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FAQs

Q.What is India Geo Portal?

India is fast moving into being an information and knowledge society - especially with the emphasis on Information Technology and 'transparent' e-governance. The next decade will see further large scale investment in communications technology as India moves to exploit the full potential of the information age.Recent initiatives by the Government,including the IT Act,as well as announced plans for private and public investment,makes it clear that within few years an unprecedented capability will exist for sharing of data along 'electronic superhighways'. Amongst the variety of datasets that would be involved, spatial (or map) information will be a major 'content'.These Spatial information sets are vital to make sound decisions at the local,regional,state and central level planning, implementation of action plans, infrastructure development, disaster management support, and business development. Natural Resources management, flood mitigation, environmental restoration, land use assessments and disaster recovery are just a few examples of areas in which decision makers are benefiting from spatial information.

Until recently, maps (usually in paper form) have been a mainstay for a wide variety of applications and decision-making.This is changing as more spatially referenced data and information on a wider variety of topics or themes (e.g., population, land use, economic transactions, hydrology, agriculture, climate and soils) are being produced, stored, transferred, manipulated and analyzed in digital form.

Encapsulating these maps and images into a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) has been recognized and the emphasis is on information transparency and sharing, with the recognition that spatial information is a national resource and citizens, society, private enterprise and government have a right to access it, appropriately. Only through common conventions and technical agreements,standards,metadata definitions,network and access protocols will it be easily possible for the NSDI to come into existence.

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Q.What are the functions of India Geo Portal?

The functions of India Geoportal:

1. Support the business of government � almost every aspect of government including, but not limited management,recreation, planning,homeland security,public health,environmental protection etc.has a geographic component

2. Facilitate sharing of information and planning for future investments in geospatial data.

3. Expand collaborative partnerships to help leverage investments and reduce duplication of data.

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Q.What type of content can be found in India Geo Portal?

There are three categories of geographic content available on India Geo Portal:data, documents and resources.Each category has a number of content types. Search for data if you want to download, order or add data or map services directly to your map. Search for documents if you are interested in map files, static map images and geographic information. Search for resources if you are seeking links to external Web sites, data clearing houses, Geographic Information System (GIS) � based Web Applications and geographic activities.

Support decision making �issues occur in places (e.g. floods, events, crimes) and decision addressing one issue often have broader implications,sometimes affecting entire communities.Geospatial information allows decisions to be viewed in a community context;and can facilitate cross-agency coordination.

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Q.What kinds of data are available?

There are a variety of data types available to discover and use on India Geo Portal. These include :
1. Dynamic Data and Maps. GIS users can access live data and maps through Web Map Service (WMS), using software tools viz. India Geo Portal Map Viewer.

2. Downloadable Data � Data downloads enable you to perform custom downloads of digital data you are viewing to access locally with GIS Software. Visit the Free Viewers page for a list of GIS data viewers.

3. Offline Data � Many publishers offer data that can be ordered online

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Q.What kinds of documents are available?

Several types of documents are available on India Geo Portal including:
1. Map Files: Map files are digital maps that can be viewed in a mapping application.Map files are typically completed maps that are ready for viewing, publishing and printing.

2. Static Maps:You can not directly interact with static map images as you can with dynamic data and maps.You can view them and download them to your computer.

3. Other Documents:This category includes geographic information stored in the text files,spreadsheets,or other formats and can be used in conjunction with geographic data.In many cases,they can be viewed and downloaded.

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Q.What kind of resources are available?

Application developers and GIS users can find important resources on the India Geo Portal including:
1. Applications � An online application is built using content from the India Geo Portal,Map Services other Internet hosted data. The application includes a complete user interface and set of geographic content needed to perform one or more tasks in a web browser.

2. GIS Web Services - GIS Web Services are Internet applications with a geographic focus-using data and related functionality to perform basic geoprocessing tasks such as place name searches,address matching,or routing.GIS Web services use simple object access protocols (SOAP) to transfer information back and forth to clients and bring together two industry-standard languages for communicating over the Internet :HTTP and XML.

3. Clearing Houses � A clearing house is a Web site that contains references and links to a variety of free geographic data.Many clearing houses offer geographic data for download while other sites include metadata references or hyperlinks to data sets be acquired through other mechanisms.

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Q.What kind of content can he publish?

There are two types of contents to publish to the India Geo Portal:Publish metadata that reference map services or Internet mapping systems that users can view online and/or download.Publish metadata that references geographic data, maps, resources, or activities that users can access information about and/or download from the internet.

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Q.How to publish a map service?

It is quick and easy to publish your map service on the India Geo Portal. First, create a map service implemented with an internet map server that speaks one of the languages used by the India Geo Portal. Use your internet Map server software to author and publish map services with your geographic data.Then,register as a publisher on the India Geo Portal and publish metadata that references your map service.

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Q.How to publish links to geographic data and maps?

To publish links to your data on the India Geo Portal,you must be registered as a publisher on the India Geo Portal.Then,publish metadata with descriptive information to help users find and evaluate your offerings. Be sure to include links to your content.

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Q.What is best way to find data, maps and other content for use in GSI?

The India NSDI Portal search page is the primary tool for discovering and accessing content.Use the search page to refine your search criteria until you find what you need.-

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Q.What kinds of data for GIS are available on the India Geo Portal?

Both free and commercial data sets can be discovered on India Geo Portal including:
1. Dynamic data and Maps � GIS users can access �live� data and maps, such as map services, using the India Geo Portal Map Viewer or other GIS software tools.

2. Downloadable data � Data downloads enable you to perform custom downloads of digital data that you are viewing to access locally with GIS software.

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Q.What kinds of maps for GIS are available on the India NSDI Portal?

Discover map services and published map files built for GIS software including, Dynamic Data and Maps GIS users can access live data and maps, such as map services, using software tools such as the India Geo Portal Map Viewer.

1. Static Maps � You can not directly interact with static map images as you can with dynamic data and maps, I view them and download them to your computer.

2. Map files � Map files are digital maps that can be viewed in a mapping applications. Map files are typically completed maps that are ready for viewing, publishing and printing.

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Q.How will the GIS users and others find my content?

Content published through India Geo Portal may be discovered through the India Geo Portal Search, or Data Category pages. Many GIS users regularly develop content that is useful to others. This content may include Data sets, static map images, map files,custom applications,and many more.Publishing your content on India Geo Portal enables you to share your content with the GIS community and beyond.We encourage you to use the India Geo Portal to share your valuable content with others.

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Q.Who publishes on the India Geo Portal?

Content publishers include leading government and commercial data providers in the GIS industry.

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Q.What is the best way to find useful content for building applications?

The India Geo Portal provides useful resources for developers to find and build geographic applications. The India Geo Portal lets you find references to geographic applications that can be accessed online.Access Web services and applications to help you build and delploy custom applications. Current publishers include many of the leading government and commercial data providers in the GIS industry.Publish your own geographic applications quickly and easily through the India Geo Portal.

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Q.What is the best way to find useful content for building applications?

The India Geo Portal Search page is the primary tool for discovering and accessing content.You may want to limit your search criteria to include map services and applications.

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Q.What kind of content for developers are available on the India Geo Portal?

Content of particular interest to developers includes:GIS Web Services to perform basic geoprocessing tasks,such as addres matching and routing.
Dynamic data and maps for subscriptions to live data feeds and to access interactive maps.
Downloadable data to order a broad variety of geographic information.

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Q.How can I publish my custom applications for others?

India Geo Portal enables you to share your work with the GIS community and beyond.

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Q.What are the features of India Geo Portal?

The features of India Geo Portal are:
     * Data Categories
     * Current Event or Application Topic
     * Search Page
     * Performing a Search
     * Viewing Metadata
     * Map Viewer
     * Publish Data

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Q.In what way the Data Categories feature is important in India Geo Portal

Web pages that help you discover and access a wide variety of geographic information for a particular data theme or data community.

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Q.What is the utility of a search page feature in India Geo Portal?

The Search page enables you to discover and access a wide variety of geographic information within the India NSDI Portal.This geographic information, provided by government,commercial,and noncommercial organizations,includes map images,map services, geographic datasets,geographic activities,spatial solutions,clearinghouses,and land references.

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Q.How the search can be performed?

There are three ways to find content : the India NSDI Portal Search page,the Data Category pages and the NSDI Portal Map Viewer.The search page lets you search criteria and area of interest.You can then view details describing the matching content and preview it in the Search Result pages.The data category pages represent a collection of metadata records about specific data themes.The content of data category pages are classified into 3 sections. The first section contains map services,web services or applications.The second section contains downloadable data, and the third section contains other content. These pages are accessible directly from the home page through the list of data categories.The Map Viewer contains a predefined list of map services which you can add to the Map viewer to explore. You can also specify the URL of a particular map server to find and browse more map services. You can set a search area by place name or you can us the Map Viewer to define your search.Once your search area is established, you can set your search criteria based on content type, such as map service, geographic datasets, activities,etc.,data theme,keywords or date ranges.The results of the search are displayed along with metadata and if appropriate a map.

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Q.How to use the India Geo Portal Search page to find content?

The India Geo Portal Search Page lets you search metadata for a vast collection of geographic content.The Search page enables you to search based on specific criteria such as area of interest, keyword or type of content. To confine your search to a specific geographic area, enter a place name or draw a box on the nested map. To find a specific type of content select a content type and/or content theme. Or you can enter a keyword. Use any combination of search criteria to narrow your results.

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Q.How to preview the found content?

Your search results are summarized in the India Geo Portal Search Results page.If your search returned more than one result, the records are listed by content type. Descriptions of each data set include the name of the publisher,the content title,and often the coverage area and map scale. Select the View Details or View Map button (if a map service) beneath a specific record to see its detailed description or preview the map in the Map Viewer. When viewing metadata details, you can view the metadata�s spatial footprint (extent) or you can opt to view the full metadata.

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Q.How to add content from India Geo Portal to the Map Viewer?

If you have found content that is a map service,the View Map button will be displayed.Clicking the View Map button will load the referenced map in the India Geo Portal Map Viewer.

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Q.Is there a need of special tools to use content found in the India Geo Portal?

Most India Geo Portal content can be used with one of the two tools:a standard Web browser or a GIS software package.Web browsers can be used to access content such as map services, solutions, and clearinghouses. Other content including map data files and data services, require GIS software to be fully utilized. Visit the Free Viewers page for a list of GIS data viewers.

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Q.How can one view the Metadata content?

You can use the metadata detail and the full metadata view to browse through information to locate what you are looking for.Map data can be viewed in the Map Viewer or with GIS software to display multiple data sources from the India Geo Portal along with data from local sources.

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Q.What is the importance Map Viewer feature has got in India Geo Portal?

You can provide geographic data by publishing map services and images, geographic datasets,geoservices,spatial solutions, geographic and land reference material,and geographic activities or events to share with others through submission of on-line provider forms within the India NSDI Portal. Publishing is performed via an online form or an upload utility.

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