funding from Government of India. It has been appointed by the United Nations as its academic and industrial body for the region in the newly created UNICT Task Force. MLA is headquartered in Mumbai and has four research laboratories created on the campuses for the IITs of Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi and Kanpur.

About Centre for Spatial Database Management & Solutions (CSDMS)

As the leading regional centre committed to the promotion of GIS and its usage in various development activities, CSDMS assists Asian community in developing their capabilities and policies to maximize the benefits of GIS through advocacy, training, information and provision of expert advice and assistance.

It has pioneered in bringing India’s first and only GIS monthly GIS@development with over 20,000 readers since its inception 1997. CSDMS has a formal MoU with leading academic institutions and industry associations. It organizes national and international conferences and theme based workshops on GIS, GPS and Remote Sensing. Map India is an annual event being organized for last four years attracting more than 1000 delegates. CSDMS runs training programs on GIS applications in various developmental sectors and software specific courses as well through its well-equipped institute GIS Institute. In addition, CSDMS takes up research projects with government, non-government and international agencies. CSDMS has developed extensive network with various government organizations, research institutes, universities, industry, NGOs and international organizations. Visit www.csdms.org for more details.

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Apr 29, 2002 Jun 26, 2002