Telangana Launches LiDAR Survey for ‘One Map Hyderabad’ Project
Hyderabad’s infrastructure and urban management, the Telangana government has launched an ambitious Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) survey for the city’s ‘One Map Hyderabad’ project. This initiative seeks to integrate crucial infrastructure details into a single, accessible platform, making it easier for urban planners, citizens, and government agencies to access vital data for more informed decision-making. The LiDAR survey will cover a wide range of infrastructure elements, including the city’s road networks, water supply systems, electricity, sewage, and even fire and traffic police networks. This extensive mapping will play a significant role in enhancing urban planning, improving public services, and enabling better disaster management strategies.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has directed that the LiDAR survey cover the entire Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area as well as the regions extending up to the Outer Ring Road (ORR), spanning approximately 2,050 square kilometres. The goal is to create a comprehensive, up-to-date map of Hyderabad’s infrastructure that will guide future development, making the city more efficient and better equipped to meet the growing demands of its residents. LiDAR is a remote sensing technology that uses light pulses to generate precise, three-dimensional data about the earth’s surface. By capturing detailed topographical information, LiDAR can map complex urban areas with remarkable accuracy. The data collected will provide valuable insights into the city’s infrastructure needs, which will be crucial for ongoing and future urban development projects.
The LiDAR survey is expected to be completed within six months for the GHMC area, with the ORR region covered by the end of 2025. The municipal administration and urban development department have already begun finalising the tendering process for the survey, with work set to begin shortly. This initiative builds on the success of similar projects like the ‘One Map Gurgaon’ initiative, which helped consolidate urban data in a user-friendly format. During a recent review meeting, CM Revanth Reddy was briefed on the progress of a pilot drone survey already underway in the GHMC area. This drone survey, which covers approximately 625 square kilometres, aims to help identify unassessed and underassessed properties. While drones have proven useful for some tasks, the CM opted for the more precise and advanced LiDAR technology for the full survey. Though LiDAR comes at a slightly higher cost, it promises greater accuracy, especially for rapidly growing areas outside the GHMC and within the ORR.
In the future, the Telangana government plans to launch a mobile app that will integrate all the data from the ‘One Map Hyderabad’ project, allowing citizens and various agencies to access essential information easily. This digital platform will not only improve urban services such as garbage collection and emergency response but also streamline disaster management efforts. By making critical data more accessible, the app will play a key role in enhancing the quality of life for Hyderabad’s residents. For people like Shruti, a local business owner in Hyderabad, the project could mean better planning and services in her growing neighbourhood. “With more infrastructure, especially in the suburbs, it’s becoming difficult to keep track of ongoing projects. This map would be very helpful to see where improvements are needed,” she says. This LiDAR survey is a significant step forward for Hyderabad, aiming to bring all essential urban information into one unified platform. With ongoing urbanisation, such projects are becoming increasingly important for managing a city’s growth effectively and ensuring that its infrastructure meets the needs of its residents.
