CDPG Announces Operational Availability Of Integrated Geospatial Data-sharing Interface - ‘GDI’

- The Initiative is Set to Revolutionising Data Sharing in the Geospatial domain -

The Centre for Data for Public Good (CDPG), FSID, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru (IISc), is thrilled to announce the operational availability of  its groundbreaking initiative – Integrated Geospatial Data-sharing Interface (GDI). GDI is aimed at harnessing the power of geospatial intelligence to address critical challenges and empower communities across India. The platform has been developed in partnership with the Survey of India (SoI) and is funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India (DST). 

GDI is a key component of launched Operation Dronagiri, the pilot phase of the National Geospatial Policy 2022, aimed at revolutionising geospatial data accessibility and utility in India. Operation Dronagiri was recently launched by the Geospatial Data Promotion & Development Committee (GDPDC).

The GDI platform is a dynamic, federated system designed to enable seamless data sharing, access, and analysis across sectors such as urban planning, environmental conservation, disaster response, and more. With robust privacy-preserving tools and advanced data exchange protocols, GDI fosters responsible collaboration, empowering organisations to drive impactful decisions.

By facilitating seamless data exchange, GDI enables startups, large enterprises, and research institutions to address pressing challenges, such as improving agricultural practices, enhancing supply chain logistics, and creating new livelihood opportunities, particularly for rural artisans and women.

Key Features of GDI:

·        A federated platform adhering to global geospatial standards like OGC and STAC.

·        Data contributions from leading organisations, including Survey of India, NRSC-ISRO, Geological SoI, Forest Survey of India, Indian Meteorological Department, ICAR, and more.

·        User-focused design encouraging feedback for continuous improvement and dataset expansion.

Commenting on this, Prof. Inder Gopal, Chairman of CDPG and Research Professor at IISc, emphasised, “GDI represents a paradigm shift in how geospatial data can drive meaningful impact across sectors. This initiative aligns with the National Geospatial Policy 2022, ensuring that India's geospatial resources are accessible, actionable, and impactful.”

Collaborative Vision for the Future

GDI also marks the beginning of a collaborative journey. Users, researchers, and stakeholders are encouraged to engage with the platform, provide feedback, and propose new use cases to maximise its potential.

Commenting about the availability of the platform Dr. Anand Lakshmanan, Founder & CEO, Sirpi Products and Services Private Limited said, “At Sirpi, we leverage the GDI platform to develop and explore potential solutions for the energy sector. Granular maps and associated spatial data, which were previously siloed, are now accessible through simple, secure APIs. This significantly reduces the time required to move from concept to MVP as we explore additional domains for business expansion based on new client requests.”

“We are thrilled about the potential of the GDI to harness the power of technology to revolutionize disaster management. By integrating diverse datasets, the GDI helps us to create impact assessment, response efforts, and improve predictive capabilities”, said Vignesh Kandasamy, Founder, Thazhal Geospatial Analytics. 

Access the GDI platform here: https://catalogue.geospatial.org.in/

About GDI:

The Integrated Geospatial Data-sharing Interface (GDI) is a pioneering initiative by the Centre for Data for Public Good (CDPG) at IISc Bengaluru, developed under the National Geospatial Policy 2022. It is supported by FSID and a network of national agencies, enabling innovative solutions to India's critical challenges through integrated geospatial data