Global Perspective of NGDI
Peter Holland Immediate Past Chairman, GSDI Steering Committee; Vice President, PCGIAP; Vice Chairman, ISCGM General Manager, AUSLIG Email: peterholland@auslig.gov.au Introduction The paper briefly describes several initiatives at global and regional level relating to geo-spatial data infrastructures. The paper concludes with comments on the relationship between these initiatives and the NGDI and provides a list of references for the interested reader. The GSDI initiative The concept of a global spatial data infrastructure (GSDI) is relatively recent. The GSDI is broadly defined as the policies, organisational remits, data, technologies, standards, delivery mechanisms, and financial and human resources necessary to ensure that those working at the global and regional scale are not impeded in meeting their objectives (Clarke 2000). More succinctly it means ready access to geo-spatial data at the global level. In this sense a GSDI is a super-set of NGDI. The GSDI is being advanced through the leadership of many nations and organisations represented by a GSDI Steering Committee. This multi-national Steering Committee includes representatives from all continents, and all sectors - government, academia, and the private sector. The current chairman is from South Africa3 . The GSDI Steering Committee has identified a set of core goals, and associated programs, to help advance awareness, acceptance and implementation of globally compatible spatial data infrastructures at the local, national, and regional levels Goal 1 Articulate the operational environment needed to achieve Global SDI compatibility
Help to build compatible SDI capacity around the world
Educate decision-makers on the benefits of GSDI inside and outside their borders
Assure that different SDI related policies can be facilitated by the GSDI
Advance the GSDI mission until a global SDI is achieved
The 5th GSDI conference will be held 21 to 25 May 2001 in Cartagena, Colombia7 . The Global Map product Global Map is a product of the International Steering Committee for Global Mapping (ISCGM)8 . The concept for the development of Global Map was originally presented by the Geographical Survey Institute of Japan as a result of the call for global data in Agenda 21, the document resulting from the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro. The plan is for a global database that consists of elevation, vegetation, land use, drainage systems, transportation, and administrative boundary layers. Each layer will be built to a common specification9 . The initial sources for these data include the Vector Map Level 0 (drainage, transportation, populated places, and administrative units), GTOPO30 (elevation), and the International Geosphere Biosphere Program’s global 1 km land characteristics data product (DISCover) which was produced from the 1 km AVHRR land cover data (vegetation, land cover, and land use). The Global Map product is envisaged to be accessible online at no cost for non-commercial use. An important characteristic of this project is the involvement of National Mapping Agencies and other interested organisations in the production and contribution of data sets and the validation of their accuracy (Estes 2000). The full benefit of the Global Map product will only be derived when long-term data maintenance arrangements are in place with contributing countries. Desirably, the NGDI will be the primary and authoritative source of up-to-date geospatial data. The APSDI The Asia Pacific Spatial Data Infrastructure10 (APSDI) is being constructed by the Permanent Committee on GIS Infrastructure for Asia and the Pacific11 (PCGIAP). The PCGIAP is managed through an executive board and its work program is implemented through several working groups12 . Conclusion The relationship between the three initiatives described in this paper and NGDI is summarised in table1. In summary, regional and global initiatives will rely to a large extent on effective and widespread implementation of NGDI within countries. The initiatives will also influence NGDI development. Glossary APSDI - Asia Pacific Spatial Data Infrastructure AUSLIG - Australian Surveying and Land Information Group AVHRR - advanced very high resolution radiometer GSDI - Global Spatial Data Infrastructure ISCGM - International Steering Committee for Global Mapping ISO - International Standards Organisation NGDI - National Geo-spatial Data Infrastructure PCGIAP - Permanent Committee on GIS Infrastructure for Asia and the Pacific SDI - spatial data infrastructure UN - United Nations References The hyperlink [CD] points to documents on the CD-ROM accompanying this paper. Clarke D., 2000. GSDI and emerging nations – challenges and opportunities for global cooperation. Paper presented at the 15th United Nations Regional Cartographic Conference for Asia and the Pacific, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, 11-14 April 2000. [CD] Estes J.E., 2000. The International Steering Committee for Global Mapping: Current Status and Future Plans and Challenges. Paper presented at the 15th United Nations Regional Cartographic Conference for Asia and the Pacific, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, 11-14 April 2000. [CD] Endnotes
James Kangethe National Spatial Information Framework, Department of Land Affairs Private Bag X954, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa Tel: +27-12-322-5400, Fax: +27-12-322-5418 E-mail: jkangethe@csg.pwv.gov.za |