Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application Centre (MRSAC) was established in January 1988, as an autonomous body under the Department of Planning, Govt. of Maharashtra. It is a premier institution, dedicatedly involved in serving the state of Maharashtra through use of geospatial technology like remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS), global positioning system (GPS), mobile technology, photogrammetry and the ultra-modern technologies of drone (UAV) and LiDAR for 3-D mapping. MRSAC has carved a niche in the e-governance program of the Government of  India with its use of mobile applications for asset mapping and dissemination of geographically referenced assets on web,  superimposed on high resolution satellite data and decision support system, designed on the geo-portal of each department as  per their need. It's no wonder then, that MRSAC has designed, successfully implemented and served data and value added maps for 26 line departments in a G2G scenario. All this has also been possible due to the vision of founder Director and the subsequent Director's as well who have left no stone unturned to usher in the use of latest technology for the welfare of the state.

               The use of geo-spatial technology is also becoming a mandate for every department by creating awareness amongst the departments, stakeholders, business communities and the masses for the need for transparency in governance. Thus, MRSAC is actively involved in G2G and G2C environment for the mapping, inventory, managing, monitoring, asset mapping, for the "ease of doing work" and for betterment of the lives of the common citizen. Urban applications, agriculture, sericulture, soil, land use, roads, water bodies and rivers, watershed, drainages, forest, geology and mining, archeology and conservation of heritage forts, ecology etc., are some of the domains in which MRSAC has made special contribution.  MRSAC has been recognized for its contribution by the Government through the geo-spatial awards for better e-governance for past two years. The newly built branch offices of MRSAC at Mumbai and Pune cater to the needs of Mantralaya and the various department headquarters for laisoning between various departments for the use of geo-spatial technology. It has been my privilege to serve the state of Maharashtra as the Director of this premier institute, ably supported by my handful of core scientists, each with a domain expertise, and usher in the new technologies of UAV and LiDAR and   photogrammetry and 3 D mapping. With the support of the Government, MRSAC has taken up the ambitious project of MahaBHUMI wherein a complete database of resources shall be prepared using very high-resolution satellite data from World View2 and Plaedias with resolution of 30cm in urban areas and 50 cm in rural areas. I am sure that MRSAC shall be able to complete this project on time and provide a very detailed base to the state. I, would conclude by stating that executing MahaBHUMI project would be “ a small step by MRSAC, a giant step for humanity for our State"

Dr. Ashok Kumar Joshi

Director