The long-awaited step is not only in sync with the times but is also meant to protect land records and boundaries, which often lands AAI in conflict with the other authorities. To start with, AAI has initiated a pilot project at Jaipur Airport in its first phase with Rolta India using its customised GIS-based Land and Asset Management System (GLAMS) for the service.

“The idea is to know our boundaries and area of operation and control, and also to create digital maps of all airports. Land-related conflicts with other land-owning agencies often hamper development and upgradation of airports, hence, the need for such an exercise. With private players also in the fray now, it will be easier to plan development if these digital maps are available,” added a senior AAI official.

“The exercise started recently at Jaipur airport and its land records are almost fully digitalised now by the consultant — Rolta India — we have recently appointed. There are some 10 other airports which will line up next for digitalisation exercise. Eventually, we plan to cover all our airports under the digitalised system. The exercise will cost around Rs 2 crore for 10 airports,” added the official.

It is learnt that AAI has decided to use the GLAMS format for 17 other airports in toto. The web-based solution allows spatial data to be monitored across departments — civil, CNS (communication, navigation, surveillance), electrical, ATC (air traffic control), land records, equipments section and fire. The system executes tasks like storage and retrieval, querying and reporting, updating projection system, and accessing multiple GIS data types, says the Rolta website. This has made it possible for AAI users to get maps and data online at all AAI locations connected to the intranet.

The GLAMS desktop solution will help in infrastructure management at airports with all land records, revenue maps, road features, mapping of utilities like sewer lines, electrical lines, water supply pipelines and the entire telecommunication network as well.

AAI, meanwhile, has other upgradation plans for airports as well.