CAD-GIS integration is fuelling growth of the GIS market

Driven by a need to access data on any platform with accuracy, Autodesk is
helping companies to seamlessly integrate CAD and GIS software. Zia Askari of
CyberMedia News spoke with Autodesk, South Asia Pacific infrastructure solutions
division marketing manager Paul Kuah about the company's integrated approach
towards GIS and CAD and its adoption in the Indian region.

On Autodesk India's current focus:

Our present efforts are focused on the adoption of an integrated approach
towards GIS and CAD in India. There is a lot of legacy data with Indian
government departments like the water, roads and infrastructure and other
utilities related departments. All this data is based on CAD and needs
precision. If we can combine this with GIS then it can have an element of
intelligence built into it. We are going in for an end-to-end approach,
combining the accuracy of CAD and intelligence of GIS.

On the benefits of integration:

Combining these two applications has given users the means to access textual
information residing in a database, through CAD graphics. The GIS system alone
produces detailed information, but in a spreadsheet format. Integrating the CAD
system provides a complete solution by introducing the power of graphics.

Traditionally, GIS data was accessed through hours of searching through
computer printouts. A CAD system eliminates the paper search altogether,
enabling users to access information in minutes by simply double-clicking on the
desired item on the computer screen.

Professionals design, map and analyze infrastructure constantly and they rely
on both digital geographic and design data to perform their tasks. Moreover,
data is not static. It changes and evolves from creation, editing and
management. Here an integrated approach can prove to be vital for the maximum
utilization of resources in any project.

On market acceptance for CAD-GIS:

We are working with the government on various fronts. We are also working
for the national highway project and recently have bagged a big project for the
Bihar-based Singreni coal mines. Now there is a need for customers to be able to
access data in any platform and at the same time do not lose the accuracy, this
is in fact driving the market for adopting an integrated approach towards CAD
and GIS.

We work very closely with Telstra in Australia and Singapore Telecom. This
integration of CAD and GIS software is fuelling the current growth of the GIS
market. Generating big savings by investing in CAD-GIS systems rather than buy
separate CAD and GIS systems, is something that could accord tremendous benefits
to firms operating in this region.