An overview of Spatial Data An overview of Spatial Data Infrastructure in AfricaInfrastructure in Africa

Liz GavinLiz Gavin

National Spatial Information Framework, National Spatial Information Framework, Department of Land Affairs, South AfricaDepartment of Land Affairs, South Africa

Presented on behalf of Interim SDI Africa Presented on behalf of Interim SDI Africa Task TeamTask Team

GSDI 4, Cape TownGSDI 4, Cape Town

15 March 200015 March 2000

Preface: Contextual Preface: Contextual ObservationsObservations

Africa does not act or live in isolation from the rest of Africa does not act or live in isolation from the rest of the globe : e.g. the globe : e.g. – signatory to agreements on Desertification, signatory to agreements on Desertification,

Biodiversity... Biodiversity... – participation by many African countries in Global Mapparticipation by many African countries in Global Map

Africa made up of a large number of countries:Africa made up of a large number of countries:– the history of the continent makes acting in unison difficultthe history of the continent makes acting in unison difficult– there is great unevenness with respect to technology and there is great unevenness with respect to technology and

knowledge basesknowledge bases– Well developed regional organisations e.g. SADC, IGADWell developed regional organisations e.g. SADC, IGAD

Preface: Contextual Preface: Contextual ObservationsObservations

There is an awareness of need to be part of There is an awareness of need to be part of the Information Society, and SDI is seen as the Information Society, and SDI is seen as part of that e.g. AISI, relation between CODI part of that e.g. AISI, relation between CODI & CODI-GEO& CODI-GEO

Entry to the Information Society presents Entry to the Information Society presents bothboth– challenges: infrastructure needs to be builtchallenges: infrastructure needs to be built– opportunities: technological leap froggingopportunities: technological leap frogging

““An” overview:An” overview: The thing about overviews is … The thing about overviews is …

there are so many overviews to choose there are so many overviews to choose from!from!

This one is based on a recent/currently This one is based on a recent/currently in progress survey : in progress survey : – questionnaire developed by “Interim Task questionnaire developed by “Interim Task

Team for SDI Africa”Team for SDI Africa”– questionnaires distributed 1999/2000 questionnaires distributed 1999/2000

through UN/ECA and informal networks through UN/ECA and informal networks

ApproachApproach

Document projects which may be Document projects which may be creating a legacy of SDI components, not creating a legacy of SDI components, not only formal SDI programmes only formal SDI programmes

Questionnaire based on GSDI surveyQuestionnaire based on GSDI survey Attempt to probes components of SDI Attempt to probes components of SDI

without (with less) possibly alienating without (with less) possibly alienating jargonjargon

Explicitly include non-digital forms of Explicitly include non-digital forms of spatial informationspatial information

Responses received (so far) (1 of Responses received (so far) (1 of 3)3)

More than one country involved: More than one country involved: The Southern African Development Community (SADC) The Southern African Development Community (SADC)

Food Security Programme, based at the Regional Remote Food Security Programme, based at the Regional Remote Sensing Unit (RRSU) in Harare, Zimbabwe Sensing Unit (RRSU) in Harare, Zimbabwe

Regional Tsetse and Trypanosomosis Control Programme (RTTCP) covering the SADC countries of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi, with the Ministry of Agriculture, Zimbabwe, as lead agency

CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products, Australia: a global CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products, Australia: a global programme on tree cultivation, with some (limited) programme on tree cultivation, with some (limited) activity in Africaactivity in Africa

Responses received (so far) (2 of Responses received (so far) (2 of 3)3)

Algeria, Institut National de Cartographie et de Algeria, Institut National de Cartographie et de Teledetection Teledetection

Morocco, Centre Royal de Teledetection Spatiale (CRTS)

Ethiopia, Environmental Support Project Environmental Support Project

Seychelles, The Seychelles GIS CentreSeychelles, The Seychelles GIS Centre Kenya, Kenya wetlands conservation and training Kenya, Kenya wetlands conservation and training

programmeprogramme

Uganda, The Biomass Programme of Uganda

Responses received (so far) (3 of Responses received (so far) (3 of 3)3)

Swaziland, Surveyor General’s Department Botswana, Department of Surveys and Mapping Namibia, Surveyor-General Namibia, National Remote Sensing Centre (Ministry of

Environment and Tourism) Lesotho, Committee for Environmental Data ManagementLesotho, Committee for Environmental Data Management

Lesotho, Chief Surveyor’s OfficeLesotho, Chief Surveyor’s Office

South Africa, National Spatial Information Framework

Typical SDI componentsTypical SDI components Creation of base / framework / fundamental Creation of base / framework / fundamental

data sets: data sets: – all respondents quote work in this areaall respondents quote work in this area– several cite more than one agency developing several cite more than one agency developing

digital data setdigital data set Metadata collection and availabilityMetadata collection and availability

– range of responses range of responses – two digital catalogues reported (SA-NSIF, two digital catalogues reported (SA-NSIF,

Ethiopia)Ethiopia)

Typical SDI components Typical SDI components (cont’d)(cont’d)

Standards development and alignment:Standards development and alignment:– range of responsesrange of responses

Framing of policy pertaining to Framing of policy pertaining to dissemination and access:dissemination and access:– range of responsesrange of responses

Capacity buildingCapacity building– mentioned explicitly in 3 responses mentioned explicitly in 3 responses

Dissemination of spatial Dissemination of spatial datadata

Data producer or custodian generally Data producer or custodian generally responsible for dissemination: would-be responsible for dissemination: would-be users make direct contact with users make direct contact with producersproducers

Digital data provided on CD-ROMDigital data provided on CD-ROM Hard copy mentioned in most responsesHard copy mentioned in most responses

Technology Aspects Technology Aspects

Most respondents indicate that they intend (8) Most respondents indicate that they intend (8) or are already using a web-site (4) for or are already using a web-site (4) for disseminating information and/or spatial datadisseminating information and/or spatial data

Survey meta-information:Survey meta-information:– 3 responses faxed3 responses faxed– 1 response posted (from near by!) 1 response posted (from near by!) – the remaining responses received by e-mailthe remaining responses received by e-mail

Technology Aspects Technology Aspects

Telephone main lines per 100 inhabitants in Telephone main lines per 100 inhabitants in sub-Saharan Africa: sub-Saharan Africa: – 0.4 in 19900.4 in 1990– 0.5 in 19950.5 in 1995

(derived from ITU database, quoted by Mansell and (derived from ITU database, quoted by Mansell and Wehn in “Knowledge Societies, Information Wehn in “Knowledge Societies, Information Technology for Sustainable Development” )Technology for Sustainable Development” )

Liaison / linkagesLiaison / linkages

Botswana is involved in Global MapBotswana is involved in Global Map RRSU in Harare has linkages with GSDI (TWG) RRSU in Harare has linkages with GSDI (TWG)

and SA-NSIFand SA-NSIF Lesotho’s CEDAMA and Seychelles have links Lesotho’s CEDAMA and Seychelles have links

with SA-NSIFwith SA-NSIF The RTTCP works with the RRSUThe RTTCP works with the RRSU Ethiopian project: links to organisations in the Ethiopian project: links to organisations in the

Netherlands and ANZLICNetherlands and ANZLIC Seychelles has links with Middle East initiativesSeychelles has links with Middle East initiatives

Challenges to the building Challenges to the building SDI identified by SDI identified by

respondentsrespondents

Lack of resourcesLack of resources– FinancialFinancial– HumanHuman

Lack of clear policy framework Lack of clear policy framework Lack of standardizationLack of standardization Constraints due to technology Constraints due to technology

infrastructure infrastructure

Challenges to the building Challenges to the building SDI identified by respondents SDI identified by respondents

(cont’d)(cont’d)

““Soft” (i.e. harder to deal with) issues:Soft” (i.e. harder to deal with) issues:– lack of (culture of) co-operation between lack of (culture of) co-operation between

institutionsinstitutions– attitudes towards data and information attitudes towards data and information

accessaccess– lack of understanding of need for SDI by lack of understanding of need for SDI by

decision makersdecision makers– insufficient support of SDI building by insufficient support of SDI building by

senior managers in governmentsenior managers in government

Concluding remarks Concluding remarks

This survey is incomplete!This survey is incomplete!

There is SDI building activity in There is SDI building activity in Africa, and there is room for moreAfrica, and there is room for more