Virtual Reality Models To Boost Military Decision Making: DG Military Intelligence, Indian Army

Geospatial is an ecosystem and not a technology, which is evolving in perpetuity and tethering maps with geospatial information energises maps, said Lt Gen RS Raman, Director General Military Intelligence of Indian Army at the 14th edition of Indo Pacific Geo Intelligence Forum.

“The state and non-state actors both use drones. There’s a need for Virtual Reality (VR) models and not just digital elevation models for better decision-making. With the geospatial realm, the possibilities are limitless to visualise the future and anticipate the changes that arise”, he said.

“There’s a need to utilise all the utilities and Geospatial Intelligence applications, from Artificial Intelligence to data,” said Gen VK Singh, Former Indian Army Chief.

Saurabh Rai, CEO of Arahas, said “By combining the advanced capabilities of AI, VR, and autonomous weapon systems with the strategic insight and adaptability of our military personnel, India can significantly enhance defence capabilities.”

“This synergy not only improves the precision and efficiency of operations but also ensures that the forces are equipped to face the complexities and demands of contemporary conflicts with unparalleled agility and resilience. This forward-thinking approach places India at the forefront of modern warfare, prepared to defend and secure our nation against any challenge,” Rai added”

Digital Twins & AI

Explaining the benefits of digital replica in defence, Vishal Anand, COO, Mappls India explained “Digital Twin can improve situational awareness, help in mission planning and analysis, and enable better training and simulation.”He further stated that without AI today, you cannot think of creating any dataset.

Aniruddha Roy, CTO, Genesys International Corporation stated, “Accurate foundational 3D datasets and DTM and DSM are essential for Battlefield Simulation and training. On top of these foundational datasets, AI and ML practices and predictive models work efficiently.”

Digital Twin is the physical representation of our physical environment. It combines GIS data, airborne imagery, 3D models, and other geospatial information to create an accurate simulation of the real-world infrastructure.

“The Indian government’s commitment to invest $8-10 billion in geospatial development over the next five years (excluding defence) underscores its importance. To achieve this, collaboration is crucial for capacity and technology development,” states Sanjay Kumar, CEO of Geospatial World.