spatial data infrastructures: is africa ready? 4 th global spatial data infrastructure conference...
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Spa
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Spatial Data Infrastructures: Is Africa Ready?
ByEzigbalike: Botswana
Selebalo: Lesotho
Faïz: Tunisia
Zhou: Zimbabwe
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Ready
(of a person) fully prepared for something or to do something …
completed and available for use
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What is SDI?
Fundamental spatial data sets Standards Distribution networks Policies and administrative principles People: users, providers and value adders From local level, through state, national,
regional to global
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Con
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MSC/NRC)
Data, databases and metadata Data networks and technology Institutional Arrangements Policies and standards Users
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Characteristics
Users are not conscious of ownership Taken for granted User responsible for equipment to use Delivered in a standard form
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Status of SDI Components in Africa
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Spatial Data
Exist in various forms in all countries, especially as maps
Base maps provided by national mapping agency
Some municipalities maintain cadastral records
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Spatial Data …
Thematic data from various agencies and departments
Land allocation from Departments of land
Data maintained mainly for administrative mandates
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Databases and Metadata
Available data being digitised New products in digital formats Geographic database (GDB)
being implemented in Tunisia Geographical repository and spatial data
warehouse
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Metadata … Digital mapping projects in
Botswana, including rural land inventories
In Lesotho, digital mapping of urban centres at 1:2,500 and digitisation of 1:50,000 map series
Overall, rudimentary metadata systems
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Technology
Information infrastructure depends on other utility infrastructures Especially electricity and
telecommunications
Limited coverage of electricity and erratic supply in places Extra costs to run computers in Africa
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Technology …
Telecommunications also not wide spread and slow lines Priority of Telecoms agencies is to
increase coverage of voice lines
IT, computer networks, Internets not developed Email and WWW being appreciated
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Arrangements
Most spatial data management activities in public sector Limited activity in the private sector
Exclusive mandates to government departments are guarded jealously Even when demand outstrips capacity
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Arrangements …
Government departments are not responsive to changing user needs Including needs of other
departments
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Map Management
‘Mapping era’ management Government departments need maps
National mapping agency provides maps
Regular meetings of some mapping council to set priorities
Mapping council chaired by national mapping agency
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Manage Information
We “do” information now The map is only an information
product And mapping, a data collection
exercise So we should manage information
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Management
Information requires a dedicated management function Independent of major producers and
consumers High enough to make policy and
enforce standards
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Financial Analogy
Major earners of country’s wealth Mines, Agriculture, Tourism
Major spenders Education, Defense, Health and welfare
Manager/Controller Very independent and very powerful
Finance
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Policies and Standards
Data formats, communication rules, and protocols, metadata
Social issues, privacy, copyrights, Pricing, distribution, commercial
liability, value addition Issues not yet addressed in Africa
When addressed, not enforced
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Users
Individuals, groups and organisations that: Produce spatial data Add value to spatial data Use the system in any way
Lots of users in Africa, but … Low IT and spatial skills
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Are we ready?
Component Complete & Available?
Are we fully prepared?
Data No Yes
Databases / metadata
No Not appreciated
Networks / technology
No Willing but not able
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Are we ready?
Component Complete & Available?
Are we fully prepared?
Institutional arrangements
Fragmented Reluctance to change
Policies No Declared intentions, little action
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Conclusion
We are not yet ready! Poor state of information,
communications and knowledge technologies
Lack of appreciation of full advantages of SDI
Reluctance to give up ‘tried and tested’ methods
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Concrete Actions
Educate ourselvesAll spatial data collection
should be planned for SDI environment Then provide ‘transitional’
arrangements
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Concrete Actions …
Restructure mapping advisory councils Educate other members of the
council Be willing to relinquish chair if
necessary
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Concrete Actions …
Educate senior officials and administrators
Initiate metadata and information flow projects
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Spatial Data Infrastructures:
Is Africa [email protected]