Survey of India, Kerala Digital University Sign 5-Year MoU for Geospatial Research and Innovation

Thiruvananthapuram: The Survey of India and Kerala Digital University have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on geospatial research and digital innovation.

The partnership aims to advance excellence in geospatial data collection, processing and analysis by leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as geoinformatics, artificial intelligence and machine learning. The agreement is expected to foster joint research and development initiatives while strengthening capacity-building efforts in the geospatial domain.

As part of the collaboration, eligible officials from the Survey of India will have opportunities to pursue higher education programs, including Master’s and PhD degrees, at Kerala Digital University. The MoU also envisages the organisation of academic and technical training programs in emerging areas such as automation in geospatial data systems, advanced mathematical foundations for physical geodesy, and big data analytics.

The signing ceremony was attended by Vice Chancellor Prof. Saji Gopinath; Registrar Prof. A. Mujeeb; Dean (HR) Prof. Manoj Kumar T.K.; Dean (Academics) Prof. R. Jaishankar; Chair of the Research Office Dr. Jose Joseph; and Dr. Radhakrishnan T., Chair of the School of Digital Sciences and Coordinator of the Centre for Geospatial Analytics.

Representing the Survey of India were Superintending Surveyor and In-Charge of the Kerala & Lakshadweep Wing Shri Avinash Mishra; Deputy Superintending Engineer Shri R. Ratheesh; and Office Surveyors Shri Ambi T.S. and Shri Arun Kumar T.S.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) includes:

Academic Cooperation

Eligible officers from the Survey of India will be offered admission to postgraduate and doctoral programs at Kerala Digital University. The agreement also provides for joint research mentoring, collaborative supervision of academic projects and structured academic engagement between the two institutions.

Research and Innovation

The MoU promotes joint research initiatives, co-authored publications and collaborative participation in national and international conferences. Both institutions will also work together on funded research projects, with a focus on advancing geospatial science and digital technologies.

Capacity Development and Training

Specialised training programs, workshops, seminars and expert lectures will be conducted in emerging areas such as geospatial technologies, artificial intelligence and machine learning applications, advanced geodesy, automation and big data analytics.

Opportunities for Students

Students of Kerala Digital University will gain opportunities to undertake internships, capstone projects and dissertation work in collaboration with the Survey of India, enabling hands-on exposure to real-world geospatial applications.

Sharing of Data and Infrastructure

Under the agreement, the Survey of India will share high-quality geospatial data in accordance with existing policies. Both institutions will also provide access to research facilities, laboratories and library resources on mutually agreed terms.

Practical Application of Research

A key objective of the partnership is to translate academic research into practical tools and technologies aligned with the national mission of the Survey of India. To ensure effective implementation, a Joint Coordination Committee comprising representatives from both organisations will oversee progress, review activities and guide collaborative initiatives.

The partnership is expected to make a significant contribution to India’s digital transformation and geospatial capacity building by combining the Survey of India’s longstanding national mapping expertise with the advanced scientific and technological capabilities of Kerala Digital University.