National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) researchers have invented BHU-MANACHITRA or earth map, an autonomous real-time land mapping drone system. The developed system uses Artificial Intelligence and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology to automatically generate land maps without the need for internet connectivity, external computers, or manual interventions.
The research team, led by Prof. Sambit Bakshi, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering, along with Dr. Tanmay Kumar Behera, Dr. Debbrota Paul Chowdhury, Research Graduates, and Ms. Camellia Ray, Research Scholar, NIT Rourkela, invented this patented system (Patent No. 573507).
Used to identify farmlands, forests, vegetation, and urban areas, land mapping is an essential part of the geographic governance of any country. It serves as the basis for planning, infrastructure development, natural resource management, and environmental monitoring. In India, land mapping relies heavily on manual surveys, which often take weeks or months to produce unstable maps. In recent times, drones have been adopted to image distant terrains; however, the captured images still need lab processing, a time-consuming process, to get a readable map.
While deep learning models are being developed worldwide to help interpret aerial images, they often struggle to identify roads, buildings, and vegetation due to the overcrowding of multiple objects. These models often produce inaccurate or unstable maps when used in real-time.
To address these limitations, the research team at NIT Rourkela have developed a deep-learning model that allows the drone to recognise land features in real time. Unlike conventional drones that only collect images for later analysis, BHU-MANACHITRA performs all processing onboard. This makes it self-sufficient and especially valuable in remote locations, disaster-hit regions, or areas with no communication networks.
The innovation is poised to benefit multiple sectors, including:
· Government agencies can apply it to land record modernisation, urban planning, and smart city development
· Agriculture departments can instantly assess crop conditions, soil health, and irrigation needs, improving both productivity and sustainability.
· During natural disasters such as floods, landslides, and earthquakes, the system can provide immediate terrain information, helping authorities plan quicker and more effective responses.
· Environmental and forest departments can use it to monitor deforestation, encroachments, and changes in biodiversity.
NIT Rourkela and IIT Patna Vishlesan I-Hub Foundation (TIH IIT Patna) have jointly been granted an Indian patent, as TIH IIT Patna has sponsored this research through the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical System (NM-ICPS) of DST, Government of India.
Speaking about the developed technology, Prof. Sambit Bakshi, Associate Professor, Computer Science & Engineering, NIT Rourkela, said, “The invented methodology uses a lightweight AI model with as low as 2.48 million parameters, which makes BHU-MANACHITRA suitable for on-board processing in drones. Drones, being designed lightweight for long flight time, cannot carry heavy dedicated hardware for real-time image processing but can carry a tiny enough processor for executing this lightweight AI model that performs land mapping.”
The developed technology marks a significant step towards the Government of India’s initiatives, including Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, and the push towards smarter governance. The innovation opens new possibilities for faster decision-making, efficient resource management, and stronger disaster resilience. With its potential use in a diverse range of sectors, BHU-MANACHITRA can play a pivotal role in enhancing national infrastructure, supporting field-level operations, and enabling more responsive, informed decision-making across the country.