Dr Raga Rao – Computer Scientist & Entrepreneur (Phd in AI from IIT Madras)

Dr T Raja Rao is a well-known Computer Scientist in the Indian IT circles and has pioneered developments of software solutions in Scientific and Engineering applications domain.

Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, awarded its first Ph.D. in Computer Science to Dr. Rao. With his specialization in Artificial Intelligence, he has guided development of various Expert Systems in the fields of Remote Sensing and Pattern Recognition, Medical Imaging and Machine Vision.

He founded VISIONLABS, specializing in the fields of Geographic Information System (GIS), Land Information System (LIS), Survey and Engineering Consultancy.

Under the technology guidance of Dr. Rao, VISIONLABS has developed indigenously a Geographic Information System “VISION GIS” that has found widespread acceptance in thousands of installations across the country in Civilian and Defence Sectors.

It is one and only commercially successful GIS software products Indigenously developed that has found acceptance in numerous Government Organizations across the country.

National Television Channel of India (Doordarshan) has telecast a half hour interview with Dr. Rao, in a programme where eminent entrepreneurs are showcased and their Success Stories highlighted. This programme was widely appreciated by the VISIONLABS family of clients.

He has also pioneered the concept of “Modernization of Land Records”,  which led to a state-wide automation of business processes of the Survey and Land Records Department of Government of Goa and led to receiving the National Award for Excellence in e-Governance for the year 2009-2010.

The sustenance of technology was proven when he guided his team to migrate the technology to “Land Records From Anywhere”, whereby a Web based GIS allows public to view and certified copies of land records of any land parcel in the State of Goa from anywhere in the world using an internet connection and accessing a live web portal that provides accurate and up-to-date online information. This pioneering work has won the National Award for Excellence in e-Governance for the year 2012-13 and has won the International Geospatial World Forum Application Excellence Award in May 2013, against competition from 270 Global Nominations.

Dr Rao has been active in industry as well as academic circles. He has formerly served as Professor of Computer Science at KL College of Engineering and was a Visiting Professor of Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University & Osmania University and is a Member of Board of Studies for Electronics and Communication Engineering of Osmania University and Computer Science of Kakatiya University. He has been a member of Executive Council of Manufacturers Association of Information Technology (MAIT), India.

For his pioneering work in the niche domains of VISIONLANS, Dr Rao has been an invited dignitary to present his technology and vision on more than an occasion, to the Lal Bahadur National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie, the premier institute for Civil Services (IAS) in India.Dr. T. Raja Rao is a visionary scientist of the country who has dedicated his life for the goals of use of high end indigenous technology for provision of IT enabled Geospatial and Engineering Services.