Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) was awarded National Geospatial Practitioner Award 2025 for its contributions to Marine Geospatial Intelligence. The award was presented during Open Source GIS Day (Edition 02) at IIT Bombay. This marks India’s significant advancement in using open-source geospatial technologies for ocean and coastal management.
About INCOIS
- Full Form: Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services
- Established: 1999
- Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana
- Parent Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
- Mandate: Provide real-time ocean information services to:
- Fishermen (Potential Fishing Zones – PFZs)
- Disaster management authorities
- Coastal agencies
- Marine researchers
- Key Services:
- Tsunami, cyclone, storm surge forecasting
- Marine weather advisories
- Ocean state forecasts
- Real-time fishing zone advisories
Why the Award Matters?
- Recognizes innovative use of geospatial technologies in marine sectors.
- INCOIS achievements:
- Promoted cost-effective open-source GIS tools for marine applications.
- Enhanced real-time ocean mapping and data dissemination.
- Strengthened marine geospatial intelligence for coastal zone management.
- Supports India’s vision of Blue Economy and sustainable ocean governance.
What is Marine Geospatial Intelligence?
- Definition: Collection, integration, and analysis of geospatial data on oceans, coasts, and underwater terrains.
- Core Technologies:
- GIS (Geographic Information Systems)
- Remote sensing & satellite imagery
- Hydrography & oceanographic modeling
- Marine spatial analysis
- Underwater surveillance mapping
Applications in India
Defense & Security
- Naval GIS solutions, underwater surveillance mapping
- Maritime domain awareness for national security
Disaster Preparedness
- Tsunami & storm surge warnings
- Oil spill monitoring via satellites
Marine Economy & Fisheries
- Real-time Potential Fishing Zones (PFZs)
- Navigation support for traditional & mechanized fishing
Environmental Monitoring
- Ocean temperature, pollution, biodiversity tracking
- Marine ecosystem & climate change research
Governance & Policy
- Coastal mapping technologies for planning
- Data-driven sustainable ocean governance
Open-Source Innovations by INCOIS
- Use of QGIS (globally popular open-source GIS software).
- GeoServer for marine geospatial data dissemination.
- IoT-enabled buoys for real-time ocean data.
- Public access to tsunami bulletins, PFZ forecasts, marine weather maps.
- Integration of AI/ML models for ocean pattern detection.
Key Technologies Used
- QGIS, GeoServer – Open-source GIS platforms.
- Remote sensing satellites – Ocean monitoring.
- IoT buoys & sensors – Real-time marine data.
- AI & ML – Oceanographic data modeling.
- Hydrographic datasets – Naval intelligence & marine navigation.
Strategic Importance for India
- Enhances maritime security & naval preparedness.
- Boosts India’s Blue Economy potential.
- Strengthens disaster resilience via early warnings.
- Promotes transparent marine governance with open data.
- Places India at the forefront of Marine Geospatial Intelligence globally.
Key Facts
Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
- Formed: 2006
- HQ: New Delhi
- Current Union Minister (2025): Kiren Rijiju (MoES)
- Key institutes under MoES:
- INCOIS (Hyderabad)
- NIOT – National Institute of Ocean Technology (Chennai)
- NCESS – National Centre for Earth Science Studies (Thiruvananthapuram)
- NCPOR – National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (Goa)
Blue Economy:
- Sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and ocean ecosystem health.
QGIS:
- Widely used open-source GIS software, originally called “Quantum GIS.”
IIT Bombay:
- Established 1958; one of India’s premier engineering institutes, host of GIS Day 2025.