ISRO’s Bhuvan an Answer to Local Version of Google Earth ?
Bhuvan is a Geoportal of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) showcasing Indian Imaging Capabilities in Multi-sensor, Multi-platform and Multi-temporal domain. The portal gives you a gateway to explore and discover virtual earth in 3D space with specific emphasis on Indian region. Bhuvan gives you an easy way to experience, explore and visualize IRS images over Indian region.
What is Bhuvan?
Bhuvan is a satellite mapping tool similar to Google Earth and Wikimapia. It was developed by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It offers resolution up to 5 metres and is considered as a rival to Google Earth and Wikimapia.
A prototype (beta) of this application was launched on 12th August 2009.
Tata Consultancy Services has also appointed a 3 crore deal with ISRO to make advanced moon map which is taken by Chandrayaan. One of the official said this software will be a freeware and it needs a license for the usage whether to check they are Indian or not. This will provide the maximum resolution that any map cant make it with. ISRO has also decided to make a tracking and mapping antenna(30×15)m the largest in India in Chennai for advanced 3D mapping and resources.
The next version of Bhuvan will be called Bhuvan ChandraBhumi, which will feature both earth and moon in resolution upto 347 m maximum in near side and 432 m far side which is taken by Chandrayaan. The actual zoom level of the moon was set to 150 m but due to lack of system power and steering problems caused it to fix at some near level to it. It is developed by TCS, Infosys, Wipro and ISRO along with the partnership of Satyam Computers now called Mahindra Satyam(which is being phased out) and Cognizant Solutions. All leading computer technologies have participated in this but TCS is the main partner in it. This version is expected to be launched on near 2011 and ready by the end of 2009 or early 2010. Some information also consider it will be launched late by end of 2010 for some dealing recommendation and technology advancement in this software by leading companies. Nearly 90% of moon surface is captured by Chandrayaan with best qualtiy of imaging. HTechnologies and BPL are the media partners for it. The latest version Bhuvan will be able to take more closer pictures of the Indian Subcontinent as compared to the Google Earth. Bhuvan 
will feature a zoom level of upto 10 meters while the Google Earth features a zoom level of up to 200 meters. The new ISRO Bhuvan will also feature a multi layer information mapping while the present Google Earth features a single layer information mapping system. Apart from that, Bhuvan will also update map information every year contrary to the Google Earth which updates its map information every 4 years.
“With Bhuvan we will be able to produce very local information which will be specific to only to our own country. This information available from this mapping system will be useful in addressing very local problems like floods, famines, infrastructure development, education and much more,” said ISRO chairman Dr G Madhavan Nair.
Unlike Google Earth, however the Bhuvan application will not be downloadable and will not allow users to host content in the near future. “We are not competing with Google,” said Jayaraman. A Google spokesperson declined to comment. According to P. Nag, director of the National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation, a Kolkata-based mapping agency that uses remote-sensing data to build India’s atlas, the Bhuvan project demonstrates the country’s expertise in both information and space technology. Read more…
