Hampi to adopt techniques that would enhance its value.
Hampi, once the embodiment of magnificence, is in the news again. However, this time it is for the adoption of the technologies of the 21st century. C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing), a premier institute of India has embarked upon an ambitious project wherein it proposes to find hitherto buried rivers, roads and other important data in the recently recognised ‘World Heritage Centre’.
C-DAC intends to use several modern day techniques like Geoinformatics, GIS (Geographical Information System), GPS (Global Positioning System) and digital cartography to accomplish the project. C-DAC plans to employ GIS technique to all the four established procedures of such an exercise, namely Research, Analysis, Response and Implementation.
GIS is a computer system, which can collect, store, manipulate, segregate the geographical data of any given location. On comparison of this organised data with the information available from other sources, one can deduce a comprehensive picture about the site under study.
For instance, digital satellite images can be analysed to produce a map, which can depict the digital information about the vegetative covers of an area. While a computer-aided mapping system may represent a road simply as a line, a GIS can also recognise that road as the border between wetland and urban residential area.
C-DAC also plans to employ Geoinformatics. Geoinformatics is an exercise that would juxtapose all available information onto a framework, which is an application.
C-DAC is optimistic that the government of Karnataka would okay the proposal, which is also of interest to the UN. Arora believes the whole project would take around two years time considering the information that is to be collected and processed.
For those who have seen or heard of the glory of the kingdom ruled over by four dynasties, protected by a splendidly organised army under the chieftains and the Saluva generals, cities managed by governors, a time and place that saw cultural activities receive a boost, for all those who have marveled at the pinhole camera technique on display at the Virupaksha temple, musical pillars at the Vijaya Vittala temple, the sculptural finesse displayed at the Krishna temple and the water cooled Kamala Mahal, science is coming to the rescue again, to fill in those blanks.
There couldn’t be anything more accomplishing than the application of modern science, scientific methods to enrich the cultural heritage and other similar activities. Especially when it comes to issues like a closer understanding of our social, geographical and historical character.
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