National spatial data infrastructure (NSDI), an initiative of the Government of India, which is at its advanced stage of implementation, envisages provision of geospatial data to users. To realise its objectives, however, initiatives need to be taken not only at the national level but also at the state level. Each state acting as a node to the NSDI and well connected to all districts provides a three-tier structure. This process helps in creating real data infrastructure that meets the information needs of various stakeholders. To test and prove this concept in practice, the National Resources Development System (NRDMS) in collaboration with the Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (KSCST) has undertaken a research and development project to create a State spatial data infrastructure for the state of Karnataka. For this purpose, it has set out to create district geospatial data centres in all the 27 districts of the state and host a state level geo-portal, connecting all the districts and the NSDI, to help users access the collaged data and provide S&T inputs for decentralised planning at the local level.
Once created, the KSSDI will facilitate the following:
• transparency in public spending
• optimum utilisation of scarce resources and decision-making based on scientific reasoning
• creation of a basic information highway for good governance
• avoid duplication and redundancy, thereby reducing project cost
• Single point source of all geospatial infrastructure
About Karnataka NRDMS Programme: KSCST initiated the Karnataka NRDMS programme in 1992 and since then, has established District NRDMS centres in the State with active support and funding from the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, and the Government of Karnataka. The main objective of this programme is to create a digital database on natural resources, demography, socio-economy, agro-economy, infrastructure etc related to villages using GIS and develop applications suitable for local level planning.