Integration of Existing Information Systems as a Spatial eDemocracy Tool for Smart Cities in India

Abstract

During the past couple of decades, advances in digital technology have led to establishment of information systems at sectoral levels like urban, environment, forest, demography (census) and more. The information system for urban areas in India exists in the form of National Urban Information System (NUIS) with the objective to facilitate planning, maintenance and governance of municipal areas. The use of NUIS for planning has been initiated in some urban centers by utilizing the data for preparation of master plans. There are other sectors that play an important role in an urban milieu. These sectors have their own existing systems in place based on information technology. The call of the day is to use these systems in tandem with each other so as to build a comprehensive plan for urban area which is a step towards building smart cities. The authors advocate the integrated use of the information systems that exist in isolation. The approach being exhorted is to particularly use the data in NUIS and data in ENVironmental Information System (ENVIS) as eDemocracy tools towards building smart cities. The available data in both the information systems can be integrated with the perspective of preparation of a master plan as per the Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) Guidelines. An emphasis is being laid out to incorporate the environmental aspect in mainstream master planning through a suggested framework so as to come up with environmentally sensitive master plans to build sustainable smart cities for posterity. The integration of the two systems will bring in the spatial component into information based democracy and lead to a spatial eDemocratic society.