Bhuvan, meaning Earth in Sanskrit is the addition to the numerous scientific innovations by SAC and is a satellite mapping tool, just like Google Earth or Wikimapia, but allows you to zoom far closer than the aerial view from a chopper. If Google Earth shows details upto 200 metres distance and Wikimapia upto 50 metres, Bhuvan will show images upto 10 metres, which means you can easily see details upto a three floor high building and also add information.
Bhuvan, (Sanskrit: भुवन Hindi: भुवन, lit: Earth), is a satellite mapping tool similar to Google Earth and Wikimapia. It was developed by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It offers resolution up to 10 metres and is considered as a rival to Google Earth and Wikimapia.[1]
A prototype (beta)[2] of this application was launched on 12th August 2009.
Basic features of Bhuvan:
• Access, explore and visualise 2D and 3D image data along with rich thematic information on Soil, wasteland, water resources etc.
• Visualise multi-resolution, multi-sensor, multi-temporal image data
• Superpose administrative boundaries of choice on images as required
• Visualisation of AWS ( Automatic Weather Stations) data/information in a graphic view and use tabular weather data of user choice
• Fly to locations ( Flies from the current location directly to the selected location)
• Heads-Up Display ( HUD) naviation controls ( Tilt slider, north indicator, opacity, compass ring, zoom slider)
• Navigation using the 3D view Pop-up menu (Fly-in, Fly out, jump in, jump around, view point)
• 3D Fly through (3D view to fly to locations, objects in the terrain, and navigate freely using the mouse or keyboard)
• Drawing 2D objects (Text labels, polylines, polygons, rectangles, 2D arrows, circles, ellipse)
• Drawing 3D Objects (placing of expressive 3D models, 3D polygons, boxes)
• Snapshot creation (copies the 3D view to a floating window and allows to save to a external file)
• Measurement tools (Horizontal distance, aerial distance, vertical distance, measure area)
• Shadow Analysis (it sets the sun position based on the given time creating shadows and effects the lighting on the terrain)
• Urban Design Tools (to build roads, junctions and traffic lights in an urban setting)
• Contour map ( Displays a colorized terrain map and contour lines)
• Draw tools (Creates simples markers, free hand lines, urban designs)
Minimum System Requirements:
• Operating System: Windows XP/Vista; RAM: 512MB; Hard Disk: 2GB free space; Network Speed: 256 Kbits/sec; Graphics Card: 3D-capable with 32MB of VRAM; Screen: 1280×1024, 32-bit True Color;
• To browse Bhuvan, you require the Bhuvan Plug-in which can be downloaded from this website, after registration and you will also need DirectX 9.0 or higher version (www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/) and MS .NET framework 2.0 or above for installing the plug-in. Please note that the Bhuvan Plug-in can be installed with administrative privileges only.
Latest News:
• Now Bhuvan is viewable in Mozilla Firefox & Netscape too… — 25th August, 2009
• New Upgraded Plugin released (V 2.0)- file size 11.2 MB — 20th August, 2009
• A prototype (beta) of this application was launched on 12th August, 2009.
• ISRO Bhuvan was launched on the occasion of 90th birth anniversary of Vikram Sarabhai who is considered to be the father of Indian space program. National Remote Sensing Agency played an important role in the creation of this product.
India took a giant leap in web based satellite imagery,isro launces Bhuvan a mapping application similar to goole earth.
the main focus of the application imagery is based on interest.the resolution is 10 meters to 6meters , when compared to google earth which is 200m and wikimapia50meters.
isro has carefully detailed mapped except sensitive military and nuclear installation.
when compared to google earth , bhuvan out performs in viewer friendly features.
it is developed from images captured from indian remote sensing satellites like Resourcesat-1
Technical Requirements
The Beta version of Bhuvan can run only on windows system and is optimized for Internet Explorer 6. or higher. and turn off internet explorer protected mode. Now Bhuvan works with Internet Explorer 6.0 or above, Mozilla Firefox 3.5.1 or above, Netscape 6.0 or above from 25th August 2009
[edit] Hardware and software Minimum Requirements
Operating System: Windows XP/Vista
CPU: Pentium 4 2.4GHz+ or AMD 2400xp+
System Memory (RAM): 512MB
Hard Disk: 2GB free space
Network Speed: 256 Kbits/sec
Graphics Card: 3D-capable with 32MB of VRAM
Screen: 1280×1024, 32-bit True Color (for best results)
Framework : .NET Framework 2.0
Graphics: Directx 9.0
Other: Requires the Bhuvan software (see external links for download)
[edit] Media Review of Bhuvan
Since the date of launch of Bhuvan, users are experiencing various difficulties. First most important problem is that Bhuvan site was either inaccessible or very slow. Users need registration, purpose of which is not explained and results in wastage of user’s time. Further it needs download of plug-ins upto 11 MB in size with Administrative privilage. Bhuvan site gives up or hangs up frequently. It renders layers unevenly and sometime user can’t see anything at all on the screen. Bhuvan promises 10 meter Zoom level but media technical analysts didn’t see any image upto zoom level 10 meter. If many locations of same name exists, Bhuvan is supposed to give multiple results so that user can choose intended location. But Bhuvan fails to return multiple results.[9][10][11]
[edit] References
1.^ “India to launch Bhuvan in March 2009″. Silicon India. 2008-11-23. http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/India_to_launch_Bhuvan_in_March_2009-nid-50273.html. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
2.^ “Bhuvan, Indian Earth Observation Visualisation”. ISRO. 2009-08-12. http://bhuvan.nrsc.gov.in/. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
3.^ “Bhuvan: India’s answer to Google Earth”. Jai Bihar. 2009-08-12. http://jaibihar.com/bhuvan-indias-answer-to-google-earth/11174/. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
4.^ http://www.merinews.com/article/isros-bhuvan-stands-up-to-google-earth/15781365.shtml
5.^ http://www.devicemag.com/2009/08/13/isros-bhuvan-earth-to-take-on-google-earth/
6.^ http://stuff.techwhack.com/7118-bhuvan
7.^ http://bhuvan.nrsc.gov.in/copy.html
8.^ “Bhuvan Download and Installation”. FLSBlog. 2009-08-13. http://www.forestlaneshul.com/bhuvan-earth-download-isro-bhuvan-map-installation-process-instructions-592.html. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
9.^ http://in.reuters.com/article/paidmediaAtoms/idIN52347752420090817
10.^ http://infotech.indiatimes.com/quickiearticleshow/4914543.cms
11.^ http://www.khabrein.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25131&Itemid=62
[edit] External links
Bhuvan: India’s answer to Google Earth
Bhuvan’s official website address
ISRO Bhuvan Download & Installation Procedure
ISRO Bhuvan’s Community Blog
Bhuvan ISRO launches beta version of 3D mapping tool – Bhuvan
More Information About Bhuvan
ISRO Bhuvan’s Blog
