ISRO’s “BHUVAN” India’s Own Google Earth

ISRO’s “BHUVAN” India’s own Google Earth

Milstones of ISRO are world Known either launch of Chandrayan or Launching of 104 satellites in a single rocket. Now India having ” Bhuvan” which is India’s own Google Earth. BHUVAN is developed by National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC).

Bhuvan having many advantages over Google Earth as Indian Perspective , Bhuvan helps the user to identify the type of soil which not available in Google Earth. Bhuvan also provides the Potential of ground water with high resolution and data from the satellite.

ISRO’s “BHUVAN” India’s Own Google Earth

Bhuvan’s edge over Google Earth

• Google Earth’s Zoom levels up to 200 mt – ISRO’s Bhuvan : Zoom levels up to 10 mt
• Google Earth: Single layer information – ISRO’s Bhuvan: Multi-layer information
• Google Earth: Images upgraded every 4 years – ISRO’s Bhuvan: Images upgraded every year
• Google Earth: No alternate viewing options – ISRO’s Bhuvan: Options of viewing on different dates
• Google Earth: Uses international satellites – ISRO’s Bhuvan: Uses Indian satellites.

If you are a Indian then you should stop using Google Earth because as per India point of view ISRO’s Bhuvan is far better than Google Earth.Apart from visualization Bhuvan provides timely disaster support services (domestic and international), free satellite data and a products download facility, and rich thematic datasets. Bhuvan is using a crowdsourcing approach to enrich its maps and collect point of interestdata. It also acts as a platform for hosting government data (example – Karnataka Forest Department datasets).

The National Remote Sensing Agency played an important role in the development of this product. ISRO has used data provided by satellites including Resourcesat-1, Cartosat-1 and Cartosat-2 to get the best possible imagery of India.

What is BHUVAN

BHUVAN is a satellite-based mapping and geospatial information portal developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It was launched in 2009 with the aim of providing free access to high-resolution satellite imagery and maps of India.

BHUVAN works by combining data from various sources, including remote sensing satellites and ground surveys, to create detailed maps and satellite imagery of India. It offers a range of services, including satellite imagery, topographic maps, weather data, and disaster management support.

Statistical facts about BHUVAN

• BHUVAN offers high-resolution satellite imagery with a resolution of up to 1 meter
• It has over 100 different layers of information, including maps of India’s cities, villages, rivers, and administrative boundaries
• BHUVAN has been used for disaster management support during various natural disasters, including the 2013 Uttarakhand floods and the 2018 Kerala floods
• It has over 3 million registered users as of 2021

Advantages of BHUVAN

• Free and Open Access: BHUVAN is a free-to-use portal that offers open access to high-resolution satellite imagery and maps of India, making it accessible to everyone.
• Detailed and Accurate Information: BHUVAN offers detailed and accurate information about India’s geography, infrastructure, and natural resources, making it a valuable tool for research, planning, and decision-making.
• Disaster Management Support: BHUVAN has been used for disaster management support during various natural disasters, providing critical information to aid relief efforts.

How BHUVAN differs from Google

• Focus on India: While Google Maps covers the whole world, BHUVAN is specifically focused on India, offering more detailed and accurate information about India’s geography, infrastructure, and natural resources.
• Higher Resolution Imagery: BHUVAN offers higher resolution imagery than Google Maps, with a resolution of up to 1 meter compared to Google’s 15-meter resolution.
• Free and Open Access: BHUVAN is a free-to-use portal that offers open access to high-resolution satellite imagery and maps of India, while Google Maps has a pricing structure for high-resolution imagery and certain features.

Summing up

As far as 2D and 3D visulization of India is concerned ISRO’s Bhuvan is fat ahead than Google Earth.Apart from visualization Bhuvan provides timely disaster support services of India.