With the globalisation of industry and the move towards knowledge-based economies, the organisation of geographic information at the global level is more important than ever. The Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI) is viewed to encompass the broad policy, organisational, technical and financial arrangements needed to support ready global access to geographic information. It is seen by many as central to the response to the challenge of global sustainable development. It will potentially benefit many stakeholders, government and non-government organisations, education and research institutions, the commercial sector, and the general community at the national, regional and global level. The GSDI offers the prospect of better decision-making and thus improved economic growth, social development and environmental management.

Steering Committee
An ad hoc GSDI Steering Committee, comprising representatives from all continents, has responsibility for the management of the work activities and operations of the GSDI. This interim group has also been tasked with establishing a permanent global umbrella organisation to take the GSDI into the future. The Steering Committee is currently chaired by Australia as the nominated representative from the Asia-Pacific region and host of the GSDI conference held in Canberra in November 1998. The Chair of the Steering Committee rotates at each conference. The secretariat resides with the Chair and is currently provided by the Australian Surveying and Land Information Group (AUSLIG).

The business of the GSDI Steering Committee is undertaken through four initial working groups:

• Operations Working Group - to oversee the implementation of the umbrella organisation structure, and general administrative issues related to the GSDI.
• Technical Working Group – to advise the Steering Committee on technical aspects of the GSDI.
• Communication and Awareness Working Group - to inform the broad community about GSDI and the value of spatial data, and to promote the GSDI concept.
• Legal and Economic Working Group - to advise the Steering Committee on economic, legal and funding mechanisms underpinning the GSDI.

A taskforce has also been established to commission a major study into the business case for SDI development. The study will identify the economic, social, environmental and disaster management benefits that can be achieved through development of national and regional SDIs and the global SDI. The study will be used to gain financial support and capacity building from national governments and international agencies.

Conferences
The fourth GSDI Conference is going to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 13 –15 March, 2000. This meeting will continue the activities of the GSDI begun in Konigswinter, Germany and carried forward at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA and at Canberra, Australia.

The fourth GSDI conference is a milestone event. Recognising the need to embrace the developing nations, this conference will be the first convened outside of the developed world. The intent to encourage the developing nations to participate in GSDI is highlighted in the conference theme “Engaging Emerging Economies”.