Media Lab rolls out world's first GIS = software for=20 handheld computers

Media Lab Asia has launched the world's = first=20 open-source Geographical Information System software, GramChitra, = for=20 handheld computers. GIS software enables creation, storage, = editing and=20 accessing of map related databases for visually intuitive and = effective=20 decision making.

Monday, April 29, 2002

BANGALORE: Media Lab Asia has launched the world's first = open-source=20 Geographical Information System (GIS) software for handheld = computers,=20 according to media release.

The software, GramChitra, has been developed in collaboration = with=20 research partner, Centre for Spatial Database Management and = Solutions=20 (CSDMS). GIS software enables creation, storage, editing and = accessing of=20 map related databases for visually intuitive and effective = decision=20 making.

Typically, the cost of GIS software on PCs starts at around Rs = 65,000=20 and goes up to Rs 4-5 lakh. Media Lab Asia has decided to release = GramChitra free of cost in order to promote the use of GIS = software for=20 developmental purposes. The software can be downloaded from www.csdms.org/gramchitra.

GramChitra has been developed on the popular Linux operating = system to=20 serve as a cost-effective means of enabling community level = resource=20 management. The software has vast potential applications in areas = like=20 census data collection, revenue maps, block-and-panchayat level = planning=20 for water wells, tube wells, epidemiological data collection for = rural=20 healthcare etc.

Media Lab Asia, Director, Prof. Alex Pentland, said that GIS = software=20 can serve as a fundamental tool for planning at all levels. "We = developed=20 GramChitra on the open-source platform to ensure that this = technology can=20 be used even by villagers. The combination of free software and = low-cost=20 handheld computers opens up a world of possibilities. This = software can be=20 used at the grassroots level for collection and analysis of local = data all=20 the way up to the national level for strategic planning."

Media Lab Asia has also integrated GPS (Global Positioning = System) with=20 the GramChitra GIS software. Users can automatically incorporate = on a map,=20 the date, time and location where the data is captured. In = future,=20 GramChitra's capabilities will be extended to support data = collection=20 using low cost sensors for water and soil analysis, = meteorological data,=20 livestock management, environment and ecological conservation and = planning=20 etc.

Richard Hoskins
Asst Secretary's Office
EHSPHL, = WA=20 DOH
1102 Quince Street
Olympia, WA 98504-7812
(360)=20 534-9891