Telangana Launches LiDAR Survey for ‘One Map Hyderabad’ Project to Enhance Urban Planning
The Telangana government has officially launched a highly ambitious project designed to consolidate all critical infrastructure data of Hyderabad into a single platform, marking a significant step forward in urban development and planning. The ‘One Map Hyderabad’ initiative will leverage cutting-edge LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology to create a comprehensive map of the city, capturing vital information related to the road network, water supply, electricity, sewage, fire services, and traffic police operations.
The decision to undertake this project was driven by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who has directed that a LiDAR survey be conducted across the entire GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) area and the surrounding regions up to the Outer Ring Road (ORR). This survey will span approximately 2,050 square kilometres and is set to play a key role in improving Hyderabad’s infrastructure, enhancing urban planning efforts, and better managing disaster response in the city. LiDAR technology works by emitting light pulses and measuring the time it takes for them to return, creating precise, three-dimensional data about the Earth’s surface. It’s particularly useful in capturing detailed topographical information, which is essential for accurate urban development. The LiDAR survey will provide a high-resolution map, offering insights into the city’s infrastructure with a level of detail that was not previously possible.
The survey is expected to be completed in phases, with the GHMC area targeted for completion within the next six months. Work on the ORR area is slated to be finished by the end of the year. The municipal administration and urban development department are currently finalising the tendering process, and officials anticipate that the survey will soon be underway. While drones were initially considered as a tool for surveying, the Telangana government opted for LiDAR technology due to its superior accuracy and precision, despite the slightly higher cost. The LiDAR survey will provide detailed insights, particularly in the rapidly growing areas outside the GHMC and within the ORR. These growing areas often experience infrastructure gaps that the government hopes to address through more informed planning and resource allocation.
In addition to its impact on urban planning, the LiDAR survey will assist the GHMC in property assessments. As part of a broader initiative, the GHMC has already begun a drone-based aerial GIS survey, covering about 625 square kilometres, to identify unassessed and underassessed properties. By offering more precision, the LiDAR survey will further enhance these efforts, ensuring that all properties are accurately mapped and accounted for. The future vision for the ‘One Map Hyderabad’ project includes the development of a unified digital platform accessible to both citizens and government agencies. A mobile app will be launched, providing real-time access to the city’s infrastructure data, which will play a pivotal role in enhancing services such as waste collection, emergency response, and disaster management.
Moreover, the success of this survey can have far-reaching implications for Hyderabad’s urban growth. The data generated through LiDAR will help identify critical infrastructure gaps, optimise resource distribution, and improve the quality of services available to citizens. The ‘One Map Hyderabad’ project is poised to not only transform the way the city’s infrastructure is managed but also make Hyderabad a model of modern, data-driven urban development. The LiDAR survey for ‘One Map Hyderabad’ is an important milestone in the city’s journey towards becoming a smarter, more connected urban centre. With improved data accuracy and better planning, Hyderabad is set to offer its citizens enhanced living standards and services, while simultaneously addressing the infrastructure challenges posed by rapid urbanisation.
