As a part of the Induction Program—Deeksharambh '26, an industrial visit to the Survey of India, Dehradun, was organized for the first-year students of the Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering programs of Uttaranchal University on 20th August 2026. The Survey of India is India's central engineering agency in charge of mapping and surveying. The visit was planned to provide students with practical exposure to surveying, cartography, geographical mapping, GIS, drone-based mapping, and online mapping technologies.
The visit was particularly useful for introducing students to the importance of accurate geographical and spatial information in engineering applications, including the planning and construction of roads, bridges, tunnels, buildings, and other infrastructure. Mr. Vinod Balmiki and Mr. Ravi Kumar, faculty, UIT, accompanied the students during the visit that was coordinated by Prof. (Dr.) S. K. Shah, Head, B. Tech first year, under the guidance of Prof. (Dr.) Sumit Chaudhary, Director, UIT. 46 students boarded the bus at 10:30 am from the campus.
The visit began with an interactive session in the auditorium, where experts briefed students about the Survey of India's history, role, and key projects, including village mapping and the Namami Gange project. A quiz session was also held, with winners receiving tokens of appreciation. Students then explored the National Survey Museum of Geodetic & Research Branch, where surveying instruments used for various types of surveys were exhibited. The visit provided insights into traditional and modern technologies like total stations, GPS receivers, and geodetic instruments. They also learned about the Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS), a crucial technology for high-precision GPS-based surveys and geospatial mapping. The visit emphasized the role of geospatial technologies in nation-building.
