2ND REQUEST FOR RESPONSES TO QUESTIONNAIRE (BY JUNE 30) Last month, we distributed the standards questionnaire to 1500-2000 geospatial specialists in Africa, and thus far we have received 12 replies. (12 out of 2000... okay I won't dwell on that). I would like to say that I am very grateful to those who made the effort, and request again that those who have not yet helped, to please do so in the coming days. [If you have found this newsletter at all useful to you, then please give back!] In an effort to improve capacity building efforts with respect to data standards in Africa, EIS-AFRICA and USGS/EDC continue to ask for your assistance in identifying - existing data standardization activities and priorities (both formal and 'de facto' standards); - specific barriers to data standard development and implementation; - interventions which will assist in overcoming these barriers (e.g, ideas on what can be done to increase standards activities within the geospatial community). http://www.eis-africa.org/ * * * Please download and complete the questionnaire by June 30th. We will synthesize the responses to this questionnaire, publish the results on various websites, and provide recommendations and reference materials to advance geospatial standardization (both national and trans-national concerns). * * * See links on last page of the questionnaire for a 'smattering' of standards reference material. http://www.gsdi.org/SDIA/2003/standards_questionaire_v_080503.zip -------------------------------------------------------------------- SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE AFRICA UPDATE VOL 2, NO. 7 - 20 JUNE 2003 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Spatial Data Infrastructure Africa (SDI-Africa) is a free email newsletter for people interested in GIS, remote sensing, and data management issues in Africa. To subscribe to SDI Africa, unsubscribe, or change your email address, contact: klance@usgs.gov If you're subscribing, please indicate your institutional affiliation and how you learned about the SDI-Africa newsletter. I began putting information into a newsletter in an effort to provide information to colleagues in Africa (particularly since surfing the web can be costly in Africa). I am involved in a number of projects that aim to build SDI capacity in Africa; however, there is no project or organization that is called SDI Africa. I will send out issues as time permits. If you have news or information related to GIS, remote sensing, and spatial data infrastructure (e.g., workshop announcements, publications, reports, websites of interest, etc.), kindly send me the materials so that I can include them in the newsletter. This will ensure that issues are sent more frequently. The newsletter depends upon your continued interest and input. You are welcome to forward this message onto colleagues who may find the information useful. If you do so, please include the newsletter contact information at the bottom of this message so that others will know about the newsletter and subscribe themselves. Back issues of the newsletter are at the GSDI and GISD websites: GSDI: http://www.gsdi.org (go to GSDI newsletters) GISD: http://www.opengis.org/gisd/sdi_news.htm Best regards, Kate Please note: Some long URLs (internet addresses) may occupy 2 lines. In that case, copy both lines into your browser. -------------------------------------------------------------------- INPUT TO THIS ISSUE -------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to Jack Malone, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University (USA); Richie Muheya, Department of Surveys and Malawi Geographical Information Council (MAGIC) (Malawi); Diane Davies, University of Maryland/Southern Africa Fire Network (USA); Gerd Rucker, German Aerospace Center - formally associated with National Agricultural Research Organisation in Uganda (Germany); Ahmed Abdel-rehim, CEDARE (Egypt); Tsehaie Woldai, ITC (Netherlands & Eritrea), CJ Cote, ESRI (USA); Hiroshi Une, Japan International Cooperation Agency (Kenya & Japan); Oteng Seremo & Tania Smith, NSIF (South Africa); Andrew Stancioff, Stone Environmental, Inc. (USA); Stanley Mubako, SARDC-IMERCSA (Zimbabwe); Henry Bulley, University of Nebraska - Lincoln (USA); and Robin Waters, RSW Geomatics Ltd. (England) for their contributions to this issue of the newsletter. -------------------------------------------------------------------- SDI NEWS, LINKS, PAPERS, PRESENTATIONS - HAVE YOU READ? -------------------------------------------------------------------- AFRICAGIS 03: Second Announcement AfricaGIS 03 will take place in Dakar, Senegal, Nov. 4-8, 2003. You can find details about the event at the Centre de Suivi Ecologique website (in French) http://213.154.74.37/agis2003/default.htm The English version of the second announcement is available at the EIS-AFRICA website http://www.eis-africa.org/events_africaGIS.htm 7th Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Conference, Feb. 2-6, 2004 Deadline for submitting abstracts August 15, 2003 http://www.gsdi.org/GSDI7/Gsdi7FirstAnnouncementFinal.pdf Focus: Spatial Technologies, Applications and Policies Venue: Bangalore, India Organised by: Indian Space Research Organisation & Department of Science and Technology, Government of India - high level meeting in DC - which is likely to influence availability and access to satellite imagery http://www.icsu.org/G3OS/docs/Doc13a_8thG3OS_Earth_Observation_Summit_Prospectus.doc Earth_Observation_Summit_Prospectus As a step toward building an international, comprehensive, integrated and sustained Earth observation system, the United States will host the Earth Observation Summit on July 31, 2003 in Washington, D.C. http://www.icsu.org/G3OS/docs/Doc13b_8thG3OS_Earth_Observation_Summit_Declaration.doc Earth_Observation_Summit_Declaration - SDI update on SDI from Malawi http://www.gsdi.org/SDIA/Outreach_document_User_and_Producers_v5.doc To date, Malawi has formed what is known as Malawi Geographical Information Council (MAGIC). The council is made up of members representing the geographical data producers and users from the government, producers and users from the private sector, a member from the academic community, a member from the NGOs and the President of the Surveyors Institute of Malawi. The responsibility of this board is to guide the institutionalisation of the NSDI. It is envisioned that the centre/institution will: - assist in the promotion and coordinated development of spatial data infrastructure for Malawi, by providing a common point for data discovery, exploration, access and delivery which is non threatening to custodian mandates. - help develop a wider community of users of spatial data to support public and private investiment in continued data development through increased awareness of concepts of spatial data infrastructure development. - assist data sharing through documenting datasets with metadata. These are just a few of the tasks that the centre would like to address when it becomes fully operational. Further details are provided in the the MAGIC flier that was prepared as part of MAGIC's awareness raising campaign (see link). On 30th May 2003, a board meeting was held. During this meeting, the Dept. of Surveys was mandated to take a leading role in formulating a business plan for the centre and write a project proposal that can be presented to the donors for possible assistance in capacity building of the centre. Currently the formation of MAGIC is being supported through funds from EU. However the project is winding up next month. This gives Malawi the challenge to find funds to assist in the capacity building of the centre and guiding the way forward. - SDI update from Egypt Taking advantage of an FGDC/GSDI visit to Cairo, a group of SDI champions met on May 22nd to discuss the development of a Standardized Spatial Data Infrastructure in Egypt. All participants agreed to capitalize on the momentum that was developed during this meeting. They will conduct another meeting to discuss how to push forward the initiative. - SDI update from Kenya http://kism.iconnect.co.ke/NSDI/NSDIindex.htm Kenya Institute of Surveying and Mapping released Kenya NSDI Web Page on 9 June. Though still 'immature' in terms of design, it includes various valuable information such as the definition of SDI, structure for Kenya NSDI, activities of Working Groups. Proceedings of past NSDI Workshops are available in pdf format. The report of the Study for Establishing Kenyan Standards for Geospatial Data is available from the Standards Working Group page. A detailed description of the Study for Establishing Spatial Data Framework for the City of Nairobi (large scale mapping) by JICA is also included. http://kism.iconnect.co.ke/NSDI/standardsWG.htm First Meeting of the NSDI Standards Working Group was held on 28th May 2003 at the Kenya Institute of Surveying and Mapping (KISM), Nairobi. 29 participants from 15 organizations attended. http://kism.iconnect.co.ke/NSDI/SURVEY%20REPORT.pdf JICA implemented a Study for Establishing Kenyan Standards for Geospatial Data from January to March 2003 through a contract with the Highland Surveyors. Report of the Study is available online. - SDI update from South Africa http://www.nsif.org.za/news/NSIF%20Review%20June%20issue1.doc http://www.gsdi.org/SDIA/NSIF_Review_Jne_issue.doc As a means to keep the geospatial community informed, the National Spatial Information Framework (NSIF) published a quarerly Review. See link for the June 2003 issue. Also, several useful policy documents are available online: Spatial Information Infrastructure Bill (latest version) http://www.nsif.org.za/news/latest_sibill.html Draft Custodian Policy http://www.nsif.org.za/policies/custodian.html Proposed Pricing Policy http://www.nsif.org.za/policies/pricing.html - SDI update from Zimbabwe http://www.gsdi.org/SDIA/Zimbabwe_metadata_SDI_update.doc National Spatial Data Infrastructure initiative under way for Zimbabwe http://www.rics.org/downloads/research_reports/april_2002_layout_geomatics.pdf Getting it together - the geography jigsaw "We take it for granted that we can accurately and unambiguously describe our neighbourhood,our towns and our country. We can use this to define who owns what and where our boundaries lie.It is almost impossible to imagine life without being able to do this. It underpins all aspects of the functioning of a modern economy and society. We do this using maps that are accurate and that are kept up to date. Yet, it is not something that can be taken for granted across the world. While huge amounts of aid are lavished on major development projects,the RICS Geomatics Faculty and the RICS Foundation were concerned that little attention was being given to the mapping needs of developing countries.We welcome this report, in highlighting the sources of support available and suggesting ways that aid for mapping infrastructure can be enhanced.We hope this report helps developing countries get the mapping infrastructure they need to support their economic and social development. https://customer.stone-env.com/niger/Description-des-cartes.pdf Atlas Preliminaire de la Pauvrete/Vulnerabilite, République du Niger Préparé pour le Gouvernement du Niger, Secrétariat Permanent du DSRP Étant donné que la pauvreté et la vulnérabilité ne sont pas facilement cernées, les indicateurs cartographies représentent seulement certaines priorités identifiées dans le PRSP intérimaire. Aout 2001 https://customer.stone-env.com/niger/ http://www.gsdi.org/SDIA/regiondemaradi.pdf http://www.gsdi.org/SDIA/kokorou8x11.pdf http://www.stone-env.com/docs/aimMali/english/en-final%20report.pdf (english) http://www.stone-env.com/docs/aimMali/francais/fr-final%20report.pdf (french) GIS needs assessment for a poverty information system for the Republic of Mali (explore the final report in English, 421kB PDF or French, 441kb PDF) USAID (February 2003) Creation of a Preliminary Atlas of Poverty/Vulnerability & Assistance in Building an Information System for Mali Proposition pour la création d’un atlas préliminaire de la pauvreté et de la vulnérabilité au Mali For more information contact David Healy & Andrew Stancioff, Stone Environmental, Inc., astancioff@stone-env.com [Note from Kate: those of you who have been eagerly awaiting a summary from the recent Ethiopian and Tanzanian SDI workshop, I must ask you to wait a little longer. Ethiopian Spatial Data Infrastructure Workshop, May 16, 2003 Tanzanian Spatial Data Infrastructure Workshop, May 19-20, 2003 http://www.esri.com/software/opengis/standards-arcuser-special.html June 2003 - ArcUser Special Section on Standards and Interoperability http://www.esri.com/library/whitepapers/pdfs/spatial-data-standards.pdf Spatial Data Standards and GIS Interoperability, ESRI [PDF-336 KB] http://www.esri.com/software/opengis/bentley_esri_wp.pdf Bentley/ESRI AEC-GIS Interoperability White Paper http://www.mapinfo.com/common/library/interoperability_wp.pdf MapInfo Interoperability White Paper Interoperability Recommendations for Homeland Security, e-government and Business Continuity Issues: The challenges associated with information sharing within and across organizations have been well documented. This white paper aims to address those concerns, shed light on possible solutions and inform you about what MapInfo and others are doing to solve problems in the arena of location intelligence or Geo-Spatial Technology. -------------------------------------------------------------------- GIS TOOLS, SOFTWARE, DATA -------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.iiasa.ac.at/Research/WAT/docs/desert.html http://www.iiasa.ac.at/Research/WAT/docs/getit.html DEcision Support system for Evaluation of River basin sTrategies (DESERT) The main purpose of this package is to provide a convenient, highly integrated tool for decision support for water quality management on a river basin scale. DESERT is available for free for academic/ research purposes; otherwise, a written permission from the authors is necessary. http://www.archives.nysed.gov/a/nysaservices/ns_serv_mg_gisguides.shtml Local Government GIS Development Guides (1996) New York State Archives and Records Administration. Text Only Downloaded from : http://www.nysarchives.org/a/nysaservices/ns_serv_mg_gisguides.shtml Also, available with figures from: http://www.geog.buffalo.edu/sara/ http://www.nrdb.co.uk/ Natural Resources Database (NRDB) The NRDB is a GIS tool for developing and distributing environmental databases. Its aim is to provide people in developing countries with a powerful yet simple tool to assist in the managing of their own resources. The NRDB consists of three products, a freeware standard version, a professional version (free for environmental/ sustainable development projects in developing countries) and an open source version. The software should run on most Windows-based computers and requires only standard desktop peripherals such as a scanner and a printer. It was originally developed for the Bohol Environment Management Office, Philippines by Richard D. Alexander, through the assistance of Voluntary Service Overseas. http://www.nrdb.co.uk/nrdbview.html NRDB View is a tool for displaying and editing of spatial data stored in shapefiles. It is an open source application. This means that the source code is distributed with the application so that end-users can make there own updates to the software. It is hoped that users will contribute to improvements in the software. NRDB View contains the same code for displaying and editing spatial data as NRDB Pro. It does not have a database component http://www.gpsu.co.uk/index.html Version 4.04.8 released 5th March 2003 GPS Utility is an easy-to-use application that provides management and manipulation of GPS information. You can use it to transfer data to/from a GPS receiver and store the data in PC files in one of several text formats. The program converts between different map datums and many coordinate formats (Lat/Long, UTM/UPS, country grids etc.). Information can be filtered in various ways and waypoints sorted according to specified criteria. Using a scanned in bitmap you can digitize waypoints, routes and tracks. Route and track statistics are available and can be transferred into other programs for ananlysis (i.e. spreadsheet programs). You can plot your GPS information as a map and add map annotations in text or image form. The program is a self contained EXE file and there are versions which run on Win3.1, Win95, Win98, Win NT, WinME, WinXP and Win2000. http://www.gsdi.org/SDIA/I-ArcIMS_Svc_SF.doc Links to existing implementations of ArcIMS http://www.fao.org/es/ESA/sisaar-e.htm. Handbook for Defining and Setting up a Food Security Information and Early Warning System (FSIEWS). This handbook produced by the Economic and Social Department (ES) of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations describes the methods used by the Food Security and Early Warning Information System (FSIEWS) for the benefit of the governmental and nongovernmental community engaged in the fight against hunger. Its text is a distillation of technical papers produced by national and international experts and technicians. -------------------------------------------------------------------- GEOSPATIAL RESEARCH / APPLICATIONS / REFERNECE MATERIAL -------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.zef.de/publications_discussion_papers.htm Strategic Targeting of Development Policies to a Complex Region: A GIS-Based Stratification Applied to Uganda. Abstract: It is often the case that national policies are not necessarily suitable at lower administrative levels due to the spatial complexity of natural and socio-economic resources within a country. That complexity of resources can be resolved by spatial modeling of natural and socio-economic variation. We propose a new GIS-based stratification algorithm to demarcate homogenous development domains at national level and applied that algorithm to Uganda. Based on that stratification, we assembled various spatial information to assess comparative advantages and disadvantages of these development domains for potential pathways of economic development. We expect that our stratification strategy may help policy makers and regional planners to target development investments more efficiently towards sustainable agriculture in Uganda. Contact: Gerd Rücker, gerd.ruecker@dlr.de ZEF - Discussion Papers On Development Policy No. 69, Center for Development Research, Bonn, May 2003. http://www.gnosisgis.org/GnosisGis-Regional%20Sites-Igad-mmdb.htm Minimum Medical Database Spatial Decision Support System for the Inter Governmental Authority on Development-Nile Basin Region (IGAD/Nile), produced under the auspices of the GnosisGis Working Group. This manual, and the corresponding CDROM digital data resource, is part of a database for the Intergovernmental Authority of Development/Nile Basin (IGAD/Nile) region of East Africa that was produced by a working group of collaborating health workers and earth scientists dedicated to application of emerging tools in the geospatial sciences to research and control program management for schistosomiasis and other human and animal snail-borne diseases. The manual contains descriptions for Geographic Information System (GIS) database resource components currently included in the ‘Minimum Medical Database Spatial Decision Support System’ CDROM for the IGAD/Nile region, one of five regions identified by the working group as endemic for schistosomiasis. For more information, contact Dr. John B Malone, malone@vetmed.lsu.edu. http://www.GnosisGis.org A GIS network on snail-borne infections with special reference to schistosomiasis http://www.geospatialtoday.com/articles/article_1.asp Drought Monitoring in Zambia using Meteosat and NOAA AVHRR Data By Kawana Nawa, Remote Sensing Unit, Zambia Meterological Department Rainfall measurements have traditionally come from a network of raingauges which in the past years have dwindled in number. Since raingauge measurements are only valid for a small area in the immediate vicinity of the instrument, use of Geo-stationary satellites such as the Meteosat and polar orbiting satellites such as the NOVA series, provide data at a resoultion sufficient for monitoring of rainfall events at a much wider scale. Currently different rainfall information is produced and disseminated to various users ranging form farmers, researchers to decision makers. http://196.20.1.38/news.htm, GIMS E-News, October 2002 City of Cape Town Electricity GIS Project The City of Cape Town Electrical Engineering and Information Technology Departments have been pioneering a long-term project concentrating on providing an effective GIS solution. The amalgamation of independent municipalities to form the City of Tygerberg during 1996 resulted in the incorporation of disparate systems and data. Since then, it has been a long process of amalgamating personnel, resources and procedures. The GIS project originated from different systems, CAD and GIS packages, standards and capturing procedures. During the 1998/1999 Capital Budget, the Directorate Electricity Services had their first opportunity to purchase GIS software. Thereafter the challenge arose to address the GIS needs within a rapidly changing technology and globalization environment. The unsure future of the amalgamation of the UniCity and RED (Regional Electricity Distributor) requires the development of an open system. This project was therefore initialised to undertake an in-depth study of current systems and operations before any data capturing could commence. The goals were to enable maintenance of the data as soon as the capturing process starts and that the data capturing (spatial and non-spatial) takes place directly into the Geodatabase (with built-in rules and behaviour) as well as onto the Spatial Database Engine (SDE). Communication with the user community was conducted throughout the project through regular workshops. The City of Cape Town standardised on the ESRI software range for GIS purposes, and it was decided to use ArcEditor for the capturing of all electrical data in the Geodatabase. The City of Cape Town: Electricity Department together with Information Technology: Tygerberg Administration and Southern GIS investigated existing needs regarding the implementation of an integrated information system. This contract was the 2nd phase in a 6-phase project (not all necessarily done by the above-mentioned contractors). For more information, contact Vince Lacy, vlacy@gims.com. http://resac.uconn.edu/publications/tech_papers/pdf_paper/Land_Cover_Change_ASPRS2002.pdf Civco, Daniel L. et al. 2002. A comparison of land use and land cover change detection methods. 12 p. 2002 ASPRS-ACSM Annual Conference and FIG XXII Congress. (Paper). -------------------------------------------------------------------- FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES / AWARDS / SUPPORT -------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.francophonie.org/fonds/ Le Fonds francophone des inforoutes vient de lancer son dixième appel a projets. Le Fonds francophone des inforoutes a pour mission de promouvoir le développement et la maîtrise des nouvelles technologies de l'information et de la communication dans les pays du Sud et de l'Est de la Francophonie en soutenant des initiatives multilatérales de production de contenus francophones, dans les domaines prioritaires déterminés par les instances de la Francophonie. Date de clôture: 30 juin 2003. fonds@francophonie.org http://www.santafe.edu/sfi/education/international/intlfellows/intlfaldescription.html Santa Fe Institute - Programme International Research Fellowship Opportunities. The Santa Fe Institute (SFI) will award several two-year fellowships to outstanding scholars from academic institutions in Africa, China, Eastern Europe, the Former Soviet Union, India, and Latin America. Participants will be selected based on interest in interdisciplinary research in the physical, biological, computational, or social sciences as they relate to complex adaptive systems. Short-term visits to SFI are included in the Fellowship. Closing date 15 July 2003. Further details: paul@santafe.edu http://www.ias.unu.edu/fellowships/details.cfm/articleID/393 Agriculture for Peace Split Fellowship Programme (SFP) Sponsored by the International Foundation for Science (IFS), Sweden, and the United Nations University/Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU/IAS), Japan. Applicants must be citizens of a Sub-Saharan African country; 45 years of age or younger; MA degree or the equivalent. Preference is given to researchers whose grant will be administered by a national research institute, university, research center, or NGO in Africa. Researchers with temporary positions at international research institutes who also have an affiliation with a national research institute are eligible to apply. Deadline: August 15, 2003 (application) Contact: International Foundation for Science, ag.peace@ifs.se Phone: 46-8-545-818-00; Fax: 46-8-545-818-01 http://www.cies.org Fulbright Scholar Program Environmental Studies (for U.S. citizens. If you are collaborating with US colleauges and think you might be able to extend or complement the work with this grant, please suggest to to colleagues that they might apply). The Fulbright Scholar Program is offering a number of lecturing, research, and lecturing/research awards in Environmental Studies for the 2004-2005 academic year. Awards for both faculty and professionals range from two months to an academic year. While many awards specify project and host institution, there are a 153 open "All Disciplines" awards that allow candidates to propose their own project and determine their host institution affiliation. Application deadline for 2004-2005 Fulbright traditional lecturing and research grants worldwide awards is August 1, 2003. Contact: Council for International Exchange of Scholars, apprequest@cies.iie.org, Tel: 202-686-7877 2003 Africa Development Bank & the Government of Japan Fellowship Program. AFD has announced its 2003-04 Fellowship Program which is sponsored by the Government of Japan. The Program offers 12 scholarships for a Master's level postgraduate program (DESS, DEA, MBA, etc.) and covers costs of tuition, fees, subsistence allowance, travel, and other related expenses. To be eligible, applications must be national of a member country of ADB, under 40 years of age, hold a bachelor's degree (high honors) in a development related field, have at least 2 years (preferably 3-5) professional experience in a field related to economic development, and possess documentary proof of admission to a Master's level graduate program at a distinguished university in a member country of the Bank. After finishing the studies, the scholar must return to his/her native country to work for at least two years. Preference will be given to students who wish to pursue their studies in Asian countries. To obtain application forms, write to the address below, stating your postal address, telephone and fax numbers: ADB-Japan Fellowship Program African Development Bank (PDRE.3) B.P. 323, 1002 Tunis Belvedere, Tunis, Tunisia Fax: 216-7135 1933 Application forms together with all supporting documents must be submitted no later than 31st July 2003. Conservation, Food and Health Foundation Inc. c/o Grants Management Associates, 230 Congress Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02110, Phone: (617) 426-7172, Fax: (617) 426-5441 Fields of Study: Conservation, ecology, environment, wildlife, agriculture, health, health services. Purpose of Study: To support projects of benefit to the Third World. Eligibility: Citizenship is unrestricted. Approximately 25-30 grants, $10,000 to $25,000, are awarded per year. Deadline: January 1 and August 1 each year. -------------------------------------------------------------------- TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES -------------------------------------------------------------------- GnosisGIS Short Course: 'Starting Up a Health and Environment GIS Capability' A 3-day workshop/short course on GIS applications in health and environment using the GnosisGIS Minimum Medical GIS Database (MMDb) will be offered at the LSU Lod Cook Alumni Center in Baton Rouge, LA, August 15-17, 2003. The short course is aimed at enrollment of researchers interested in initiating a PC-based GIS medical applications capability in their laboratory. Participants (limit 20) will be given a CD-ROM MMDb and software instruction on a research topic of their choosing. The CD-ROM will cover one area of interest for each participant (East Africa, South America-Carribean, South Asia, West Africa or Southern Africa). A manual on standard operating procedures previously found to be essential for health and environment applications using ESRI's ArcView 3.3/Spatial Analyst software will be provided. Processing and analysis of disease data (in point or administrative zone form) with vector resource map datasets and earth observing satellite data at regional scale (AVHRR, MODIS) and local scale (Landsat) will be covered. The short course will be held following the meeting of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology in New Orleans on August 10-14, 2003 where a special symposium 'Mapping the parasite world' will be held. (For further information contact Jack Malone at malone@vetmed.lsu.edu). Unfortunately, there are no resources for sponsorship. -------------------------------------------------------------------- TRAVEL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES -------------------------------------------------------------------- GIS award for full-time students http://www.gsdi.org/SDIA/GIS_competition_A.doc National Geographic Maps and the Geo-Information Society of South Africa (GISSA) are pleased to announce joint sponsorship of an award of R5,000.00 and a fully paid trip to the forthcoming International Cartographic Conference taking place in Durban from 11-15 August. As per attached conditions, students of any nationality registered full-time at accredited tertiary institutions in South Africa during 2002 and/or 2003 are eligible. They can be registered with any of the institutions department (not only Geography) but must have used GIS as part of their studies. Submissions must be in the form of poster outlining their work, the specific criteria for which will be sent to you later this week. The closing date for entries is 18 July 2003 and the competition is open to students below Doctoral level. We anticipate this award being made annually and look forward to submission from students using GIS in innovative ways from a variety of disciplines. Carrin Martin, GISSA, martinc@mrc.ac.za Civil Society Fellowships for PrepCom 3 (15-26 September 2003) http://www.geneva2003.org/wsis/index_c01_3_15.htm To facilitate the participation of Civil Society entities from developing countries at PrepCom-3 (in Geneva, Switzerland) a limited number of fellowships will be available, with priority being given to participants from Least Developed Countries. Applicants must register to the conference at: http://www.geneva2003.org. The fellowship's application form is on the funding web page: http://www.geneva2003.org/wsis/index_c01_3_15.htm A nomination form must be duly completed, then signed and endorsed by the person officially responsible to nominate candidates. Moreover the form must be received no later than: 12 July 2003. WSIS - Civil Society Fellowships, fellowship@geneva2003.org -------------------------------------------------------------------- EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES -------------------------------------------------------------------- * HOT ITEM!* http://www.gsdi.org/docs/SDIA/vacant_positions.doc Applications are invited for the following positions at the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) in Nairobi: - Senior Remote Sensing Officer - GIS Officer - Digital Mapping Surveyor Applicants for these positions must be nationals of the Centre's member States only. The closing date for receiving applications will be 15th July 2003. http://www.wcs.org Wildlife Conservation Society Directors, Congo Projects WCS seeks two Project Directors in Congo, Brazzaville: (1) Project Director, Conkouati-Douli National Park Landscape Project (reference: CDNP) and (2) Project Director, Project for Ecosystem Management of the Periphery of the Nouabalé -Ndoki National Park (reference: PROGEPP). (1) CDNP is located along the coast, including marine and forest habitats. WCS and the Government of Congo work to conserve and manage this area, threatened by the bushmeat trade and logging. Activities include law enforcement, education, community outreach, wildlife management, and ecological and socio-economic research and monitoring. Cross-border collaboration with Gabonese wildlife authorities is important. The Project Director is a full time on site manager based at the Park headquarters. (2) PROGEPP is a WCS-initiated project aiming to improve conservation and management through effective forestry management of timber concessions. The project involves collaboration between WCS, the Ministry of Forestry Economy and Environment of the Government of Congo, timber companies, and local communities. Project activities include those mentioned above as well as working with timber companies to reduce the impact of exploitation practices. The Project Director is based as a full time on site manager in the remote village of Kabo. For each position, responsibilities include program and staff management, fund raising, budgeting, reporting, and working closely with the Project Administrator. The Project Director reports to the WCS Congo Country Program Director and the Director of the Africa Program in New York. Candidates should have a minimum of 3 years experience working in African conservation management, an advanced degree in a relevant field, and fluency in French. Successful candidates will receive a two-year contract. Send a cover letter and CV to Mrs. April Stanley, WCS Africa Program, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460. (fax: 718-364-4275; e-mail: wcsafrica@wcs.org; reference: CDNP or PROGEPP) For more information visit the WCS website. Special Assistant to the Director, Nairobi, Kenya The United Nations Environment Programme seeks a Special Assistant to the Director (P-3) for the Division of Early Warning and Assessment. Duties: perform diverse analytical tasks for the Director concerning institutional and administrative matters; follow-up on recommendations and requests from United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), Programme Coordination and Management Unit (PCMU) and Evaluation and Oversight Unit, including administration, personnel, budget, programming and planning, co-ordination and reporting on implementation; analyse the recommendations of the Branches of the Division; oversee analysis of necessary administrative procedures to ensure that the Director's decisions are adhered to; and act as an information point between the Director's Office and the Branches and Units within the Division including other UNEP divisions. Requires: Advanced university degree level in an area of Environmental Sciences, Political Sciences, Administration or Management; six years experience, including two years in international context; proven ability to negotiate and to work as a team-member; and proficiency in English. Closing date: July 8, 2003. You may apply online at: https://jobs.un.org/. Reference Vacancy Announcement No.: 03-PGM-UNEP-401415-R-NAIROBI. http://www.uniswa.sz/science/geography.html Lecturer in Geography, Environmental Science and Planning, Swaziland To teach undergraduate and graduate courses in Soil Science, Biogeography and Applied courses in Environmental Resource Management. To carry out research. To perform any other duties assigned by the Head of Department. Applications should include the following: (1) a detailed Curriculum Vitae, (2) Transcripts (3) certified copies of academic/professional qualifications, (4) the names and addresses of three referees. NB: Applications without all the required documents or information will not be considered. Applicants are also advised to include their email addresses, Telephone and Fax numbers. Applications should be sent to: The Registrar, University of Swaziland Private Bag 4, Kwaluseni, Swaziland Not later than 11th July, 2003. Qualifications : Masters degree, although a PhD would be preferred. College or university teaching experience, plus training in Geographic Information Systems will also be an added advantage Contact Details Fax : +268 518 5276 Socio-économiste, Niamey ( République du Niger) http://www.agrhymet.ne/emploi.htm Le Centre Régional AGRHYMET recrute un(e) (1) Expert(e) socio-économiste responsable de l’exploitation des informations alimentaires, agricoles et socio-économiques dans les zones et groupes vulnérables. 1. contribuer activement à la définition d’indicateurs pertinents de caractérisation des zones et groupes vulnérables; 2. collecter et centraliser les données secondaires sur les zones et populations vulnérables; 3. participer au suivi rapproché de la situation alimentaire dans les zones à risque; 4. contribuer aux activités de suivi de la campagne agropastorale; 5. prendre part aux missions d’évaluation préliminaire des récoltes; 6. apporter un appui aux activités de transfert des outils et méthodes. Durée du contrat : Le contrat est d’une durée de deux (2) ans avec une période d'essai de trois (3) mois. Classification : La classification du poste est en Catégorie A1 de la grille salariale du CILSS (recrutement Inter-Etatique). Les dossiers de candidature doivent être adressés au plus tard le 17-06-03 directement au Centre Régional AGRHYMET à l’adresse ci-dessous: Centre Régional AGRHYMET -B.P. 11011 Niamey, République du Niger; Tél : (227) 73 31 16 , 73 24 36, Fax : 73 24 35 E-mail: admin@sahel.agrhymet.ne http://www.iucn.org/about/vackyabobo.doc Park Management Advisor, Kyabobo National Park, Nkwanta, Volta Region, Ghana. Support all aspects of park management and project implementation, providing critical appraisal of existing park management operations and arrangements and technical guidance on the introduction of new working practices; Develop monitoring and evaluation procedures, ensure that appropriate data are collected and analysed and the effects of management interventions are understood and applied in an adaptive way, etc. (see website for further details). Qualifications : Significant practical experience in the management of African parks and reserves, and demonstrated knowledge of African wildlife conservation issues. Deadline 30 June 2003. Natural Resource Management Sector Manager, CARE, Kampala, Uganda http://www.care.dk/18749 http://www.gsdi.org/SDIA/care_NRM_posotion_uganda.pdf Application Deadline: No later than 23 June 2003 Contact: Karin E. Schultz karin@care.dk, care@care.dk Senior Project Manager - Technical Operations, Nairobi, Kenya http://www.aftechfound.org/index.php The African Agricultural Technology Foundation Closing Date: 30 June 2003 The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) is a new and unique public-private partnership, whose mission is to provide access to agricultural technologies, materials, and knowledge for smallholder producers in sub-Saharan Africa to improve food security and alleviate poverty. This African-based and African-directed institution is seeking a highly qualified African to assume the position of Senior Project Manager - Technical Operations. Land Surveyor, Namibia (from RICS Foundation website) http://www.vso.org.uk/ (not listed on-line, but is currently open) VSO - land surveyor needed for land tenure project in Namibia. Key duties and responsibilities . Undertake land surveys, adjudication and land registration of informal settlements and green field areas in Oshakati . Work alongside local property office managers, land measurers and registration officers to build capacity of projectv . Facilitate liaison & co-operation between the property office and the Town Council & community based organisationsv . Assist in raising the awareness & understanding of the Flexible Land Tenure system among councillors of the Municipality of Oshakativ . Document work methods, procedures and lessons learnt for the rolling out of the Local Property Office network nationwide. For more information, email Eve Dyer, Eve.Dyer@vso.org.uk, or apply online at http://www.vso.org.uk Director Biodiversity Information Services, Cambridge, U.K. http://www.unep-wcmc.org/latenews/jobs/AD020.htm The post holder will lead a major development initiative to upgrade the Centre's information management systems and service delivery, engaging private sector partners and linked with UNEP's Nairobi headquarters and other operational offices world-wide. You will direct the teams responsible for web services, GIS, ICT, library, publications and enquiries. A broad technical understanding of each of these disciplines is essential to this post. The closing date for applications is Monday 7th July 2003. -------------------------------------------------------------------- OTHER -------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.gsdi.org/SDIA/Africa_IALE_member_Form.doc International Association of Landscape Ecologists -African Chapter A symposium is taking place in Darwin, and it is anticipated that Africa-IALE will be formally recognized during the world congress. If you will like to be included in this initial maiden membership of Africa-IALE, please fill out the attached form and return it to hbulley@calmit.unl.edu. http://www.unep-wcmc.org A scientific review of the priority issues influencing sustainability and vulnerability in coastal communities. Proceedings of Conference held at the Natural History Museum & Royal Society, London, 27-28 May 2003. http://www.sarpn.org.za From Southern African Regional Poverty Network (SARPN) The UNDP, through its new Development Policy Journal, has just published a series of articles on core aspects of the Millenium Development Goals. Given the policy importance of many of the issues raised in the articles to Southern African debates and policies about poverty, SARPN has, with permission of the UNDP in New York, published the entire edition on their website. They have however posted the large PDF file (183 pages) in a very accessible form - each of the 12 articles can be downloaded separately. The articles range over gender, HIV, environment and a range of other sectoral and policy issues. The table of contents is as follows: Section One: The MDGs: goals and targets 1. Are the MDGs feasible? 2. Financing the MDGs: an analysis of Cameroon, Uganda and Philippines 3. MDGs in national policy frameworks 4. Building statistical capacity to monitor the MDGs Section Two: Sustainable development and the MDGs 5. The environment/poverty nexus 6. Reducing poverty by using biodiversity sustainability 7. Gender dimensions of poverty and HIV/AIDS: a survey of six countries (including Botswana) Section Three: Goal 8: Global partnerships 8. Donors and recipients 9. The International Poverty Trap 10. Mainstreaming development in trade and finance: a key to global partnership 11. Civil society and the MDGs 12. The Millenium Declaration: Mobilising Civil Society Organisations http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=225&fArticleId=139844 http://www.cgdev.org/rankingtherich/home.html Opinion, The Star (SA), May 2, 2003. Which rich countries help the poor countries most? This is a question that preoccupies donor countries as they jostle for influence, and also concerns the aid recipient countries as they attempt to analyse an often confusing mass of contradictory evidence. Now the Centre for Global Development and Foreign Policy magazine in the United States have made a unique attempt to answer the question objectively. They have just released their first annual CGD/FP Commitment to Development Index, which grades 21 rich nations on whether their aid, trade, migration, investment, peacekeeping, and environmental policies help or hurt poor nations. As one can see, they have gone well beyond the traditional measure of helpfulness - official development aid - to include the five other criteria listed above. This has produced some unexpected results. http://www.fao.org/gtos FAO and Climate Change CD-ROM The FAO and Climate Change CD-ROM contains an overview of the activities carried out by FAO in the area of climate change. The CD-ROM was prepared by the Environment and Natural Resources Service (SDRN) in collaboration with the Forestry Products Division (FOP) and the members of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Climate Change. In addition to information on climate change there is also an additional section on interactions between climate and agricultural production. The information can be accessed either by technical themes, key words or by departments. If you would like a free copy of the CD-ROM please send your postal address to the GTOS Secretariat. For further details of GTOS projects and activities, contact the GTOS Secretariat (gtos@fao.org). -------------------------------------------------------------------- CONFERENCES - YOU'RE INVITED! -------------------------------------------------------------------- June 23-25, 2003, Nairobi, Kenya http://www.atpsnet.org Progress Workshop on "Strengthening ICT Policy in Africa: Governance, Equity & Institutional Issues July 7-11, 2003, San Diego, CA, USA http://www.esri.com/events/uc/index.html ESRI International User Conference 2003 July 12-14, 2003, Okinawa, Japan http://www.iscgm.org/html4/index_c1_s1.html#doc2_org.iscgm.schedule.gmf03 Global Mapping Forum 2003 in Okinawa (GMF03), sponsored by the International Steering Committee for Global Mapping. The objective of the Forum is to exchange ideas, experiences and information among data users and data providers concerning global or regional scale geographic information. July 13-17, 2003, Darwin, Australia http://www.iale.ntu.edu.au International Association for Landscape Ecology (IALE) World Congress. A special session on Africa is being planned for 2003. The proposed theme for this session is, "The Changing Landscapes Of Africa". The session is also intended to be a starting point for an Africa-Chapter of IALE. All those with interest in landscape analysis, resource data and projects in Africa are encouraged to be part of this process. If you are interested in the special session and Africa-IALE, contact: Henry N.N. Bulley, CALMIT, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Tel: 402-472-4973; Email: hbulley@calmit.unl.edu July 14 - 18, 2003, Yaoundé, Cameroon http://www.iiasiisa.be/iias/aicamer/aicamer.htm http://www.iiasiisa.be/iias/aicamer/cameroon%20invitation.pdf http://www.iiasiisa.be/iias/aicamer/aicamerpress.pdf Shared Governance: combatting poverty and exclusion (Regional International Conference). Sub-Themes: 1. Roles, Strategies and Instruments for Governments and Public Bodies 2. Roles and Responsibilities of Citizens, Social Agents and Groups 3. Roles, Responsibilities and Strategies for International and Supranational Organisations 4. Roles and Responsibilities of Local and Sub-National Administrations and Communities July 20-24, 2003, Maputo, Mozambique http://www.pitt.edu/~icpm/icpm.html The Fourth International Conference on Public Management, Policy, and Development (The President of Mozambique is a confirmed speaker at the conference) http://www.pitt.edu/~icpm/pressreleasefrench.html (francais) Conférence Internationale sur la Gestion Publique, les Politiques et le Développement. The Mozambique conference is sponsored by the International Consortium on Public Management, Policy and Development. Its mission is to strengthen and promote public sector involvement in sustainable community development. This mission is achieved via a forum to facilitate institutional linkages, research, dialogue, and cooperative activities among professionals in government, academia, business, and nonprofit groups. http://www.pitt.edu/~icpm/tracks.html Track 4: Natural Resources and Food Security Reviewing policy innovations in forests and water management, policy and effect of international trade in achieving food security. Track 5: Infrastructure and Public/Private Partnerships Integrating physical and social infrastructure needs and priorities, leveraging resources, investing, privatization, and joint ventures. Track 6: Technology and Development Utilizing science and computers, evolving skills and training person to achieve societal sustainable development. July 20-22, 2003, Portland, Oregon, USA http://www.urisa.org/PPGIS/ppgis.html 2nd Annual Public Participation GIS Conference (PPGIS) Portland State University July 20-25, 2003, Cambridge, U.K. (by invitation only) http://www.cambridgeconference2003.com/index.htm National Mapping - Shaping the future. A newsletter, giving more details about the conference, has been sent out to potential delegates. Ordnance Survey hosted the first two conferences (1995, 1999), which by design aims to get together the senior people in national mapping to discuss, in a relatively informal setting, the challenges facing national mapping around the world. In recent years, the conference has also, not surprisingly, focused on SDI's, training, public private relationships etc. for senior representatives of national mapping organisations of the world. Each time, about 200 delegates from 70 to 80 countries were represented at the conference July 21 - August 1, 2003, Durban, South Africa http://www.ru.ac.za/institutes/rgi/irc2003/IRC2003.htm International Rangeland Congress August 4 - 11, 2003, Bloemfontein, South Africa Water Conservation Technologies for Sustainable Dryland Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa (WCT). This event is organized jointly by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the Water Research Commission of South Africa (WRC), South Africa's National Department of Agriculture (NDA) and the ARC-Institute for Soil, Climate and Water (ISCW). This event was initiated by ISCW and the Optimizing Soil Water Use (OSWU) Consortium which is part of the Systemwide Soil, Water and Nutrient Management (SWNM) Programme of CGIAR. Call for papers: abstracts should be submitted by July 30, 2003. Urban-Rural Interrelationship for Sustainable Development Monde urbain et rural pour un environment durable (see below: December 2- 5, 2003, Marrakech, Morocco) http://www.fig.net/figtree/morocco/ August 4 - 6, 2003, Gaborone, Botswana http://www.gsdi.org/SDIA/IGCP_489_Gaborone_1st_circular_03.doc IGCP 482/489: Dynamic Evolution, Resource Potential and Environmental Impact of the East African Rift Systems (the inaugural meeting). August 8-10, 2003 IC WG II/IV, Durban, South Africa http://geo.haifa.ac.il/~icaupdt/meetings/durban/durban.htm 4th Joint ICA/ISPRS/EuroGeographics Workshop on "Incremental Updating and Versioning of Spatial Data Bases" Dr. Ammatzia Peled(Co-chair IC WG II/IV): peled@geo.haifa.ac.il CC: rjb@rjb-3d.com. Antony Cooper(Co-chair ICA WG on IU&V): accoper@csir.co.za August 10-16, 2003, Durban, South Africa http://www.icc2003.gov.za/ 21st International Cartographic Conference & 12th General Assembly of the International Cartographic Association ICA and the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Association will offer spatial data infrastructure workshops in conjunction with the International Cartographic Conference August 12-16, 2003, Nairobi, Kenya http://www.jkuat.ac.ke/other/ce2003/default.htm International Civil Engineering Conference on Sustainable Development in the 21st Century. Organized by: Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology (JKUAT) August 13-16, 2003, Kemer/Antalya, Turkey http://www.ins.itu.edu.tr/rslucoast1/ International Colloquium Series on Land Use/Cover Change Science and Applications - Studying Land Use Effects in Coastal Zones with Remote Sensing and GIS. This is the first conference of a new colloquium series devoted to the issues of changes in coastal zones as related to land use. Contact: Garik Gutman, Land Cover-Land Use Change Program, NASA HQ, ggutman@hq.nasa.gov, Tel: 1-202-358-0276, Fax: 1-202-358-2770 August 13-20, 2003. Berlin, Germany http://www.isi-2003.de International Statistical Institute, 54th Biennial Session (includes meetings of the Bernoulli Society, the International Association for Statistical Computing, the International Association of Survey Statisticians, the International Association for Official Statistics and the International Association for Statistical Education). Email: isi@cbs.nl August 17-22, 2003, Kruger National Park, South Africa http://safnet.umd.edu/implementation/events/meetings/indiv_mtg_pages/8_03_safnt_an_mtg.asp Fourth Meeting of Southern Africa Fire Network (SAFNet) The theme of the workshop is "The Use of Remote Sensing to Support Fire Management in Southern Africa" (see draft agenda). Contact: Diane Davies, ddavies@hermes.geog.umd.edu August 25-29, 2003, Abuja, Nigeria http://www.aitecafrica.com/act2002/default.htm The Fifth Annual African Computing & Telecommunications Summit, Mobilising ICT Applications & Projects for effective Corporate, National and Regional Development September 8-17, 2003, Durban, South Africa http://wcpa.iucn.org/wpc/wpc.html Vth World Congress on Protected Areas Sept. 9-12, 2003, Delft, Netherlands http://www.irc.nl/news/wis6.html Sixth Water Information Summit 2003. The Summit's theme is "Breaking the barriers: Let water information flow!" Water and information have a lot in common. Both flow from a source to users. There can be too much of it, or too little, it can be clear or 'polluted'. This event is a joint effort of the IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre and the Water Web Consortium, with assistance from the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education and International Institute for Communication and Development. September 14-20, 2003, Edinburgh, Scotland http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/bblza/sav2003/ International Conference on Tropical Savannas and Seasonally Dry Forests: Ecology, Environment and Development. The aim of this meeting is to bring together leading researchers in savanna and dry forest formations throughout the tropics. The conference will focus on five principal themes: Plant Biodiversity; Animal Biodiversity; Palaeo-ecology and Environmental Change; Environment and Environmental Processes; and Human Ecology and Development. The conference is linked to the June workshop in Nairobi (June 2-7) and the E-discussion (March 17 - April 25) September 17-18, 2003, Tehran, Iran http://www.igctmu.org/edefault.htm The Second International Congress of the Geographers of the Islamic World. Email: info@igctmu.org September 17-19, 2003, Quebec, Canada http://www.gfis.net/showannoun.php?id=24 Information Interoperability and Organization for National and Global Forest Information Systems. The goal of the conference is to bring together international scientists, practitioners, administrators, and information professionals to discuss and announce recent research and advances in the use and organization of information within national and global forest information systems. September 21 - 25, 2003, Brno, Czech Republic http://digitalearh03.geogr.muni.cz 3rd Symposium on Digital Earth September 21-16, 2003, University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/aetfat/prog_papers.html The theme of the Congress is "Biodiversity, Ecology, Taxonomy and Phytogeography of African Plants". A number of symposia relating to the theme, and a workshop on threatened plants are planned for the Congress. Original research papers (in English or French) on the conservation, floristics, taxonomy, vegetation and ecology, phytogeography, economic botany and forestry in Africa are invited for presentation and submission for the XVIIth AETFAT Congress. September 22-24, 2003, Biskra, Algeria http://larhyss.net/ Oasis, Water and Population Conference This conference will consider issues regarding water resources and population in the Oases, town and country planning, and water quality and treatment in arid zones. Contact: info@larhyss.net; Tel: 213-33-733-204; Fax: 213-33-733-204 September 22-26, 2003, Abuja, Nigeria http://www.lboro.ac.uk/wedc/conferences/29contents.htm 29th WEDC Conference: Towards the Millennium Development Goals - Actions for Water and Environmental Sanitation. Organized by the Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC) and National Water Resources Institute, this conference will consider the following topics: water supply; environmental sanitation; institutional issues; water resources; and cross cutting issues such as social exclusion, sustainability, urbanization, sustainable livelihoods, poverty and gender linkages, corruption. Contact: Dot Barnard, Conference Co-organizer, WEDC, wedc.conf@lboro.co.uk September 26-28, 2003, Bremen, Germany http://bremen.unsgac.org/ http://bremen.unsgac.org/apply/ The Space Generation Congress (SGC) is a meeting of approximately 200 international young delegates to articulate the vision of young people on the future utilization and exploration of space. Over the course of the three days of the SGC, delegates will work together on projects and initiatives on the theme of 'Building an active global community'. Students and young professionals between the ages of 18-35 who have an interest in space and space policy are encouraged to apply, particularly those from developing countries. September 29 - October 3, 2003, Weimar, Germany: http://www.eumetsat.de/en/area2/conf_work/Weimar/1Ann_Draftrev-2.pdf The 2003 Eumetsat Meteorological Satellite Conference September 29 - October 3, 2003, Moscow, Russia http://wccc2003@mecom.ru World Climate Change Conference. Executive Secretariat (scientific issues): Yu.Izrael@g23.relcom.ru October 2003, Capetown, South Africa (tentative) Science Policy Conference on Global Change and the Vulnerability of Land and Water Resources in Africa. Contact: Eric Odada, eodada@uonbi.ac.ke Also tentativel: START Pan-Africa Regional Committee (PACOM) Meeting Contact: Eric Odada, eodada@uonbi.ac.ke October 1-2, 2003, Paris, France http://www.esrifrance.fr/actu/SIG2003/accueil_sig2003.htm SIG 2003 de la Conférence Francophone ESRI PACI (Palais des Congrès d'Issy les Moulineaux) Email: sig2003@esrifrance.fr October 1-3, 2003, South Africa South Africa's ESRI User Conference 2003 Contact: GIMS, Patrick McKivergan, pmckivergan@gims.com, http://www.gims.com October 6-8, 2003, Sun City, South Africa http://www.saoug.co.za/conference/2003/index.asp Oracle User Group Conference October 16-18, 2003: 2003. Montreal, Canada http://www.ihdp.uni-bonn.de/html/other/open%20_meeting_2003.htm http://www.ihdp.uni-bonn.de/word_docs/other/5thOpen%20Meeting.doc Open Meeting of the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change Research Community. Updated information will be posted at the 2001 open meeting web site: http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/openmeeting/ October 16-18, 2003, Genova, Italy http://www.gisig.it/coastgis/home.htm Fifth International Symposium on GIS and Computer Cartography for Coastal Zone Management. CoastGIS is a collaborative initiative of the International Geographical Union's Commission on Coastal Systems and the International Cartographic Association's Commission on Marine Cartography. October 17-122, 2003, Cairo, Egypt http://www.isocarp.org The 39th International Planning Congress Organized by: International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISoCaRP). Email: secretariat@isocarp.org October 19-31, 2003. Bonn, Germany 6th Conference of the Parties to the Convention to Combat Desertification. Contact: CCD Secretariat: Tel 49-228-815 2800; Fax 49-228-815 2898/99; secretariat@unccd.int; www.unccd.int October 27-29, 2003, Cape Town, South Africa http://www.nrf.ac.za/saeon/globalchange/saglobal.htm http://www.nrf.ac.za/saeon/globalchange/announcement.htm Global Change and Regional Sustainability in South Africa Symposium The South African Scientific Committee on Global Change (SASCGC) announces a national symposium on the implications of important drivers of global change for national and regional sustainability of human and ecological systems in South Africa. The SASCGC is a national committee of the International Science Union (ICSU), functioning under the auspices of the National Research Foundation. Complete the registration form in full and submit to e-mail before 30 April 2003 if your wish to present at the symposium and on or before 29 August if you wish to attend only. Complete the abstract form and submit to e-mail before 30 June 2003. November 4-8, 2003, Dakar, Senegal http://213.154.74.37/agis2003/default.htm (announcement in French) http://www.gsdi.org/docs/SDIA/First_announcement_def.pdf AfricaGIS '03. Check EIS-AFRICA website for more details as they become available. http://www.eis-africa.org. The main theme for AfricaGIS '03 is 'Meeting the Information Needs for the NEPAD'. Le thème principal retenu pour GIS Afrique ’03 est 'vers une satisfaction des besoins informationnels du NEPAD' November 4-7, 2003, Washington, DC, USA http://gsdi.org/SDIA/gdinfinal.pdf http://www.gdin.org GDIN2003, Sixth Annual Conference of the Global Disaster Information Network. For questions on gdin2003, send an email to gdin2003@hotmail.com. For questions on GDIN, send an email to gdin@hotmail.com [the GDIN Secretariat is pleased to announce that the Government of South Africa has offered to host GDIN2004]. November 10-14, 2003, Honolulu, HI, USA http://isrse.pdc.org/ 30th International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment December 2003, Lebanon Symposium on Water Resources and Desertification As a follow up to the Rabat Symposium which covered this topic for the regions of North Africa and the Sahel in 2002, this Symposium will be held in Lebanon for Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Syria and, of course Lebanon. It will be co-organised with UNESCO and co-sponsored by the United Nation's Office for Outer Space Affairs (UN/OSSA). December 2- 5, 2003, Marrakech, Morocco http://www.fig.net/figtree/morocco/ Urban-Rural Interrelationship for Sustainable Development Monde urbain et rural pour un environment durable 2nd FIG Regional Conference for the Arab Countries and Francophone Africa, and 3rd National Surveying Day. Organised by FIG, Ordre National des Ingenieurs Geometres - Topographes ONIGT. Co-sponsored by FIG Commissions 2, 3 and 5. Contact: FIG Office, email: fig@fig.net Call for papers: abstracts should be submitted by July 30, 2003. December 8-12, 2003, Tunis, Tunisia http://www.uaps.org/cap2003/cap2003eng/indexcap2003en.htm http://www.uaps.org/cap2003/cap2003eng/appelcom.htm (call for presentations) The Fourth African Population Conference For more information: Mister Mbaye Diouf Ndiaye, cap2003@uaps.org Sub-themes (informal sessions) 1. Community Approaches And Implementing Population Policies(APAC) 2. NGO Partnership In Reproductive Health And Poverty(CEFA) 3. Methods Of Quality Data Collection And Analysis(CERPOD) 4. Governance, Civil Society And Poverty(UNDP) 5. Governance And HIV/AIDS(IDRC/RARS) 6. Geographic Information System From EDS Data(MACRO Internatinal) 7. Access And Use Of Data(MACRO International) December 10-12, 2003, Geneva, Switzerland http://www.itu.int/wsis/ World Summit on the Information Society, First Phase. early 2004, Cape Town, South Africa (dates to be determined) http://www.afrea.org/content/index.cfm?navID=18&itemID=206 Third African Evaluation Association (AfrEA) Conference The theme of the conference is proposed to be Evaluation for Effective Development in Africa Feb 2-6, 2004, Bangalore, India http://www.gsdi.org http://www.gsdi.org/GSDI7/Gsdi7FirstAnnouncementFinal.pdf 7th Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Conference Focus: Spatial Technologies, Applications and Policies June 2-7, 2004, Orleans, France http://www.gsdi.org/SDIA/1st_Circular-CAG20.doc http://cag20.brgm.fr 20th Colloquium of Africa Geology - First circular 20eme Colloque de Geologie Afrique - Cirulaire premiere Symposia topics include: Geodynamics of Africa; Earth Resources and Sustainable Development of Africa; Geohazards, Environmental management, Paleoclimatology and Human Evolution in Africa; and Geoscience Education in Africa. There will also be workshops: 1) The future role of African Geological and Mining Surveys, 2) Earth resources, sustainable development and poverty alleviation in Africa, 3) Geoscientific Maps of Africa including Tectonic map of Africa (CGMW), and 4) Initiative for integrated research projects in Africa (CNRS-INSU, Univ., IRD, IFREMER, BRGM, etc.). July 12-23, 2004, Istanbul, Turkey http://www.isprs2004-istanbul.com Geo-Imagery: Bridging Continents International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing oaltan@srv.ins.itu.edu.tr The organizing committee is providing a limited number of grants and fellowships to deserving attendees from developing countries. See website for further details. -------------------------------------------------------------------- You are welcome to forward this message onto colleagues who may find the information useful. If you do so, please include the newsletter contact information at the bottom of this message so that others will know about the newsletter and subscribe themselves. If you have news or information related to GIS, remote sensing, and spatial data infrastructure (e.g., workshop announcements, publications, reports, websites of interest) kindly send me the materials so that I can include it in the newsletter. This newsletter depends upon your continued interest and input. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Kate Lance EROS Data Center/International Program Address: Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Secretariat USGS 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Mail Stop 590 Reston, VA 20192 Email: klance@usgs.gov Tel: 703-648-4564 Fax. 703-648-5755 Website: http://edcintl.cr.usgs.gov/ http://www.gsdi.org/