GSDI Standing CommitteesSocietal Impacts CommitteeThis is the homepage of the GSDI Societal Impacts Committee. We also support the Societal Impacts Committee Discussion List. If you would like to join the committee, please fill out the registration information to join the discussion list and the chair of the SIC will be in contact. BACKGROUNDAs established by the GSDI Bylaws: The Societal Impacts Committee explores the organizational/institutional frameworks within which spatial data infrastructures are developed locally and across individual nations, multi-nation regions and globally. The Committee encourages dialogue and interaction with respect to varying approaches and explores SDI models, approaches, and experiences with the goal to enhance cooperation among nations in sharing spatial content, including spatial data, spatially-enabled services, geoprocessing models, etc. In transforming recommendations into action, this committee shall advise the Board on all matters that involve the GSDI Association with regard to funded projects, including grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts, in order to accomplish the greatest societal benefit. Funded projects are defined as any payments to the GSDI Association that oblige the GSDI Association to provide services to the organization providing the funding. The GSDI Association Board retains the final authority over such funded activities, cooperative agreements and contracts.
The chair and vice-chair of the Societal Impacts Committee, as well as the Executive Committee of the GSDI Association, are ineligible, as individuals, to apply for any project funding administered by the Societal Impacts Committee during their term and for six months after their last date of service on the Committee, whether by resignation, expiration of term, or otherwise. This ban also includes the chair of any sponsored projects subcommittee processing such grants. This committee is looking to recruit new members. If you have ideas to share, please join us! CURRENT SPONSORED PROJECTSGSDI Small Grants ProgramSponsored by the US Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) and the GISCorps 2009 Small Grants
AFRICA:Africa - Spatial data taxonomy and metadata management for climate change policy development Malawi - Addressing the needs in terms of geographic information and GIS capacities to support HIV/AIDS monitoring, evaluation and response in Malawi Rwanda - Development of a Spatial Data Sharing Policy Document West Africa - GIS and Spatial Data Infrastructure - Capacity Building for Professionals for Disaster Management in West Africa Botswana - Integrating cultural heritage in the National Spatial Data Infrastructure of Botswana South Africa - The Cape Urban Observatory Geo-Portal Tanzania - Assessment of SDI Readiness Index: A Case Study of Dar Es Salaam City ASIA/PACIFIC: Philippines - Assessing the SDI needs of NGOs in the Philippines: Non-profit groups as stakeholders in spatial data infrastructure Timor Leste - Build the future of Timor-Leste with Maps AMERICAS:Colombia - Developing and Presenting a Course in Spatial Data Infrastructure Ecuador (Amazon GISNET)- SDI First Results Dissemination of the Atlas Project of 10 Indigenous Nationalities of the Amazonian Lowlands of Ecuador (AmazonGISnet) EUROPE:Serbia - Fostering the Use of Spatial Data among Small and Medium Enterprises
2008 Small Grants
AFRICA:Africa - Southern and Eastern African Regions (7 Nations-7 proposals), Convening 2-day national workshops and hands-on training leading to developing of the coastal and marine Spatial Data Infrastructure in 7 nations on data quality assessment, data uploading and metadata development Proposing: To convene 2-day unified 7 intra-national workshops and hands-on training on development of the coastal and marine Spatial Data Infrastructure for data quality assessment, data uploading and metadata development for the nations of Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Tanzania Rwanda - Spatial data inventory and metadata management at the GIS and Remote Sensing Centre of the National University of Rwanda (CGIS-NUR) Proposing: To inventory metadata representing the spatial data holdings of CGIS-NUR, and establish a sample web mapping service uploading the gathered information to a Geo-portal. Grant Update: Please refer to the Grant Report ASIA/PACIFIC:Indonesia - Tailor-Made SDI Workshop & Training: Improved Use of Geospatial Data Infrastructure Portals for Collaborative Efforts in Urban Disaster Reduction in Indonesia Proposing: To conduct training for staff and decision makers of national agencies dealing with urban disaster reduction projects using the National Geospatial Data concluding with a national workshop on the use of Geospatial Data Infrastructure for Improved and Efficient Urban Disaster Reduction. Grant Update: Article published in GIM International magazine (May 2010 issue). Kyrgyz Republic - SDI Demonstrator for Kyrgyz Republic Proposing: To set up OGC conformant services and the required technical infrastructure for a demonstrator-level implementation of some key services with a focus on communicating the value of an integrated SDI approach within the country and the wider region. Philippines - Policy and Institutional Requirements for the Development of a National Spatial Data Infrastructure in the Philippines. Proposing: This study reviews and defines the policy framework and institutional arrangements for NSDI. The objective is to come up with a roadmap that would define the processes and strategies in developing and implementing SDI in the Philippines. This roadmap could serve as an advocacy tool to gain support and buy-in from various stakeholders, particularly the policymakers. AMERICAS:Caribbean - Caribbean Metadata Profile Workshop Proposing: To host two workshops on the creation of metadata in the Caribbean. focus on awareness and importance of metadata in GI sharing. The first workshop will target managers supervisors and GI policy makers and the second will deal with hands on training.
2006-2007 Small Grants
AFRICA:Africa (regional) - Integration of Metadata in current MadMappers Web Archive Burkina Faso - Technical Workshop on the Production of Metadata Chad - Organization of Spatial Data at the CNAR (Tchad) & Implementation of a Spatial Metadata Base for Researchers Grant Update: PDF Newsletters from September 2007 and October 2007 Egypt - National Spatial Data Infrastructure: Policies, Regulations, and Standards Kenya - Enhancing Capacity of Mapping Services within the International Livestock Research Institute Grant Update: Please refer to the Grant Report and Workshop Summary Report Kenya - Mau Watershed (Sub-region) Spatial Data Infrastructure Kenya - Metadata training for Kenyan government and non-profit cooperators Niger - Niger National SDI Plan Nigeria - Spatial Data Infrastructure Capacity Building for Nigerian Professionals South Africa - Training of Data Managers in GIS South Africa - Address Standards Workshop West Africa (regional) - Metadata for the Management of the Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem Region ASIA/PACIFIC: Mongolia - Establishing web mapping services and applications Nepal - Cadastral Metadata of Nepal Pakistan - Environmental Spatial Metadata Archive of Pakistan AMERICAS:Americas (regional) -- Global Map of the Americas User Application Survey Belize - Promoting the use of Metadata Standards in Belize Grand Update: Announcement of Grant to Galen University Jamaica - Fostering a Culture of Metadata Production Grand Update: Announcement of Grant to Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Peru - SDI National Workshop EUROPE:Moldova - Geospatial Data Standardization 2005 Small Grants
Three (3) grantees received $2,500 in funding from GSDI supplemented with voluntary services from the GISCorps: Hungary - Institute for Ecology & Botany: Vegetation Map Portal Mali - World Food Programme: Strengthening SDI Marshall Islands - Marshall Islands: Metadata/clearinghouse Nine (9) grantees received $2,500 in funding from GSDI: Colombia - Instituto Geografico Agustin Codazzi (IGAC): Web Mapping Workshop to support ICDE Dem. Rep. of Congo - Observatoire Satellital des Forêts d'Afrique Centrale (OSFAC): Survey of Institutions East Timor - Directorate of Land and Property (DNTP): SDI Workshop Kenya - Foodlink: Workshop on Data Sharing and Stakeholder Agreement Development Jamaica - Ministry of Lands & Environment: Continuation of work on 2004 grant topic Grant Update: The ultimate objective is to make geospatial datasets readily available via the portal to various stakeholders inclusive of decision makers when it is required. At the touch of a button, datasets on geology, topography and socioeconomic conditions among others can seamlessly be integrated. This will help to improve the development approval process, sustainable planning activities, and disaster management initiatives among others. The information which is needed to make decisions will now be readily available and accessible. This will create new possibilities while simultaneously assisting the county as it moves toward achieving sustainable development. The NSDI is truly a sustainable approach to national, regional and international development. 1. A land Information Council of Jamaica (LICJ) home page with general information on the Council, its mission and vision, GIS News and links to GIS resources. 2. Metadata uploading and publishing and basic web GIS capabilities to search, view, print and download complimentary local data. 3. GIS Forum for the posting and answering of technical questions. Project Status - Based on post evaluation of the proposal as written and other pending related activities it was decided that another approach should be taken to implement the activity. The decision was taken to proceed with the project in collaboration with Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN)/The U.S. Geological Survey EROS Data Center to establish an Internet Map Server. The GSDI grant was earmarked to purchase Web GIS Software and Server hardware in combination with in kind contribution from other parties. The approach adopted was to purchase a mini server to be used for establishing the web service. A Dell Poweredge 1800 sever with Zeon processor. 3.4 GHZ was purchased in November 2006 at a cost of US$4,345. An additional US$1,845 was provided by Government of Jamaica/LICJ to purchase the server. To support the installation, under the Global Map Programme, ESRI provided ArcIMS and ArcSDE software. In February 2007 with technical assistance from USGS/EROS and the IABIN/DGF project ArcIMS was installed configured and made operational. To date, base data on Jamaica such as parish boundaries, road network, rivers, schools hospitals and fire stations are available via the portal. From the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management there are emergency management data sets inclusive of emergency shelters, hurricane tracks from 1950 to 2005, high risk flood prone areas, among others. The following are screen shots of what is available on the portal. Kenya - International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI): Data Inventory & Clearinghouse Development Nigeria - Niger Delta On-line GIS Philippines - Information Management: Building NSDI, Technology Working Groups; Policies, and Database Uganda - National SDI for Development Workshop Grant Update: Report of the Workshop Three (3) Grantees received voluntary services from the GIS Corps: Namibia - Biodiversity: Biodiversity Database Armenia - Web-mapping Volcanoes Kenya - Coastal Resources Maps / Oil Spills
2004 Small GrantsAFRICA:Malawi - National Spatial Data Centre, Lilongwe Namibia - Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), Windhoek Tanzania - Tanzania Agricultural Research Project, Dar es Salaam Grant Update: PDF of report Zimbabwe - SADC Regional Remote Sensing Unit, Harare ASIA/PACIFIC:Bhutan - Centre of GIS Coordination, Department of Survey and Land Records, Thimphu Mongolia - MonMap LLC/MSPRS, Ulaanbaatar Grant Update: In September 2004, the first Workshop on a National Spatial Data Infrastructure was conducted by the Mongolian National Society for Photogrammentry and Remote Sensing in Uulanbatar, Mongolia with 66 Domestic participants representing 21 national Ministries, agencies, NGOs and the private sector. Sessions discussion group topics included raising SDI awareness, barriers to SDI development and how to over come them, establishing an NSDI advocacy organization, education and training, standards, funding, framework, and related issues.
AMERICAS:Americas (regional) - Pan American Institute for Geography and History, Mexico City Argentina - Federal Council for Cadastre, Rawson, Chubut Jamaica - Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Land & Environment, Kingston Please see the Grant Update in 2005 Small Grant winner listing for more information. EUROPE: Czech Republic - Czech Association for Geoinformation, Praha Grant Update: The grant is helping the Czech Republic become more involved in the EU's INSPIRE activities. Efforts include but are no limited to framework normalization, metadata (a long tradition in the CR) creation with work toward meeting ISO standards has escalated, development of a "MetaProtal," and a document of "Czech INSPIRE - scope and implementation" had been created outlining the steps for implementation of Czech INSPIRE. 2003 Small GrantsAFRICA:Botswana - Department of Surveys and Mapping Grant Update: Introduction - In 2003 Department of Surveys and Mapping (DSM) was granted a small grant amounting to $2,500 by the FGDC at the US Geological Survey in the United States, this was for a period of one year from August 15, 2003 - April 30, 2004. The grant was to facilitate the establishment of a metadata clearing house node and a web map service for the Botswana National Atlas. To achieve the overall objective, a coordinated metadata service and a web map service was to be established to ensure wider distribution of the Atlas information. Requirements for the grant - The grant was to facilitate the training of local staff to become knowledgeable on the use of the system. The Department already had ArcIMS software granted through Global Map/GSDI Grant from ESRI. Therefore, training on all the requirements of the main elements of ArcIMS would require support to up-grade skills of requested staff and in line with advancements in technology. Among the required upgrade/training were the following:
IGIS II Project- At this time DSM was in preparation to start the second phase of IGIS II project. This project was a continuation of IGIS I, which started in 1997 and ended in 2004. The contract for the project was signed with Swede Survey in November 2004 and the project duration was three years. The main objective of the IGIS II project is to integrate cadastral, geodetic, and topographic databases. This will facilitate the provision and dissemination of all our geographic data in a cost effective and speedy manner, to all our stakeholders and customers. The IGIS II project has been structured into seven task groups with six to seven members in each task group these are: 01-Information Technology (IT), plus the project management team which include two consultants from Swede Survey. Each task group has been assigned a set of objectives to work on. In total twenty objectives will be implemented in this project. The Geodatabase task group has the responsibility to design data models, ensure that all data in the geodatabase is compliant with the agreed DSM standards for easy access, retrieval and management. This task group will be an overseer of different production flows (Cadastre, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography) that they are integrated efficiently and effectively in the Geodatabase. All products at DSM will be derived from the Geodatabase. The main objectives of this task group are:
National Atlas Web Map Service- The Geodatabase task group explained above will take over the activities of integrating the existing National Atlas data and integrate into the Geodatabase. This will involve analyzing the data for the 29 chapters in the National Atlas, applying transformation parameters according to the new Botswana National Geodetic Reference System (BNGRS02) data conversion and attribute mapping and finally the web map service. The first step towards the preparation of the Atlas metadata has been done, an officer was sent to Nairobi at the Regional Center for Services in Mapping and Remote Sensing Development (RCMRD)for a short course in ArcIms software specifically to deal with the Atlas. The officer has already started the compilation of the data and will work with the Geodatabase task group for that particular task. One consultant from Swedesurvey is assisting in this task. Another task in ensuring the wider use of the PC Atlas, a workshop will be arranged with Secondary School teachers, to train them on the use and the importance on the web service. It should also be noted that the GSDI Grant has facilitated the production of the Map of the Republic of Botswana (1:1million) based on the 2002 Orthophoto maps and the new reference system. The map is now available at DSM and the demand for this new edition has been phenomenal. A copy of this map will be submitted for exhibition at the ESRI conference in Egypt (6th - 8th December, 2005) as a token of acknowledgement for the use of ESRI products. Conclusion- The Implementation of the IGIS II project at the Department of Surveys and Mapping will ultimately become a gateway to the development of a National Spatial Data Infrastructure for Botswana. It has however, become evident that the newly started IGIS II project for the establishment of a geo-spatial data management system at DSM will need additional financial support to augment the already stretched current budget for this project. The Department therefore welcomes and appreciates grants such as the one from the USGS, which has indeed made a significant contribution to the fundamental requirements of the project (IGIS II). Burkina Faso - Secretaire Permanent du Conseil National pour l'Environnement et le Development Durable Grant Update: PDF of report Ethiopia - The Ethiopian Mapping Agency Malawi - Malawi National Spatial Data Centre Mauritius - University of Mauritius Grant Update: Jaishree Beedasy, together with Kate Lance and PCGIAP, implemented and maintained the Regional SDI Newsletter for Asia and the Pacific. With resource help from both the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) in the name of the GSDI and the USGS-EROS Data Center, Kate Lance started the concept of a monthly electronic newsletter for Africa. This was such a success that it was decided to publish monthly newsletters for both the Asia/Pacific and the Americas. These newsletters provide information on up-coming SDI and GI activities in the region (training, workshops, conferences, etc), the outcomes of some of those events, and the contact information of funding sources for those that support SDI development. The Asia/Pacific Newsletter continues to be published monthly today. To review previous editions of the SDIAP newsletter, please go to the archive. Mozambique - National Directorate of Geography and Cadastre (DINAGECA) Nigeria - Regional Center for Training in Aerospace Surveys Grant Update: PDF of report Tanzania - Tanzania National Spatial Data Infrastructure Initiative Zambia - Environmental Support Program  GSDI Association Web Page by GSDI Association is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License. |