In a first, mapping of city using drones commences

The GIS mapping survey will cover the whole of the city in 120 days. The project called ‘Preparation of base map using geo-spatial techniques’ was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration Minister SP Velumani. “The drones will survey everything in the city, from roads, drains and lamp posts and the map will be used for development purposes,” he told mediapersons.

The project received Rs 6.43 crore funding from the World Bank. It will be executed in an area spanning 426 sq. km., using two drones.

The Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board will be managing the project. The GIS will be used along with the available statistics for infrastructural development of the city like fixing Storm Water Drains (SWD), Solid Waste Management (SMW), road infrastructure, street lighting, metro water projects, sewage management and for the fire department.

“We got approvals from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Defence and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and from the military to begin this first of a kind survey in India,” said Chennai Corporation officials. 

“What we have currently is a satellite survey where the resolution is poor compared to this. This provides real time base map at a higher resolution (1:500). Even if this survey concludes, the data will not be made public,” the sources said, adding, “It will be sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Defence for approval and then duly processed.” 

This three-dimensional survey will help in recording facts as they are and thus find the properties which are not yet assessed. Another benefit being detection of property tax evasion. Some parties may knowingly or unknowingly have recorded the area of a property wrongly, and this will help in detecting such things’. The project is conducted under high security. 

A separate control room was opened at the city Corporation office which was under 24hour CCTV surveillance, with round the clock uninterrupted power supply and facilitated with a biometric system. A station officer in the rank of Executive Engineer was posted at the control room.