Argus News - NIT Rourkela Patents India’s First Real-Time Land Mapping Drone ‘BHU-MANACHITRA’

Rourkela, Nov 20: In a groundbreaking achievement, researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela have secured a patent for BHU-MANACHITRA—India’s first autonomous drone system capable of real-time land mapping. The innovation combines Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology to deliver instant, accurate maps without internet connectivity, external computers, or manual intervention.

A Leap Beyond Conventional Models

Unlike traditional drones that capture images for later processing, BHU-MANACHITRA performs all computations onboard. This allows the drone to recognise land features such as farmlands, forests, vegetation, and urban areas in real time. The system addresses a major limitation of existing deep-learning models, which often struggle to interpret crowded aerial images and produce unstable maps.

The Research Team

The patented system (Patent No. 573507) was developed under the leadership of Prof. Sambit Bakshi, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering, along with Dr. Tanmay Kumar Behera, Dr. Debbrota Paul Chowdhury, and Ms. Camellia Ray. The project was jointly supported by NIT Rourkela and IIT Patna Vishlesan I-Hub Foundation (TIH IIT Patna), funded through the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical System (NM-ICPS) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.

Also Read: NIT Rourkela Advances to 652nd in QS Sustainability Rankings 2026

Applications Across Sectors

The system’s versatility makes it a valuable tool across multiple domains:

• Government agencies can modernise land records, support urban planning, and advance smart city projects.

• Agriculture departments can assess crop conditions, soil health, and irrigation needs instantly.

• Disaster management authorities can access immediate terrain data during floods, landslides, or earthquakes.

• Environmental agencies can monitor deforestation, encroachments, and biodiversity changes effectively.

Lightweight AI for Real-Time Processing

Prof. Bakshi highlighted that the methodology uses a lightweight AI model with only 2.48 million parameters, making it suitable for drones that cannot carry heavy hardware. This ensures long flight times while enabling onboard processing, a critical advantage in remote or disaster-hit areas.

Towards Smarter Governance

The innovation aligns with national initiatives such as Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. By enabling faster decision-making, efficient resource management, and stronger disaster resilience, BHU-MANACHITRA represents a significant step toward smarter governance and sustainable development in India.