Spinfo plans to offer GIS tools for mobile devices

Rukmini Priyadarshini

BANGALORE, Nov. 6

SPATIAL Data Private Ltd (Spinfo) is planning to offer GIS-based navigation products for mobile devices and networks.

It also expects to launch its desktop-based navigation tool for over 10 States and 15 cities by next year, according to Dr S. Rajagopalan, Managing Director.

Speaking to Business Line, Dr Rajagopalan said that Spinfo was looking for tie-ups to develop navigation products for mobile devices and networks. ``Now, we provide GIS-based information and the software tools for the products,'' Dr Rajagopalan said.

He added:``We integrate the maps and spatial information from various sources such as Survey of India, satellite images, census department, public works department, revenue department, and so on."

Spinfo then updates the information, merges the maps and creates GIS maps with over 200 economic and demographic parameters.

Targeted at State and Central planning agencies, NGOs, academic and development institutions and corporates, the products contain information boundaries of villages, taluks and districts, while the city products contain maps of streets and location of facilities.

These GIS-based maps come with bundled software that enables users to annotate maps, work on data and perform statistical analytic operations, Dr Rajagopalan said. The company also undertakes to customise the software for the customer. For instance, it provided a jurisdictional map of primary health centres for the health department of a State, prepared specific economic data for a fertiliser company and even developed a milk route for a co-operative.

"Our products are cheaper by a third in comparison to international software developed by the GIS majors," Dr Rajagopalan said.

"This is because Spinfo develops its own tools. We also custom-develop GIS tools and spatially-enable existing data.''

Customers include the Government - Department of Mines and Geology, Coffee Board, Karnataka State Remote Sensing Application Centre - NGOs such as the Centre for Budget and Policy Studies and the Centre for Environmental Education, various national institutions such as the IISc, National Institute for Advanced studies and the Institute for Social and Economic Change and private companies such as Reliance Infocom and Escorts, according to Dr Rajagopalan.