GIS services can help cities visualise and continually monitor their existing governance systems. Where data exists in 2D formats, fresh data is gathered to create 3D base maps, by adding the Z or height dimension to old 2D maps with XY axis as latitude and longitude. 

3D data is collected using LiDAR – terrestrial, aerial and mobile driven. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) secures data on what is below the ground. This is usually for utilities or cables that are below roads or footpaths. This data is normally used by SoftTech in two ESRI products – ArcMap and GIS Pro. ESRI is a 35-40 year-old US-based company, which continuously develops and enhances its GIS products.

GIS products come in the desktop version, that can be used on laptops or PCs, and the server-based version. The server-based model is web-based and the data can be shared within the organisation, especially when there are multiple offices. For example, in the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), which has a number of offices, there are many wards within the 450 square kilometres of area. So the server is crucial for everyone to access data or applications.

Enterprise GIS uses data with an application or portal that can be accessed from anywhere. This can be integrated with other businesses or systems too. GIS is an independent system that can integrate with the CivitPERMIT` as well. Utilities such as water, gas, electric cable and infrastructure such as roads, ride this system. Public safety is another service where the police use this data and application. Governance, communication, transportation and healthcare also use GIS as a facilitator.

IoT & SCADA data: Nowadays, as many municipalities have IoT sensors and even Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), that data also can be integrated into the GIS platform. Thus it can connect with any data that is available with the municipal corporation. SoftTech Engineers Limited can then build the analysis and the application for the respective departments.

Infra Project monitoring: The GIS-based dashboard for project monitoring is also crucial for assessing where roads are getting constructed or what buildings are getting built. But the city also does infrastructure work. So the GIS data can also be integrated with CivitINFRA so that there is a holistic use of the gathered data.

During the setup SoftTech engineers assess data availability and quality of data in the city. They also assess if the city has already mapped underground utilities? Are the different departments talking to each other? After this a template of what is available and what has to be collected, mapped is created.

SoftTech Engineers Limited usually gives cities end-to-end solutions. The IT or engineering departments are engaged and enterprise solutions are worked out. This way it is implemented for all departments, whether to the town planning department for preparing master plans, water utilities, water supply networks, property tax and so on. GIS is currently a de facto standard for property tax, town planning or master plans. There are now various levels of policies and government resolutions in place across various states.

For the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), development plans have been created up to 2034 using GIS. But regularly they have some changes or modifications, depending on the growth of the cities and its infrastructure development. The survey is a very crucial part of the process. And depending on the requirement survey, data is synced with available data.

In industrial development, Maharashtra Industrial Township Limited and slum rehabilitation departments are serviced.

Sometimes the municipality simply buys the product and integrates with some applications they have been managing on their own application. So it’s a mix – various permutations and combinations which work.

The good news is that the process has begun. As climate change and rapid urbanisation push for faster implementation of solutions, these technology solutions are being considered more and more. And with newer municipalities and townships exploring the tech solutions options, a series of case studies have been evolved and the tech teams try to work with city teams to study their existing systems and whether they have the GIS data available. Benefits are discussed and proofs of concepts are explored.

SoftTech offers a comprehensive suite of geospatial services, including base map creation, DGPS surveying, field surveying, drone and LiDAR surveys, and enterprise GIS platform development, along with customized web GIS and mobile applications.