Mumbai, Sept. 3 -- GeoSARAL enables users to view, manage, and analyse GIS data and basemaps offline, with full local storage support.

Esri India, the country's leading provider of Geographic Information System (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping solutions, has launched GeoSARAL, a Linux-based desktop GIS software designed for simple tasks such as mapping, visualisation, querying, and editing.

The solution was conceptualised in response to demand from Esri India's large ArcGIS user base across enterprise and government sectors for a lightweight Linux desktop GIS. GeoSARAL is also supported on Windows, with Android support under development. ArcGIS remains Esri's flagship platform, with over 1.5 million users across India.

Agendra Kumar, Managing Director, Esri India, said at the launch in New Delhi, "GeoSARAL addresses a well-defined customer base consisting of existing ArcGIS Enterprise and Pro users, while solving the operational challenge of the absence of a native Linux GIS desktop product. It integrates seamlessly with existing ArcGIS ecosystems and enterprise security models."

GeoSARAL allows users to view, manage, and analyse GIS data and basemaps stored locally, even without internet connectivity. Ahead of the launch, trial users provided positive feedback on its ease of use and cost-effectiveness.

The company is positioning GeoSARAL as part of India's push for technological self-reliance, with applications across governance, infrastructure, agriculture, utilities, urban development, sustainable resource planning, and disaster management.

Kumar added, "GeoSARAL also addresses the sovereignty issue. India is a huge GIS market, larger than the US, Germany, and France combined."

He highlighted strong potential in urban development, where GIS can improve quality of life in India's rapidly expanding cities. To broaden access, Esri India plans to list GeoSARAL on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), the standard procurement route for government and institutional buyers.

- Manish Pant

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Infrastructure Today.