VARANASI: The sight of low-flying aircraft in certain parts of Varanasi in the last few weeks has left residents curious about their purpose. These aircraft are engaged in conducting a 3D survey of the city, aimed at creating its urban spatial digital twin. Additionally, four-wheelers and pedestrian backpackers survey the narrow streets of the city for the same objective.
This survey has already covered more than 70 square kilometres of the area. D Vasudevan, chief general manager of Varanasi Smart City, said that the aerial survey is being carried out at an altitude of 3,800 feet using a dual-engine aircraft, the Partenavia P-68-C, operating from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport.
Equipped with a state-of-the-art Leica City Mapper 2S sensor and a camera capable of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and photogrammetry acquisition technology, this aircraft ensures precise and high-resolution mapping of Varanasi.
Furthermore, LiDAR surveys have been completed to cover a 360-degree view of the city’s 600 kilometres of roads, wards, and ghats, utilising four-wheeled vehicles and backpack
Vasudevan stated that this project aims to produce a digital 3D urban spatial twin map encompassing all the wards of Varanasi, covering a total area of 160 square kilometres.
This digital twin will be integrated into the Kashi Integrated Command and Control Centre (KICCC), enhancing the operational efficiency of various institutions, including Jal Kal, Varanasi Municipal Corporation, Varanasi Development Authority, and Jal Nigam, facilitating coordinated management of solid waste, fire, traffic, water distribution, and sewerage systems. The project to develop the 3D urban spatial digital twin of Varanasi is expected to conclude within the next nine months. It is being executed by the Mumbai-based agency Genesis International Corporation.
Once completed, Varanasi will become the first city in the country to possess a digital twin of all its wards, building upon earlier pilot studies conducted in Jaipur.
The twin map will integrate more than 50 thematic layers of maps, detailing various infrastructure elements such as drains, water pipelines, street lights, toilets, drinking water facilities, and ward boundaries. Akshat Varma, municipal commissioner and CEO of Varanasi Smart City, highlighted that this project will provide facilities to the municipal corporation and other departments for project implementation, resource development, and testing of tax collection systems.
Kaushal Raj Sharma, divisional commissioner and chairman of Varanasi Smart City, pointed out that previously only a 2D map covering an area of 84 square kilometres of the municipal corporation was available, causing inconvenience.
Varanasi Smart City now aims to create a modern digital twin map covering a 160 square kilometre area, enabling all civic agencies involved in the city management and administration to work in harmony.
