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International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Vol XXXV, Part B7. Istanbul 2004 
  
2, Surveys relating to basic infrastructure of the 
panchayat-roads, drinking water resources, schools 
ete. 
3. Household information, housing structure, type of 
material used in house construction, basic amenities 
like electricity, water, telephone etc. 
4. Photograph of the house and its members. 
s. Household-wise collection of data realating to house 
tax, water tax etc. 
6. The resource surveys using cadastral map in the scale 
of 1: 5000. Plot-wise information was collected. 
PROCESS METHODOLOGY 
The base data forms the attribute database and the maps, 
the spatial database. These databases are integrated in a GIS 
platform and an information system is developed. 
The developed information system is embedded with query 
facilities so as to make it interactive. 
The presentation was made by Arc View GIS Software and 
Map Object Software and the customisation was made by 
Map Object and Visual Basic. 
Flexibility is inbuilt in the Interactive GIS developed to adapt 
to new situations and environments. 
The pilot software is being provided to the Gram Panchayat 
and the GP functionaries are being trained to use the same. 
The Software’s used are Arc Info 3.5.1, Arc View 3.1, Map 
Object 2.0 and Visual Basic 6.0, for developing the 
Interactive GIS for Gram Panchayat Planning. 
The outputs on the Window Screen are placed for visualizing 
the Software capabilities and outcomes. The Software has the 
capabilities to update database and the files are saved in new 
databases, which facilitates comparison of data over time 
period, for studying the impact of schemes or programmes or 
development initiatives and detection of changes. 
The photographs of each household family members are 
embedded with the house at the back drop. The profile of 
each household is available. The Villivalam Gram Panchayat 
profile with graphics is also available at Gram Panchayat 
layer. 
All formats are placed in window format for ease in use and 
understanding at the local level with Visual Basic 6.0 
Software. 
With training of one day, a person with high school 
qualification can operate the software and maintain the same. 
Any new parameters can be added and the software can be 
upgraded from time to time based on the need of the time, 
without losing any data. 
537 
OBSERVATIONS 
The striking revelation in this study is the fact that local 
people are greatly enthusiastic in adapting to new technology 
and new way of working together and take lot of interest in 
knowing new ways of doing things. Secondly the people at 
the local level rise above political, economic and social 
affiliations, and express their solidarity in applying the new 
tools and technology in their day to day work. The women 
participation was quite encouraging, and were willing to 
adopt the real technology. The younger mass feel social 
upheaval and enhancement in their social status through 
exposure and use of new IT Tools at the local level. The 
people's representatives give all encouragement and support 
and stand by the people in introduction of new technolog 
and in new ways of doing things, irrespective of their 
political affiliations. The district and local administration 
takes great interest in introducing new IT Tools and request 
development of these tools with inbuilt functionality for day 
to day administrative use at all level, in improving their 
performance and effectiveness and express their support and 
cooperation in any attempt in this regard. 
REPLICABILITY 
The Interactive GIS developed at the Gram Panchayat can be 
replicated. There are also possibilities and potential available 
for adding additional features and making it a wide spectrum 
software. The database required may vary depending on the 
type of problem faced in a particular area. The level of social 
mobilization needed to ensure participation in data collection 
and analysis can also vary from place to place. 
CONCLUSION 
The user friendly interactive GIS for a micro administrative 
unit has helped in ensuring better participation of the 
stakeholders in decision making. The variation in the level of 
education of the community was bridged by pictorial 
representation of data. The project helped in empowerment of 
the community and generated land literacy. User friendly 
interactive GIS data base generated at a micro administrative 
unit (panchayat) can improve the efficiency of 
administration, improve resource mobilization and help in 
informed decision making. The software being simple and 
customized and open for modifications hold lot of promise 
for local level applications. The strong aspect of this software 
is the capabilities of liking wide graphic aspects, like 
photographs, audios, videos, imageries and analyzed maps 
etc , which project field realities and help taking appropriate 
decision making, by people themselves.