Odisha Forest Land Geo-referencing Programme (Statewide)Using RS/GIS/DGPS.

Project Overview

The Odisha Forest Land Geo-referencing Programme was executed by SpatiEdge Technologies Pvt. Ltd. to digitize and geo-reference legacy forest land records across the state. The project aimed to create a unified, accurate, and GIS-ready database of forest lands to improve governance, monitoring, and transparency in forest management.

Client / Stakeholders

• Odisha Forest Department

• Revenue and Land Records Authorities

• State Government Planning and Monitoring Agencies

Project Objectives

• Digitize and geo-reference all forest land parcels in Odisha

• Establish a centralized GIS database for forest lands

• Improve transparency, monitoring, and regulatory compliance

• Support long-term planning and resource management of forest areas

Scope of Work

• Collection and verification of legacy forest land maps and records

• DGPS/GNSS surveys for precise ground control points

• Geo-referencing and digitization of forest boundaries

• Creation of GIS layers with relevant attributes (ownership, land type, area)

• Compilation of state-wide spatial database and thematic maps

Methodology & Technical Approach

SpatiEdge adopted a systematic approach combining field surveys and GIS mapping. DGPS-based ground control points ensured accurate positioning, which was used to geo-reference legacy cadastral and forest maps. Digitized layers were verified against official records and harmonized into a standardized GIS framework for statewide consistency.

Technologies & Tools

• DGPS / GNSS Survey Systems

• GIS Platforms (ArcGIS / QGIS)

• CAD–GIS Integration

• High-resolution satellite imagery

Key Deliverables

• Geo-referenced GIS database of all forest lands in Odisha

• Digitized and validated forest boundary maps

• Statewide thematic maps for planning and monitoring

• Technical reports and metadata documentation

Impact & Outcomes

• Enhanced transparency in forest land governance

• Reduced disputes and ambiguities in forest boundaries

• Improved monitoring and planning capabilities for forest authorities

• Established a standardized, GIS-ready framework for future forest management initiatives