Chandigarh, April 20 -- Amid repeated crop losses due to inclement weather over the past few years, including this wheat season, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has decided to deploy a geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) system to generate precise field-level data showing crop damage. PAU vice-chancellor SS Gosal said the university currently lacks a reliable mechanism to accurately assess crop yield, damage and plant health and GEOINT system has the capability to bridge this critical gap. "This system will enable us to gather detailed, year-round data on crop conditions," he said, adding that a proposal for the project has been sent to the Union ministry of agriculture for approval under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) for approval and release of grant. He hoped to receive funds within the current financial year, as the university is ready to start work immediately afterwards. Geospatial intelligence, or GEOINT, refers to a framework that collects, analyses and interprets data related to the Earth's surface to support decision-making. It integrates inputs from satellite imagery, maps, global positioning system (GPS) data and geographic databases to identify patterns and trends linked to specific locations. The system relies on technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing and spatial analytics to process location-based data. In agriculture, these tools can be used to monitor crop health and soil conditions, while during disasters such as floods or earthquakes, the system helps authorities identify affected areas and plan response measures more effectively. The proposed system, estimated to cost Rs.10 crore, will strengthen the university's data collection and processing capabilities, Gosal said, adding that it will help assess the scale of damage caused by natural calamities such as floods and droughts, track the spread of crop diseases, aid in diagnosis, and analyse yield patterns. Highlighting limitations of the current system, Gosal said agricultural data collection still largely depends on manual inputs from revenue patwaris. "The existing system is outdated, based on manual records and hypotheses, and doesn't provide accurate data. Once implemented, the GEOINT system will offer granular insights, including the ability to estimate grain count per plant, assess size and health, and detect diseases at an early stage," he said. The university has established the school of digital innovation and smart agriculture, which will process and analyse the data generated through the GEOINT system, the VC added....