GPS instruments, Total Station, Theodolite, levelling instrument and topographical maps were on display

It is not certain whether one would attribute any mala fide intention to the Kerala and Lakshadweep Geo-Spatial Data Centre (K & LGDC)’s exhibition of survey equipment and maps organised in the capital on Monday. For, the timing was not that perfect with reports of the disputes over the actual land holdings of Tata and Harrisons Malayalam Limited filling the air.

None of the curious visitors, however, asked the supervisors at the exhibition stall at Poonkulam, near Thiruvallom, that with all these equipment why couldn’t they find out how many acres of land were under the illegal possession of Tata in Munnar. But, the expo - a rare event - was more than enough to provide a comprehensive knowledge on the functioning of the agency under the Survey of India Department.

Civil Engineering students from various engineering colleges, school children, PG students and local people turned up in big numbers at the agency’s office at CGO Complex at Poonkulam on the outskirts of the city to witness and understand the functioning of the equipment used for geophysical surveys and preparation of topographical maps, general maps, special purpose maps and thematic maps.

GPS instruments, Total Station, Theodolite, levelling instrument and topographical maps were on display.

For Maria Dainy, Kavitha Kamal, Siji and Priya, PG students from the Agricultural College, Vellayani, the exhibition provided an opportunity to learn the real-time working of these instruments. ‘‘As part of learning Soil Science, we learned about the use of GPS instrument, Theodolite and levelling instrument. Here, we got a chance to use these instruments,’’ Kavitha Kamal said.

‘‘Only now did I realise that such a huge effort was required for preparing maps. The officials should be appreciated for this attempt,’’ said Durga, a housewife residing at Vavvamoola who accompanied her daughter to the exhibition.

The exhibition showcased the various stages of digitisation of maps. ‘‘At first, maps are scanned and a soft copy is created. With the help of softwares, various symbols can be placed on the copy and it can be reproduced with better quality,’’ said Geo-Spatial Data Centre Technical Officer S. Jayakumar.

Visitors were also provided information on the techniques of Conventional Photogrammetry.

Besides, there was a display of topographical maps. The Open Series maps of Lakshadweep were also exhibited.

‘‘Earlier, maps of border areas of the country were classified as ‘Restricted’ maps. Recently, owing to public protests, the Union Government decided to produce Open Series and Defence Series maps of these areas. Open Series maps with limited data are made available to the public. The Open Series maps of the State are in the production stage,’’ Jayakumar said.

K & LGDC Director T. Sanjeev Kumar said the centre was now working on the National Urban Information System. ‘‘It is the large-scale mapping of particular cities of the country. Our centre has been entrusted with the mapping of districts including Alappuzha, Palakkad, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kollam,’’ he said.

The exhibition was organised in connection with the National Science Day celebrations.