Recognising a Marine Data Pioneer
INCOIS Honoured for Advancing Ocean GIS Innovation: The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has received the National Geospatial Practitioner Award 2025. This recognition was presented during Open Source GIS Day (Edition 02) held at IIT Bombay. The award honours INCOIS’s cutting-edge use of open-source geospatial technology in managing and disseminating ocean data.
Why This Award Matters
The National Geospatial Practitioner Award acknowledges institutions making impactful contributions in geospatial data usage. INCOIS stood out for applying open-source GIS tools to make complex ocean data user-friendly, real-time, and accurate. The award was presented by A.S. Kiran Kumar, former ISRO Chairman, to INCOIS Director T.M. Balakrishnan Nair.
Static GK fact: The National Geospatial Award was initiated to promote indigenous spatial technology innovations for national development.
What INCOIS Does
INCOIS, based in Hyderabad, functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). It supports India’s Ocean Observation and Forecasting System by offering marine services to fishermen, disaster response teams, coastal authorities, and marine researchers.
Its services are vital for forecasting tsunamis, cyclones, storm surges, and advising on fishing zones and marine ecosystems.
Static GK fact: INCOIS was established in 1999 as a Centre of Excellence in operational oceanography.
Key Applications and Impact
INCOIS’s GIS-backed initiatives aim to:
- Disseminate real-time ocean data to end users, especially coastal communities
- Improve disaster warnings through spatial ocean modeling systems
- Monitor marine ecosystems for environmental health and fisheries
- Enable cost-effective mapping via open-source platforms like QGIS and GeoServer
- Support sustainable ocean governance with accurate data-driven decision tools
Open Source Innovations in Ocean Management
INCOIS has embraced open-source GIS platforms to ensure transparent and accessible ocean data. Notable tools and services include:
- Marine Weather Advisories and Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) forecasts
- Tsunami bulletins via web applications
- Integration with IoT-enabled buoys, remote sensing, and oceanographic models
- Public access to real-time satellite maps and sea condition updates
Static GK Tip: QGIS is one of the most widely used open-source GIS software globally, adopted by governments and environmental agencies for its customization and mapping power.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
INCOIS Honoured for Advancing Ocean GIS Innovation:
| Topic | Detail |
| Award Name | National Geospatial Practitioner Award 2025 |
| Awarded To | INCOIS |
| Occasion | Open Source GIS Day (Edition 02) |
| Location | IIT Bombay |
| Presented By | A.S. Kiran Kumar, Former ISRO Chairman |
| INCOIS HQ | Hyderabad, Telangana |
| Parent Ministry | Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) |
| Key GIS Tools Used | QGIS, GeoServer |
| Key Services | PFZ Advisory, Tsunami Alerts, Marine Weather |
| Year of INCOIS Establishment | 1999 |
