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Spatial Data Infrastructures: Is Africa Ready?

ByEzigbalike: Botswana

Selebalo: Lesotho

Faïz: Tunisia

Zhou: Zimbabwe

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Ready

(of a person) fully prepared for something or to do something …

completed and available for use

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What is SDI?

Fundamental spatial data sets Standards Distribution networks Policies and administrative principles People: users, providers and value adders From local level, through state, national,

regional to global

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MSC/NRC)

Data, databases and metadata Data networks and technology Institutional Arrangements Policies and standards Users

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Characteristics

Users are not conscious of ownership Taken for granted User responsible for equipment to use Delivered in a standard form

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Status of SDI Components in Africa

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Spatial Data

Exist in various forms in all countries, especially as maps

Base maps provided by national mapping agency

Some municipalities maintain cadastral records

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Spatial Data …

Thematic data from various agencies and departments

Land allocation from Departments of land

Data maintained mainly for administrative mandates

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Databases and Metadata

Available data being digitised New products in digital formats Geographic database (GDB)

being implemented in Tunisia Geographical repository and spatial data

warehouse

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Metadata … Digital mapping projects in

Botswana, including rural land inventories

In Lesotho, digital mapping of urban centres at 1:2,500 and digitisation of 1:50,000 map series

Overall, rudimentary metadata systems

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Technology

Information infrastructure depends on other utility infrastructures Especially electricity and

telecommunications

Limited coverage of electricity and erratic supply in places Extra costs to run computers in Africa

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Technology …

Telecommunications also not wide spread and slow lines Priority of Telecoms agencies is to

increase coverage of voice lines

IT, computer networks, Internets not developed Email and WWW being appreciated

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Arrangements

Most spatial data management activities in public sector Limited activity in the private sector

Exclusive mandates to government departments are guarded jealously Even when demand outstrips capacity

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Arrangements …

Government departments are not responsive to changing user needs Including needs of other

departments

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Map Management

‘Mapping era’ management Government departments need maps

National mapping agency provides maps

Regular meetings of some mapping council to set priorities

Mapping council chaired by national mapping agency

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Manage Information

We “do” information now The map is only an information

product And mapping, a data collection

exercise So we should manage information

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Management

Information requires a dedicated management function Independent of major producers and

consumers High enough to make policy and

enforce standards

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Financial Analogy

Major earners of country’s wealth Mines, Agriculture, Tourism

Major spenders Education, Defense, Health and welfare

Manager/Controller Very independent and very powerful

Finance

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Policies and Standards

Data formats, communication rules, and protocols, metadata

Social issues, privacy, copyrights, Pricing, distribution, commercial

liability, value addition Issues not yet addressed in Africa

When addressed, not enforced

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Users

Individuals, groups and organisations that: Produce spatial data Add value to spatial data Use the system in any way

Lots of users in Africa, but … Low IT and spatial skills

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Are we ready?

Component Complete & Available?

Are we fully prepared?

Data No Yes

Databases / metadata

No Not appreciated

Networks / technology

No Willing but not able

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Are we ready?

Component Complete & Available?

Are we fully prepared?

Institutional arrangements

Fragmented Reluctance to change

Policies No Declared intentions, little action

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Conclusion

We are not yet ready! Poor state of information,

communications and knowledge technologies

Lack of appreciation of full advantages of SDI

Reluctance to give up ‘tried and tested’ methods

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Concrete Actions

Educate ourselvesAll spatial data collection

should be planned for SDI environment Then provide ‘transitional’

arrangements

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Concrete Actions …

Restructure mapping advisory councils Educate other members of the

council Be willing to relinquish chair if

necessary

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Concrete Actions …

Educate senior officials and administrators

Initiate metadata and information flow projects

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Spatial Data Infrastructures:

Is Africa Ready?dozie@global.bw