Context: The easing of curbs on our geospatial data use will enable and transform a vast range of web services.
Key Features of Guidelines on Geospatial and Map Regulations
No prior approvals and security clearances: for the areas to be blacked out
Self-certification: Map companies will be trusted to self-certify their compliance.
No map should identify or associate any place on a map with a list of prohibited attributes.
Permitted export of maps: above specified threshold values (1-metre horizontal resolution and 3 metres vertical) and allowed their storage on an internet cloud.
Permitted use of advanced cartographic technologies (capable of creating high-resolution three-dimensional maps).
Usage Limited to Indian entities: in terms of advanced mapping technologies by Indian entities and storage of maps created by technologies to Indian servers or a domestic cloud.
Significance of New Guidelines on Geospatial and Map Regulation of India
Replaced obsolete mapping policy: that was based on decade-old anachronistic mapping practices.
Improve the ease and cost of doing business: Random acts of enforcement without guidelines acted as a cost of doing business for companies.
Made all the location-based services apps legal by allowing their storage on an internet cloud.
Benefits of advanced cartographic technologies:
Navigation systems: Hyper-resolution Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) maps can be used in navigation systems.
Logistics and delivery solutions: deploying drones for automated doorstep delivery (by extruding mapped surfaces into the third dimension).
Manage utilities such as power grids and water and sewage infrastructure.
Revolutionize warehousing and inventory management.
Provide a competitive edge to Indian start-ups by restricting usage of advanced cartographic technologies to Indian entities only and removing harsh regulations.