The Hindu Business Line : Pointsoft to foray into digital photogrammetry

POINTSOFT, a multi-service provider with accent on GIS (geographical information systems), is foraying to the growing `digital photogrammetry' business and has sewn up plans to double the company headcount here and is all set to locate an office in Europe.

The CEO of Pointsoft, Mr Brij Mohan, told Business Line: "The market for GIS-related services is estimated at Rs 55,000 crore and is growing at a steady pace as various sectors. However, the area of digital photogrammetry, also referred to as `softcopy photogrammetry in the US, is too fragmented."

He added: "Therefore, we have recently forayed into this space and are working with large agencies like the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) among others to harness the potential of photogrammetry. With applications ranging from city and town planning to usage in infrastructure projects, the range is endless." According to him, Pointsoft has embarked on a process to expand the company operations that would mean doubling the overall headcount from 130 to 260 in the near term and opening up of an office in Europe to tap the market there.

The company already has a sales and marketing office in the US and handles business for clients based in Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Promoted by the Munikrishna group of companies, the company is privately held and is cash-positive.

Started in 1998, the company survived the dotcom bust and has emerged stronger with new streams of business including GIS services, which currently account for about 15 per cent of the overall business.

Digital photogrammetry is used in the area of remote sensing where information gathered from satellite imagery is subjected to computer analysis and made meaningful for a specific application.