<p>The GPS-aided Geo Augmented Navigation System (Gagan), jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), is a technological achievement which Indian scientists can be proud of. The satellite-based air navigation service was recently launched and it has taken the country to a select group of countries, including the US, the EU and Japan, which have similar systems. It will provide navigation services over a wide region comprising the Indian Ocean, West Asia and Africa. Gagan works by relaying data from GPS satellites with the help of augmentation satellites and earth-based reference stations. A number of airports will benefit from its deployment. It fills a vital gap in aviation services but the uses are not confined to that sector. It can be used in surface transport like the railways and in agriculture. Security agencies, telecom industry and some other sectors will also find the system useful. <br /><br />Gagan is the result of 15 years of technological research and Rs 774 crore has been spent on it. As it was mentioned at the time of the launch of the system, focussed and coordinated work can produce good results. India’s scientific and technological establishment has received both bouquets and brickbats for its achievements and failures. It has been noted that very often, when it makes a major achievement, it was by way of catching up with the world. This is not bad and is necessary also, because many technologies are not freely available or may be prohibitively costly. So, there is the need to reinvent some of them, especially with characteristics which suit and satisfy Indian needs and conditions. It has also been found that many systems and processes, when they are developed in India, are less expensive and can be used economically by India and other developing countries.<br /><br />As the ISRO has maintained, Gagan has to be seen in conjunction with two other systems which have been developed in India. They are Bhuvan, a web-based geographic information system, and the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), which is an Indian variant of the global positioning system (GPS). It is designed to provide independent and reliable navigation services. Bhuvan was launched last month, and four IRNSS satellites have been launched till now. The three services are jointly referred to as BIG. Some of these services, especially Gagan, need more development to become fully useful. But they show that the country is making progress in an important area which will have implications for national security also.</p>
<p>The GPS-aided Geo Augmented Navigation System (Gagan), jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), is a technological achievement which Indian scientists can be proud of. The satellite-based air navigation service was recently launched and it has taken the country to a select group of countries, including the US, the EU and Japan, which have similar systems. It will provide navigation services over a wide region comprising the Indian Ocean, West Asia and Africa. Gagan works by relaying data from GPS satellites with the help of augmentation satellites and earth-based reference stations. A number of airports will benefit from its deployment. It fills a vital gap in aviation services but the uses are not confined to that sector. It can be used in surface transport like the railways and in agriculture. Security agencies, telecom industry and some other sectors will also find the system useful. <br /><br />Gagan is the result of 15 years of technological research and Rs 774 crore has been spent on it. As it was mentioned at the time of the launch of the system, focussed and coordinated work can produce good results. India’s scientific and technological establishment has received both bouquets and brickbats for its achievements and failures. It has been noted that very often, when it makes a major achievement, it was by way of catching up with the world. This is not bad and is necessary also, because many technologies are not freely available or may be prohibitively costly. So, there is the need to reinvent some of them, especially with characteristics which suit and satisfy Indian needs and conditions. It has also been found that many systems and processes, when they are developed in India, are less expensive and can be used economically by India and other developing countries.<br /><br />As the ISRO has maintained, Gagan has to be seen in conjunction with two other systems which have been developed in India. They are Bhuvan, a web-based geographic information system, and the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), which is an Indian variant of the global positioning system (GPS). It is designed to provide independent and reliable navigation services. Bhuvan was launched last month, and four IRNSS satellites have been launched till now. The three services are jointly referred to as BIG. Some of these services, especially Gagan, need more development to become fully useful. But they show that the country is making progress in an important area which will have implications for national security also.</p>
