From a grassroots effort with coconut trees in Kerala in 1969 to a national infrastructure platform and rural employment mission, GeoAI’s journey reflects continuity of purpose, demonstrating how public investment in science driven by entrepreneurial energy and digital governance can transform technology for public good.
Geospatial development has been more about service delivery, inclusion and flexibility, translating pixels captured hundreds of kilometers above the earth into actionable insights for farmers, engineers and planners, says Sanjay Srivastava, S Radhakrishnan Chair Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, IISc, Bengaluru.
data convergence
In GeoAI, geospatial data is transformed with artificial intelligence (AI). He explained that it enables machines to learn patterns from imagery and spatial data, detect anomalies, predict outcomes, and automate decision support at scale. business Line.
For example, instead of simply mapping floods, GeoAI models can predict which villages will be affected; How many homes are at risk; What other property may be destroyed?
AI-powered analysis can track rapid urban expansion or ecosystem degradation in real time in climate and disaster-prone areas. Liberalization of policies, open access to satellite data, cloud computing and the rise of start-ups have turned remote sensing into a vibrant geospatial economy.
pixel people
Since 1969, aerial and satellite data have brought ‘pixels to people’, ensuring inclusive growth and resilience in an era of increasing climate and disaster risks. In the 1970s and 1980s, satellite data began to inform drinking water missions, helping to identify groundwater potential in drought-prone areas.
Estimates of crop acreage and yields were followed, helping governments estimate food production and stabilize markets. The National Mission on Wasteland Development and Desertification Mapping used satellite imagery to guide land restoration and soil conservation.
geospatial ecosystem
This practical orientation shaped India’s geospatial ecosystem, Srivastava said. The satellites built by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) prioritized continuity, affordability and relevance, creating one of the world’s comprehensive civilian remote sensing archives long before ‘big data’ entered the policy lexicon.
GeoAI also represents a strong backbone of its development strategy that connects science with society. For example, P.M. speed power Integrates spatial data from multiple ministries onto a common platform. Roads, railways, power lines, logistics hubs, forests and settlements can now be imagined together.
better investment
GeoAI adds further value by identifying bottlenecks early in the planning cycle, optimizing alignment and flagging environmental or social risks. The result is not just faster infrastructure delivery, but better investments that reduce future damage from floods, landslides or heat stress.
In a climate-constrained world, the integration of geospatial intelligence into core economic planning marks a quiet but important governance reform. Building on decades of remote sensing and now GeoAI, initiatives like G‑RAM‑G embed geospatial intelligence directly into rural development and job creation.
extended verification
Geo-tagged assets, satellite imagery and AI-enabled monitoring ensure that public works are genuine, sustainable and climate-resilient. Thus, what began as a confirmation of the prevalence of suffering in coconut plantations in Kerala in 1969 now supports trust, accountability and resilience in some of the country’s most vulnerable districts.
Published on February 10, 2026
