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4th GSDI Conference
The fourth Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI) conference was successfully hosted in Cape Town, South Africa. The three-day conference commenced on March 13 and ended on March 15 this year. The conference had an unprecedented number of delegates in attendance and papers presented; 180 international delegates attended the conference. It was the most geographically representative GSDI conference with delegates from most of the continents of the globe. The conference programme emphasised on the theme of “Engaging Emerging Economies” with a special plenary session on SDI development in Africa.
On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs, Ms. Thoko Didiza, Derek Clarke welcomed the delegates to South Africa and emphasised the importance of Africa and especially South Africa hosting the conference. Peter Holland, the outgoing Chair, GSDI Steering Committee and General Manager, Australian Surveying and Land Information Group delivered the official Welcome and preliminary remarks. He described the theme ‘Engaging Emerging Economies’ as significant because the conference was designed to engage those people who have not yet had an opportunity to join the global GSDI debate. A panel discussion followed with the reports from the GSDI Working Groups. The papers presented at the conference covered case studies and progress reports from different countries, Direction, Policies and Institutional issues, North American perspective on NSDI, technical strategies and considerations. There was a session consisting of three paper presentations on GSDI Africa which was opened with the second keynote presentation of the conference.
The closing session was co-chaired by Peter Holland, AUSLIG and Derek Clarke, Surveys and Mapping South Africa. The Colombian Ambassador to South Africa made the final keynote presentation on behalf of Juan Mayr-Maldonado. which emphasised the need for greater regional co-operation in the implementation of the Rio commitments. Peter Holland read out the resolutions of the conference which were adopted with the provision that the steering committee incorporates recommended amendments.
GSDI 5 will be held from the 21st to 25th May, 2001 in Cartagena, Colombia.
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