satellite_image_delhi_20081208ISRO,Indian space & research organization has launched Bhuvan, a satellite mapping tool similar to Google Earthand Wikimapia.

Bhuvan was launched on 12th August 2009.

Bhuvan offers resolution up to 5 metres and is said to be a competitor to Google Earth.

“Bhuvan will be able to give you an image from only 10 meters away”, isro spokesman said.

Check the Official site www.bhuvan.nrsc.gov.in

Bhuvan can take closer pictures of the Indian Subcontinent as compared to the Google Earth.

Instructions to Download Bhuvan

Click link http://bhuvan2.nrsc.gov.in/Bhuvan/WebClient/PresentationLayer/WebClient/index.aspx

Step 1: Open link
Step 2: Register
Step 3: Login
Step 4: Download plugin and run
Step 5: Again click Above link

Bhuvan is capable of taking a zoom level of up to 10 meters, while Google Earth features a zoom level of up to 200 meters.

“With Bhuvan we will be able to produce very local information which will be specific to only to our own country. This information available from this mapping system will be useful in addressing very local problems like floods, famines, infrastructure development, education and much more,” said ISRO chairman Dr G Madhavan Nair.

Unlike Google Earth, however the Bhuvan application will not be downloadable and will not allow users to host content in the near future. “We are not competing with Google,” said Jayaraman.