Briefing - Discussion Meeting on UNGIWG, UNSDI and UNSDI-NCO

GeOMATICS BUSINESS PARKMarknesse, N.O.P

7 March 2006; 14.00 hrs

Jelle U. HielkemaFAO – UNGIWG Consultant

SYMBOLIC HUMAN HEAD

THE ESSENCE OF MAPMAKING

He had brought a large map representing the sea,

Without the last vestige of land:

And the crew were much pleased when they found it to be

A map they could all understand.

Lewis Carroll

The hunting of the snark; an agony in eight fits.

You

Are

Here

OUR WORLD IN A PERSPECTIVE

“Mapmaking fulfills one of our most ancient and deep-seated desires: understanding the world around us and our place in it”

Katharine HarmonAuthor of “ You are

Here”

A voluntary network of UN specialised agencies, programmes and funds

Established in March 2000 to:– Facilitate technical collaboration and formulate

policies concerning geographic information in the UN-system and with member states

– Address common geospatial issues – maps, boundaries, data access and exchange, adherence to international standards, naming conventions and location

– Provide a forum to discuss emerging technologies, experience with applications, and coordinate actions

What is it?

Membership

More than 30 UN Specialized Agencies, Programmes and Funds are currently members of UNGIWG – 7th Plenary Meeting in November 2006; Santiago, Chile

Overall Goal

To build a United Nations Spatial Data Infrastructure (UNSDI) required to enhance

spatial data and information sharing and exchange and promote and achieve

sustainable development

Specific Objectives

• improve the efficient use of geographic information for better decision-making;

• promote standards and norms for maps and other geospatial information;

• develop core maps and databases to avoid duplication;

• build mechanisms for sharing, maintaining and assuring the quality of geographic information;

• provide a forum for discussing common issues and emerging technological changes.

Organization

Activities & Task Groups

• International and administrative boundaries• Core Geo-Database• Remote Sensing• Interoperable Services• GIS Map Production Guidelines• Global Navigation Satellite Systems

Tangible Outputs

• Yearly Plenary Reports since 2000• Strategic plan 2001-2002• Inventory of globally consistent databases• UN approved standard international boundaries• De facto ISO and OpenGis compliant metadata

standard - GeoNetwork• SALB/GAUL Administrative Boundaries• GIS map production guidelines

UNSDI Guiding Principles

• Distinct SDI required for UN context• Groundwork already laid by UNGIWG• UNGIWG should closely coordinate

with other global and national efforts toward SDI’s

UNSDI - Generic Elements

• Data, metadata, standards, data sharing and exchange

• Develop common operational services• Define an organizational and institutional

environment• Technical capacity building in developing

countries and member organizations

UNSDI ‘Contours’

• Goals• Decentralized coordination framework• Standardization of tools• Continuity and sustainability

UNSDI FORMULATION Barry L. Henricksen

Rome 6-8 February• FAO, WFP, UNJLC

Geneva 9-10 February• WHO, UNHCR, UNOSAT, UNEP/DEWA/DEPA• GRID Nairobi telecon

New York 13-14 February• DPKO/UNCS, OCHA/FIS, UN-DESA, UN-DPA, DH Library• GSDI - CIESIN (Chen, Yeatman) telecon (Onsrud)• GIST telecons (Messick VAAF, Sawyer USAID/OFA & Holcomb ITOS)• Hunter college NY (Ahearn)

Rome 16-17 February• FAO – WFP debriefing/review• To be continued during April – November period

Global Spatial Data Infrastructure

GSDI

National Spatial Data Infrastructures

NSDI

EUINSPIRE

UNSDI

GeoConnection / FGDC GMES/GEOSS GMES/GEOSS

Organizational / Institutional Structure HR/Fin.

Metadata

Data(Task Groups 1,2 ,3)

StandardsTask Groups (4,5,6)

Capacity

Building

Services / Infrastructure

Global Spatial Data Infrastructure

National Spatial Data Infrastructure

- Partners - Regional Bodies

Policy (inclusions/exclusions) / Legal Partners

GSDI

NSDI

UNSDI- National SDI discussions being held with leading institutions in The Netherlands, the Czech Republic and F.R. Germany

Over to UNSDI – NCO www.unsdi.nl

Oh la belle bleue!