Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) are evolving technologies with enormous potential for contributing to the spatial studies of human activity locations as well as global and local environment. Satellite imageries and aerial photographs are some of the widely used sources for GIS database, which make possible to take spatial observations of the Earth’s surface at repetitive intervals, and consequently allow monitoring the changes. Satellite data provide a synaptic view and covers large area; high resolution satellite data (IKONOS/QUICK BIRD) makes it more cost effective to create or update spatial database for better spatial planning and decision making.

ICT has been using GIS and Remote Sensing technology for various types of projects. In highways engineering and transportation planning, generation of alternative route alignment depends on various factors such as socio-economic criteria, demographic coverage, land use / land cover pattern, topography, etc. In this context, terrain analysis (by creation of DEM/DTM) is considered essential in the planning phase. The GIS is also used to provide fundamental information regarding 'vulnerable land units' for geotechnical adjustment, and social adjustment along the proposed alignment of the highway. ICT has good technical resources (both hardware and software) with an extensive knowledge and experience to work on such digital spatial data. ICT has carried out various projects successfully using a wide range of data including satellite imageries, aerial photographs and GPS guided topographical surveys.