The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has been honored with the National Geospatial Practitioner Award 2025 for its exceptional use of open-source spatial technologies. The award was presented during the Open Source GIS Day (Edition 02) at IIT Bombay, recognizing INCOIS’s contributions to marine geospatial intelligence and data-driven ocean management.
Background
INCOIS, an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) located in Hyderabad, provides ocean information and advisory services to stakeholders like fishermen, coastal authorities, disaster management agencies, and researchers. It actively contributes to India’s Ocean Observation and Forecasting System, supporting national policy and operational readiness.
Significance of the Award
The National Geospatial Practitioner Award is a prestigious accolade recognizing innovative use of geospatial technology. INCOIS’s adoption of open-source GIS platforms has increased accessibility, transparency, and adaptability of oceanographic data for diverse applications. The award was conferred to INCOIS Director T.M. Balakrishnan Nair by former ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar, underscoring its national importance.
Objectives and Applications
- Promote cost-effective geospatial solutions through open-source tools
- Enhance real-time ocean data dissemination to end users
- Enable disaster warning systems for tsunamis, storm surges, and oil spills
- Support marine ecosystem monitoring, fisheries advisory, and sustainable ocean management
- Strengthen spatial decision support systems using GIS-based mapping and forecasting models
Key Features of INCOIS’s GIS Initiatives
- Utilization of Open Source GIS platforms like QGIS and GeoServer
- Dynamic satellite-based real-time ocean graphic services
- Public-facing web applications offering Marine Weather Advisories, Potential Fishing Zones (PFZ), and Tsunami Bulletins
- Integration with remote sensing, IoT-enabled buoys, and ocean modeling systems
Key Takeaways for Competitive Exams
- INCOIS received the National Geospatial Practitioner Award 2025 for its use of open-source spatial technologies.
- The award highlights INCOIS’s contributions to marine geospatial intelligence and data-driven ocean management.
- INCOIS is crucial for India’s Ocean Observation and Forecasting System, supporting national policy and operational readiness.
- The organization promotes cost-effective geospatial solutions and strengthens spatial decision support systems through GIS-based mapping.
