LiDAR in India

What is LiDAR

LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a technology that uses laser light to scan and map surroundings in 3D. It operates by sending out rapid pulses of laser light towards a target area. These pulses reflect from surfaces and travel back to the sensor. By calculating the time delay between sending and receiving the laser pulse, the system determines the distance between the sensor and the object. Collecting millions of such measurements generates a dense point cloud that accurately represents the scanned environment in three dimensions.

The core components of a LiDAR system include:

• Laser emitter: Produces the light pulses.
• Photodetector or sensor: Captures the returning light signals
• GPS and inertial measurement units (IMU): Provide precise positioning and orientation data.
• Processing unit: Converts raw data into usable 3D point clouds and models.

LiDAR data can be collected from various platforms such as aerial drones, airplanes, satellites, and ground-based vehicles.

Key Uses of LiDAR

• Topographic Mapping and Surveying LiDAR allows for the creation of high-resolution terrain maps, including elevation data that is crucial for urban planning, construction, and infrastructure development.
• Forestry and Environmental Monitoring LiDAR helps in assessing forest structure, biomass estimation, and monitoring environmental changes such as deforestation or erosion
• Autonomous Vehicles Self-driving cars rely heavily on LiDAR to detect obstacles, navigate safely, and create real-time maps of their surroundings.
• Archaeology LiDAR uncovers hidden structures beneath dense vegetation or soil, revolutionizing archaeological exploration.
• Disaster Management and Mitigation Detailed terrain data from LiDAR assists in flood modeling, landslide risk assessment, and planning emergency response.
• Agriculture Precision agriculture uses LiDAR data for soil analysis, crop monitoring, and optimizing irrigation.

Historical Evolution of LiDAR

LiDAR technology was introduced in India in the early 2000s and initially used by government agencies like the Survey of India (SoI), ISRO, and the Forest Survey of India (FSI) for terrain modeling and forest mapping. However, wider adoption was severely restricted under the National Map Policy, 2005, which imposed strict licensing and approval requirements for acquiring and distributing high-resolution geospatial data, including LiDAR. This limited private sector involvement and made India dependent on foreign service providers.

A major breakthrough came with the Geospatial Guidelines of 2021, which removed licensing barriers for Indian entities and allowed free acquisition and use of LiDAR data. The National Geospatial Policy of 2022 further reinforced this shift, positioning LiDAR as a critical tool in India’s long-term geospatial development strategy.

Geospatial Guidelines, 2021

A significant milestone was achieved with the release of the ‘Guidelines for Acquiring and Producing Geospatial Data and Geospatial Data Services including Maps’, issued on February 15, 2021, by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. This landmark reform liberalized India’s geospatial sector and had a major impact on LiDAR applications. Indian organizations can now acquire and process geospatial data up to specified accuracy levels without requiring government permission. However, foreign companies can access this data only through partnerships with Indian entities, ensuring national control over sensitive geospatial information while encouraging domestic innovation.

This reform has made it easier for Indian private entities to generate, store, and distribute high-resolution geospatial data, including LiDAR outputs.

• Removed licensing requirements for Indian entities to acquire and use geospatial data, including LiDAR.
• Allowed Indian private companies to conduct LiDAR surveys without prior approvals, as long as data collection was within Indian territory.
• Defined permissible accuracy levels: Horizontal accuracy up to 1 meter and vertical accuracy up to 3 meters was freely accessible to Indian entities.
• Permitted data processing and sharing, with exceptions only for sensitive or restricted areas defined by the government.

Compliance under Geospatial Guidelines, 2021

Indian Entities shall collect, generate, prepare, disseminate, store, share, publish, distribute, update, digitize and create Geospatial Data, including Maps, of any spatial accuracy within the territory of India, including underwater in its territorial waters, using any Geospatial Technology. (Para 8(v),(vii),(ix),(vi)(b),(vi)(a),(ii)(1),(viii),(xiii),(xiv) of Guidelines for Acquiring and Producing Geospatial Data and Geospatial Data Services including Maps)

National Geospatial Policy, 2022

On 28th December 2022, the Ministry of Science and Technology notified the National Geospatial Policy, 2022, following Cabinet approval. This comprehensive policy articulates a 20-year vision to develop a modern, inclusive, and globally competitive geospatial sector in India.

Key Features and Strategic Goals

1. Democratizing Geospatial Data

   One of the most transformative aspects of the policy is the shift from data control to data democratization. Publicly funded geospatial datasets—such as topographic maps, hydrographic data, and administrative boundaries—will now be treated as public goods.

   The policy mandates seamless access to such datasets for government, industry, academia, and citizens, thereby unlocking innovation, improving service delivery, and fueling data-driven decision-making.

2. Institutional Reform and Governance

   The policy establishes a new apex body—the Geospatial Data Promotion and Development Committee (GDPDC)—to succeed older institutions like the National Spatial Data Committee (NSDC). The GDPDC will coordinate all geospatial efforts, ensure standardization, and serve as the key facilitator for public-private partnerships.

   The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will continue to serve as the nodal authority for policy execution and inter-ministerial coordination.

3. Integrated Digital Infrastructure

   The policy envisages the development of a National Geospatial Data Registry (NGDR)—a federated platform where all spatial datasets will be cataloged, updated, and made accessible via APIs and web interfaces.

   In tandem, a Unified Geospatial Interface (UGI) will serve as a one-stop digital portal for visualizing, downloading, and integrating geospatial datasets across departments.

4. A Roadmap for 2047: Three Phases

   By 2025: Establish digital access systems, revise geodetic frameworks, and promote geospatial awareness.

   By 2030: Complete large-scale mapping of the entire country using drones, LiDAR, and satellite imagery. Operationalize national-level Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure (GKI).

   By 2047: India emerges as a global hub for geospatial solutions, services, and data.

5. Skilling and Human Capital Development

   To meet the growing demand for geospatial expertise, the policy calls for the establishment of a Geospatial Skill Development Council, in collaboration with NSDC, industry, and academia.

   Geospatial science will be integrated into school curricula, ITIs, polytechnics, and engineering colleges. Capacity-building will be supported by institutions like IIRS (ISRO), NIGST (SoI), and online platforms like iGOT Karmayogi.

6. Digital Twins and the Blue Economy

   India will build Digital Twins—real-time, virtual replicas of urban and infrastructure systems—for all major cities. This will enable precise simulations for planning, traffic management, disaster mitigation, and urban governance.

   Simultaneously, detailed bathymetric mapping will support maritime trade, port development, aquaculture, and environmental monitoring under the Blue Economy initiative.

7. Geospatial Innovation and Industry Development

   A new Geospatial Industrial Development Board (GIDB) will be created to guide industry growth, R&D investment, and enterprise support. The policy encourages the formation of Geospatial Incubation Centres and Technology Parks to promote startups, innovation, and MSME participation. National missions like Smart Cities, Bharatmala, and SVAMITVA rely heavily on LiDAR-generated data for project planning, monitoring, and delivery, reflecting the growing demand for geospatial solutions across sectors.

Sectoral Applications of LiDAR in India

1. Automotive Industry: In the automotive domain, LiDAR is emerging as a critical component in the development of safer and smarter vehicles.
   • Used in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) to detect objects, pedestrians, and lane boundaries.
   • Enables real-time 3D mapping for navigation and decision-making in autonomous driving systems.
   • Supports features such as collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control, and smart parking
2. Agriculture: LiDAR’s ability to generate high-resolution elevation and vegetation data is transforming agricultural practices:
   • Field grading and drainage planning based on terrain elevation models.
   • Crop health monitoring when integrated with multispectral imagery from drones.
   • Estimating biomass, canopy height, and tree density for plantations.
   • Used by agencies like the Forest Survey of India (FSI) for forest carbon stock assessments and biodiversity studies.
3. Infrastructure and Construction: Large-scale infrastructure projects benefit from LiDAR’s precision and efficiency in site analysis and planning.
   • Used for topographic surveys, alignment planning, and volume calculations in road, rail, and metro projects.
   • Integrates with Building Information Modeling (BIM) to improve design accuracy and project monitoring.
   • Reduces survey time and increases safety in hazardous or inaccessible areas.
4. Telecom and Utility Planning: Telecommunications and utilities leverage LiDAR for efficient infrastructure deployment and maintenance.
   • Helps determine line-of-sight for wireless towers, especially in urban environments.
   • Supports asset mapping and vegetation management for power lines and pipelines.
   • Enables accurate route planning and remote inspections of critical infrastructure.

Impact of the DPDP Act on LiDAR Technology in India

The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 brings new legal obligations for technologies that may collect identifiable personal data including LiDAR systems when integrated with cameras, GPS, or other sensors.

1. When LiDAR Becomes Privacy-Sensitive:

   While LiDAR primarily captures non-personal spatial data, it may inadvertently record:

   Faces or individuals in public areas.

   Vehicle license plates.

   Residential locations and movement data.

   If any of this data can identify a person, it qualifies as personal data under the DPDP Act, triggering privacy safeguards

2. How the DPDP Act Affects LiDAR Projects

   Here’s how specific elements of the Act impact LiDAR use:

   DPDP Principle	Relevance to LiDAR
   Consent-Driven Processing	LiDAR projects that might capture identifiable individuals will need explicit consent, unless a legal exemption applies.
   Purpose Limitation	Data can only be used for the exact purpose declared (e.g. city planning). Reuse for other goals (like advertising) would require fresh consent.
   Data Minimization	Only essential data should be collected. This restricts indiscriminate scanning, especially in populated areas.
   Limited Storage	Data must not be stored longer than necessary. Old LiDAR data containing personal information may need to be deleted or anonymized.
   Cross-Border Rules	Exporting LiDAR datasets to foreign cloud servers or analytics platforms could be restricted based on government policy.
   User Rights	Individuals can request access, correction, or deletion of their data, even if collected via street-level scanning or drones.

3. Key Risks for LiDAR Operators

   Unintentional collection of personal information in public areas through aerial or street-level scans

   Liability in case of privacy complaints if personal data is exposed or misused

   Challenges for foreign companies processing Indian data outside India

   Increased scrutiny in sensitive zones, such as near military or strategic infrastructure

4. Steps LiDAR Companies Should Take to Stay Compliant

   To align with the DPDP Act, LiDAR-based businesses and government agencies should:

   • Anonymize personal identifiers before storing or analyzing data
   • Conduct a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) for large-scale data collection
   • Clearly inform data subjects if personal data may be collected (e.g. notices during urban surveys)
   • Appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO) if handling large volumes of personal data
   • Limit data sharing to authorized and compliant partners
5. Other Laws That Intersect with DPDP

   In addition to the DPDP Act, LiDAR activities in India are also influenced by:

   Geospatial Data Guidelines (2021) from the Department of Science and Technology, which ease some restrictions but still protect sensitive areas

   Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Rules, which regulate drone-based LiDAR operations

   IT Act and National Security Guidelines, especially for defense-related or border zone mapping

Conclusion

LiDAR technology is playing a transformative role in India’s data-driven growth across sectors from smart mobility to precision agriculture and resilient infrastructure. Recent policy reforms, especially the Geospatial Guidelines (2021) and National Geospatial Policy (2022), have unlocked access, encouraged innovation, and stimulated private investment.

However, with expanded use comes responsibility. The DPDP Act (2023) adds a new layer of accountability, ensuring that personal data when captured alongside spatial intelligence is protected through ethical and lawful practices.

As India positions itself as a global geospatial leader by 2047, LiDAR will remain a cornerstone of this digital transformation enabling smarter governance, sustainable development, and enhanced public services, while staying aligned with data protection norms.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The content of this article is not intended to create and receipt of it does not constitute any relationship. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional legal counsel.