Orissa will use the Global Positioning System (GPS) to map areas not yet surveyed, an official of the state science and technology department said Thursday.

The eastern Indian state has large hilly and forested areas, particularly in the underdeveloped Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput districts, that are inaccessible and have not yet been surveyed.

The state government will use GPS technology to carry out the survey as the centre has already approved funds for Orissa's proposal to use GPS for mapping, the official told IANS.

The central government has allotted Rs.50.7 million (over $1 million) for the establishment of data centres in 58 sub-divisions of Orissa's 30 districts. The state has already established online kiosks at some places, he said.

The GPS is a navigational and positioning system by which the location of a position on or above the earth can be determined by a special receiver at that point interpreting signals received simultaneously from several of a
constellation of special satellites.

Orissa has so far been using traditional mapping equipment to record its land maps. However, introduction of the GPS system would help prepare digitised cadastral maps through satellite, the official said.