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Spatial Information Management and Local Governance
Working document for GISDECO pre-conference Workshop on Local
Governance and GIS, 15 May, 2002
Compiled by
Erik de Man (ITC)
(06-05-2002)
1. Introduction
1.01. In many countries, local government faces new challenges and responsibilities
due to a variety of factors. Major factors in this respect are
- devolution and decentralisation of public administration
- the interplay between government, private sector and citizens (local
governance).
In particular at the local level pressing societal problems are met: e.g. poverty, illiteracy,
poor health, limited access to land and water, and degradation of the environment. Often,
rapid urbanization is the scene for many of these challenges.
1.02. Many of the public administrative functions have important spatial dimensions.
Examples are
- physical planning, regional policy, development regulation
- coastal zone management, river basin management,
- planning of social services (e.g. schools, clinics) and physical infrastructure
(roads, etc.),
- cadastre and tenure, boundary delineation among jurisdictions
- local government tax administration,
- issuance of building permits,
- environmental and economic impact assessment
- hazard mitigation and relief measures
- transportation and communication networks and modes, service areas, nodes, and
networks
- area administration.
1.03. Good governance requires good information, most of which is spatially
referenced. In addition, many decision processes at local level require or can benefit from
spatial analysis and visualisation. Modern spatial technologies like GIS and remote
sensing may offer a valuable contribution in addressing these complex needs. New highresolution
satellites are of especially importance in data poor urban environments.
Recent developments in the area of spatial and non-spatial information technologies
enhance networking and sharing of data and information within and outside urban areas,
and help create urban information infrastructures.
1.04. So far, knowledge about the impact of spatial information on local governance is
scarce and hardly documented. The available literature in this field is limited to the
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