The IIT Tirupati Technology Innovation Hub

Navavishkar I-Hub Foundation (IITTNiF)

The Darshak is the newsletter of the IIT Tirupati Navavishkar I-Hub Foundation (IITTNiF), dedicated to advancing Positioning and Precision Technologies (PPTs) such as remote sensing, GIS, GNSS and other non-invasive technologies. These technologies are crucial for analyzing and managing spatial and temporal data, aiding decision-making in sectors like agriculture, natural resource management, and disaster management. The hub also explores new frontiers in indoor positioning, timing and underwater navigation technologies. 

This newsletter covers our activities for July 2025. We will issue another newsletter for August 2025, thereafter, we hope to release The Darshak every quarter. 

IITTNiF fosters innovation through a comprehensive technology lifecycle approach encompassing Knowledge, Development, Translation, and Commercialization. By aligning with initiatives like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, the TIH aims to enhance self-reliance in PPTs and contribute to the national startup ecosystem.

The National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) under the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, leverages CPS technologies through 25 TIHs across India, each focused on a specific technology vertical.

Incorporated in December 2020, as a Section 8 company under IIT Tirupati, this Hub is fortunate to be located within the impressive IIT Tirupati campus and enjoys full support from IIT Tirupati, including guidance and leadership from the Director of IIT Tirupati and the Hub Governing Body. The leadership team also includes the Project Director, Dr. Roshan K Srivastav, Associate Professor at IIT Tirupati, and the CEO, Major General M. Rajendran (Retd.), who leads a vibrant and energetic team called Team Navavishkar.
The Board of Directors at IIT Tirupati Navavishkar I-Hub Foundation (IITTNiF) includes distinguished individuals such as Prof. K. N. Satyanarayana, the Director of IIT Tirupati; Dr. E. Anil Kumar, the Dean SRC at IIT Tirupati; Dr. Ajit T. Kalghatgi, a Non-Executive Director at Antrix Corporation Limited; Maj. Gen. Dr. R. Siva Kumar (Retd.), the Director Emeritus at Open Geospatial Consortium; Dr. Y. V. N. Krishna Murthy, an Academic Representative from the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology; and Dr. Roshan K. Srivastav, Associate Professor at IIT Tirupati in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. These experts collectively drive the foundations mission of innovation and growth in the PPT sector.

Mr. Varadrajan Krishna Iyer, is our Senior Advisor, Innovation & Entrepreneurship. He is a Corporate Executive turned global serial tech entrepreneur with multiple exits and currently involved actively in the startups ecosystem.

IITTNiF leverages public-private partnerships to foster innovation and support sustainable growth through advanced technologies under the verticals of Technology Development, Startups and Entrepreneurship, Human Resource and Skill Development, and Collaborations.

In This Edition

Translational R & D

GIS and Remote sensing

The Remote Sensing and GIS Lab at the Technology Innovation Hub is developing a GIS-based Elephant Occurrence Suitability Map for the Walayar region using multi-criteria spatial analysis. Environmental and anthropogenic layerssuch as DEM, Slope, NDVI, NDWI, LULC, Distance to Roads, and Distance to Streamswere selected based on elephant habitat preferences. An AHP-based weighted overlay analysis was applied to classify the region into high, moderate, and low suitability zones, aiding corridor identification and habitat conservation planning.

Additionally, a custom geospatial platform is being built to identify and classify plantation areas from satellite imagery. It uses Python with Flask for backend processing and Flutter for a responsive frontend. Users can upload satellite images and receive preliminary land cover classifications, which are downloadable for further analysis. Current efforts focus on improving classification accuracy through enhanced algorithms and validation. The platform supports follow-up studies like NDVI trend analysis, crop yield estimation, carbon sequestration, change detection, and irrigation planning. Once refined, this scalable tool will aid land management, agro-ecological planning, and sustainability monitoring.

Discussion with IIT Tirupati Faculties on developing Translational R&D

TIH IIT Tirupati is advancing its deep-tech mission through a strategic initiative that empowers individual faculty members to lead dedicated, research-driven laboratories focused on their domain expertise. These labs, with a strong emphasis on Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) applications, are designed to anchor in-house R&D and foster innovation within the TIH ecosystem. Following a series of focused discussions, this planproposed by the CEOaims to strengthen translational research and technology development across specialized areas. For a detailed overview of faculty domains and the planned labs,

you can explore the faculty expertise and lab details here.

IITTNiF Welcomes New B.Tech Batch with an Inspiring Orientation at IIT Tirupati

IITTNiF recently hosted an engaging orientation session for the incoming B.Tech students at IIT Tirupati, led by Dr. Roshan Srivastav. The session offered a dynamic introduction to the Technology Innovation Hub (TIH), spotlighting its pivotal role in advancing innovation within the realm of geospatial technologies.

Dr. Roshan captivated the audience with insights into emerging trends in GIS, Remote Sensing, and Spatial Analytics. He encouraged students to actively explore research opportunities, hands-on projects, and internships at the lab, emphasizing the transformative potential of these technologies.

The session served as a gateway for the new batch to connect with cutting-edge developments and ongoing initiatives at TIH, setting the tone for a future driven by exploration and innovation.

Launch of National AI Hackathon for Smart Parking

The Computer Vision (CV) Lab at IITTNiF has launched a national-level AI Hackathon focused on developing smart parking solutions. This initiative aims to bring together diverse communities from the AI ecosystemincluding researchers, academicians, startups, industry professionals, and studentsto collaboratively address the growing parking challenges in major urban cities across India, such as Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru. The hackathon seeks innovative, scalable, and technology-driven approaches to improve parking management and ease urban mobility.

Robust Automatic Number Plate Recognition Model Development

A robust Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) model has been successfully developed, capable of accurately detecting and recognizing vehicle number plates in all types of environmental conditions, including low light, motion blur, and cluttered backgrounds. This model can be effectively applied in smart parking systems, traffic enforcement, automated toll collection, vehicle surveillance, secured access control, and fleet management, contributing to enhanced automation and security in smart transportation and city infrastructure.

Startups

Meeting with HDFC Parivarthan team

On 30th July 2025, a productive meeting was held between the HDFC Parivarthan team and IITTNIF to explore collaborative opportunities aimed at supporting startups through entrepreneurship-focused initiatives. The discussion centered around potential partnership models with IITTNIF, CSR-based support mechanisms, and alignment on startup selection criteria to ensure impact and scalability. The HDFC teamcomprising Vamshidhar Reddy M, Dr Niranjan Demanna, Mr Mithun John, Padmaja Nerella, and Sreenivasulu Sankamexpressed strong interest in moving forward, with next steps involving formal engagement to jointly empower high-potential startups. Dr Venkat represented IITTNIF during the meeting.

Collaborations

Strengthening Geospatial Synergy: Aarvee and IITTNiF Forge Strategic Partnership

On July 3, 2025, Aarvee Engineering Consultants Ltd. and IITTNiF held a strategic meeting to advance collaboration in geospatial technologies and infrastructure applications. Ms. Sneha, Director at Aarvee, expressed keen interest in partnering as a knowledge collaborator. Aarvee committed to sharing LiDAR datasets to support IITTNiFs modelling and solution development, while discussions also covered GPR solutions and GIS-based tools for Digital Twin and 3D City Modelling. Both teams agreed to refine the partnership framework, with follow-ups focused on data exchange, technical alignment, and project integration. A subsequent meeting at Aarvees Hyderabad office will showcase customized solutions and explore implementation strategies.

Empowering Future Geospatial Innovators: GIS Outreach Session at BVRIT

On July 17, 2025, Dr. Roshan and Dr. Anindya Bose met with the NaviTro team to explore PNT collaborations. Key outcomes included delivery of NaviTros NavIC chip for testing, access to CORS datasets, and plans to onboard NaviTro under the Bharat PNT initiative. The meeting also covered curriculum collaboration, support for VidyaGIS and WINGS, and proposed participation in Space Ideathon 2025, reinforcing a shared commitment to indigenous geospatial innovation.

GIS Student Interaction Session by IITTNiF and BVRIT

On 19th July 2025, the Geo-Intel Lab at IITTNiF, in collaboration with Sri Vishnu College of Engineering (BVRIT), hosted a student interaction session focused on Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Dr. Roshan Srivastav engaged 136 students from varied academic backgrounds, highlighting the real-world relevance of GIS and its role in modern applications. The session sparked interest in new project ideas and internship opportunities, encouraging students to explore emerging geospatial technologies. This outreach initiative offered valuable exposure and laid the foundation for future collaborations with IITTNiF.

Collaborative Meeting at TIH  Advancing Spatial Intelligence Initiatives

The Technology Innovation Hub (TIH), IIT Tirupati recently hosted a meeting with a visiting delegation from CogniAI to explore collaborative opportunities in geospatial technologies. The discussions highlighted the role of the Geo-Intelligence and Applications Laboratory (Geo-Intel Lab) in promoting spatial intelligence and building indigenous solutions aligned with national priorities.
Key focus areas identified for collaboration include Digital Twin/Clone technologies, disaster management, and water resource management. An MoU is being prepared to formalize the partnership and drive joint projects in these impactful domains.
This engagement marks the beginning of a long-term partnership aimed at fostering innovation, knowledge exchange, and real-world applications of geospatial technologies.

Faculty Interaction on Geospatial Collaboration: IITTNiF and BVRIT

On 19th July 2025, Dr. Roshan Srivastav from the Geo-Intel Lab, IITTNiF, led an interactive session with 15 faculty members from Sri Vishnu College of Engineering (BVRIT). Representing departments such as Civil Engineering, Computer Science, and Electronics & Telecommunication, the faculty explored collaborative project ideas and opportunities in geospatial technologies. The session laid the groundwork for future joint initiatives between BVRIT and IITTNiF.

Events

Advancing Geospatial Education: Train the Trainers Program at BVRIT

On 18th July 2025, the Geo-Intel Lab at IITTNiF, in partnership with Sri Vishnu College of Engineering (BVRIT), successfully organized the Train the Trainers Program, bringing together 30 faculty members for an enriching academic exchange. Dr. Roshan Srivastav, serving as a key resource person, delivered a compelling session on the significance of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Civil Engineering, highlighting its critical role in infrastructure planning, spatial analysis, and sustainable development. The program encouraged active dialogue among participants, fostering collaborative learning and deepening academic engagement in the geospatial technology domain.

Visit to Sriharikota for NISAR Launch

The Geo-Intel Lab team, led by Dr. Roshan Srivastav, Project Director, IITTNiF, had the remarkable opportunity to witness the launch preparations of the NISAR satellite at Sriharikota.
Organized as part of our continued engagement with cutting-edge space missions and national geospatial initiatives, the visit allowed team members to observe firsthand the scale, precision, and ambition behind Indias collaboration with NASA for the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission.
This experience was deeply enriching for the Geo-Intel Lab team, strengthening our commitment to supporting Indias geospatial downstream ecosystem and aligning with national priorities in earth observation, environmental monitoring, and disaster preparedness.

Faculty Training Program (FDP) on "Evolving Geo-Informatics and Applications

The Geo-Intel Lab at IITTNiF, in collaboration with Esri India and GACI, successfully hosted a five-day Faculty Training Program on Evolving Geo-Informatics and Applications from July 28 to August 1, 2025. With full participation22 attendees including 3 Survey of India officersthe self-sustained initiative generated �15+ lakh in revenue.

Over 25 expert-led sessions from IIT Tirupati, IIRS, and Esri India covered GIS, Remote Sensing, Spatial Data Infrastructure, and AI/ML-driven spatial analytics. Participants gained hands-on experience with ArcGIS and earned joint certification from IITTNiF and Esri India.

The program highlighted IITTNiFs commitment to advancing geospatial capacity in line with the National Geospatial Policy and Indias Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.

Note

Major General M Rajendran (R)

CEO, IITTNiF

Advancing Innovation through Translational Research & Quantum Navigation

At IITTNiF, our mission is to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world impact. The Translational Research and Development (TRD) vertical is a cornerstone of this visionenabling faculty, startups, and industry collaborators to transform cutting-edge ideas into deployable technologies. From advanced sensor systems to precision timing and geospatial intelligence, TRD empowers innovators to move from lab to market with purpose and precision.

A shining example of this momentum is the Quantum Navigation Lab, a pioneering initiative focused on next-generation positioning systems. As India advances toward strategic autonomy in navigation technologies, our lab is contributing to the development of quantum-enhanced sensors and resilient location intelligence platforms. These efforts align with national priorities in defense, aerospace, and geospatial infrastructure.

Together, TRD and the Quantum Navigation Lab reflect IITTNiFs commitment to nurturing deep-tech innovation that serves society, industry, and the nation. We are proud to support researchers and entrepreneurs who are shaping the futureone breakthrough at a time.

Let us continue to build a vibrant ecosystem where ideas thrive, technologies evolve, and impact is inevitable.