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Development and Implementation of NSDI in Thailand
Dr.Chaowalit Silapathong
Head of Data Standards Section, Geo-informatics Center
Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Public Organization)
Bangkok, Thailand
1. Introduction
Nowadays Geographic Information System (GIS) plays a very important role in natural resources and environmental management as well as economic and social development. GIS has been used in Thailand for more than a decade. However, a clear framework and overall policy for GIS application have not been well established in the country. Several agencies, mostly in public sector, have individually developed their own GIS. By consequence, the following problems occur; duplication of data collection and production, lack of data sharing and coordination, data incompleteness, non-standardized or poor quality data and more importantly, inefficient expenditure of the budget. Therefore, a concrete National Plan for GIS is urgently needed to resolve the problems and to improve the efficiency and productivity in applying this technology.
Thailand is now moving towards e-Government policy aiming to make use of ICT to support administration and public services. Emergence of the e-Government affects directly the development of GIS as a source of geo-spatial data and information. Hence, development of National GIS is a major issue for the Thai GIS community. This paper presents the current situation of GIS activities in Thailand, Thailand IT vision towards the e-Government, major trusts on development of NSDI in the country as well as a key issue on establishment of National GIS.
2. Current Situation of GIS in Thailand
From Past to Present
Activities in Remote Sensing, GIS and satellite-based positioning in Thailand, have been coordinated by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (MOSTE), now the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), under which two national committees, namely the National Remote Sensing Coordinating Committee (NRSCC) and the National GIS Coordinating Committee (NGISCC), were set up in 1971 and 1993, respectively, so that the activities in these areas could be properly directed and coordinated.
Thailand has been involved in space technology for more than two decades. Earth observation satellite data have been applied in various fields including agriculture, forestry, meteorology, urban planning, mapping, environment, and disaster monitoring and damage assessment. Thailand ground receiving station was established since 1981 being the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. At present, the station is routinely receiving and processing satellite data from LANDSAT 5, IRS, RADARSAT and high resolution IKONOS satellites. The station provides the data not only for domestic utilization but also for the regional and worldwide applications.
Through the establishment of the National GIS Coordinating Committee in 1993, some important related issues including the legal aspects of GIS operation and standardization of GIS data and metadata were reviewed. Work accomplished includes development of a GIS data index for the whole country with regular updating; establishment of GIS training and education plan and policy, as well as curricula for short, medium and long-term programs; and incorporation of GIS policy and planning in the eighth national economic and social development plan.
Although a lot of progress has been made in the area of Geo-Informatics, there are still certain aspects that need to be further enhanced and strengthened. These include closer coordination and cooperation amongst relevant agencies, national capacity building and human resource development. Another area that needs to be promoted is the participation of the private sector at all levels of activities, including research and development, production and services.
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