Brendan Godfrey, Peter Holland, Graham Baker and Bob Irwin

Paper presented by Peter Holland at the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure conference Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 19-21 October 1997

The current interest in the concept of a Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI) is a direct response to the growing need to share spatial data and experience, between nations, in order to confront global issues such as sustainable development.

The work being undertaken by the Permanent Committee on GIS Infrastructure for Asia and the Pacific is contributing to the achievement of a GSDI by developing, firstly, a spatial data infrastructure for the Asia and Pacific region. This regional infrastructure provides a fundamental building block in the global infrastructure solution.

This paper proposes that the regional approach being taken by the Permanent Committee is a model that can be applied in other regions of the world. Furthermore, this regional approach has the potential to resolve many of the barriers to global cooperation.

2. Introduction

A spatial data infrastructure (SDI) is a powerful tool for economic and social development, and environmental management, at the local, regional and global level. Conceptually a SDI can be viewed as the institutional framework, technical standards, fundamental datasets and access arrangements that allow spatial data to used effectively to address these issues. The Permanent Committee on GIS Infrastructure for Asia and the Pacific (Permanent Committee) provides a forum for nations in this geographically large and diverse region to consider issues relating to the concept of a SDI. Many nations in this region are well advanced in their efforts to implement a national (or local) SDI, while others are only beginning to take steps in this direction. The Permanent Committee is organised in a way that allows views and experiences to be shared between member nations, thus facilitating a greater understanding and commitment to SDI implementation.

One of the principal aims of the Permanent Committee is to establish a regional SDI that will be called the Asia Pacific Spatial Data Infrastructure (APSDI). The APSDI is envisaged to be a network of distributed databases containing fundamental spatial data such as geodetic, topographic, hydrographic, cadastral, and geographic names data. These databases are envisaged to be linked in a number of ways, such as, common spatial reference systems, common technical standards, common policies on data access and use, and common approaches to metadata and data directories. The APSDI concept is being developed through a number of working groups within the Permanent Committee.

The work of the Permanent Committee contributes to SDI thinking at the global level through its reporting link to the United Nations Regional Cartographic Conference for Asia and the Pacific and through its links with other global organisations that have an interest in spatial data.

This paper:

• Provides a Permanent Committee definition of a spatial data infrastructure;
• Describes the role and operation of the Permanent Committee;
• Describes the development of spatial data infrastructures in several member nations of the Permanent Committee; and
• Presents some Permanent Committee views on the implementation of a global spatial data infrastructure (GSDI).

2. Definition of a SPATIAL DATA Infrastructure

The Permanent Committee defines a SDI, or GIS infrastructure, as the:

• Institutional Framework which defines the policy, legislative and administrative arrangement for building, maintaining, accessing and applying standards to fundamental datasets;

• Technical Standards which define the technical characteristics of fundamental datasets;
• Fundamental Datasets which include the geodetic framework, topographic databases and cadastral databases;
• Technological Framework which enables users to identify and access fundamental datasets forming the basis of a national or regional land administration, land rights and tenure, resource management and conservation and economic development. These datasets support the organisation and the analysis of a range of spatial and related information for a wide range of social, economic and environmental purposes.

3. BACKGROUND TO the PERMANENT committee

The Permanent Committee on GIS Infrastructure for Asia and the Pacific was established pursuant to resolution 16 of the 13th United Nations Regional Cartographic Conference for Asia and the Pacific (UNRCC) held in Beijing in 1994. The Permanent Committee operates under, and reports to, the UNRCC.

The aims of the Permanent Committee are to maximise the economic, social and environmental benefits of geographic information in accordance with Agenda 21 by providing a forum for nations from Asia and the Pacific to:

• Co-operate in the development of a regional geographic information infrastructure;
• Contribute to the development of the global geographic information infrastructure;
• Share experiences and consult on matters of common interest; and
• Participate in any other form of activity such as education, training, and technology transfer.

The objectives of the Permanent Committee are to:

• Develop guidelines for the nature of legislative and administrative procedures and orders appropriate to the acquisition and sharing of spatial data;
• Define the nature of a regional geographic information infrastructure that each country in the region can make available to meet regional mapping requirements as they relate to global mapping requirements, principally consisting of a regional geodetic framework, topographic features and geographic names;
• Define a framework for the documentation of the status of fundamental data sets and key agencies in each member nation, and for the exchange of such information;
• Design a strategy for the development of a regional geodetic framework and topographic databases as the basis for regional GIS activity;
• Prepare guidelines and strategies to assist member nations in the development of digital cadastral databases and where necessary for the implementation of cadastral reforms to meet individual member nation needs; and
• Determine the need for research, training and technology exchange in relation to the beneficial impact of geographic information on the social, economic and environmental objectives of member nations of Asia and the Pacific region.

The membership of the Permanent Committee consists of the directorates of national survey and mapping organisations and equivalent national agencies of the nations from Asia and the Pacific as advised from time to time by the United Nations. Each nation nominates a single representative to the Permanent Committee. Member nations are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Member nations of the Permanent Committee

Permanent Committee meetings are held in conjunction with the triennial UNRCC meetings and also between these meetings. Details of Permanent Committee meetings are shown in Table 2.

Table 2: Details of Permanent Committee meetings

The Permanent Committee is managed through an Executive Board. The functions of the Executive Board are to:

• Plan and coordinate the Permanent Committee work program between plenary sessions;
• Plan the continuing administrative affairs of the Permanent Committee;
• Make recommendations on objectives and activities and work programs to the Permanent Committee;
• Publish and distribute appropriate documents to the members, individuals and organisations concerned; and
• Prepare and submit reports as on the activities of the Permanent Committee to the UNRCC.

The present composition of the Executive Board is shown in Table 3.

Table 3: Present composition of the Executive Board of the Permanent Committee

The Permanent Committee may establish working groups to address specific issues. At present four working groups have been established and their responsibilities are described in table 4. The terms of reference for the Working Groups are contained in appendix A.

Table 4: Present working groups of the Permanent Committee

In addition to reporting to the UNRCC the Permanent Committee seeks to establish links with other relevant United Nations programs and international agencies such as the:

• United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Regional Space Applications Program for Sustainable Development;
• International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics;
• International Federation of Surveyors (FIG);
• International Steering Committee for Global Mapping (ISCGM);
• United Nations Regional Cartographic Conference for the Americas; and
• European Umbrella Organisation for Geographic Information (EUROGI).

Examples of these links are participation by FIG as an observer at Permanent Committee meetings, participation by the Permanent Committee as an observer at EUROGI meetings, and Permanent Committee representation on ISCGM. The Permanent Committee has also established a liaison status with the International Standards Organisation technical committee on international GIS standards, ISO TC211.

The working group is identifying the issues surrounding the development and implementation of the APSDI. The APSDI is envisaged to be a network of databases, located throughout the region. These distributed databases might contain such themes as geodetic, cadastral, topographic, hydrographic and geographic names data. They may, in the future, be linked electronically so that they appear, to the user, as a virtual database.

These distributed databases are also linked together in a number of important ways:

• They are linked by an intra-regional institutional framework that provides mechanisms for sharing experience, technology transfer and co-ordination of the development of the fundamental datasets;
• They are linked by the use of common technical standards, including a common geodetic reference frame, so that data from numerous databases can be brought together to create new products and solve new problems, both regionally and globally;
• They are linked by the adoption of common policies on data access, pricing, privacy, confidentiality, distribution and custodianship;
• They are linked by the implementation of inter-governmental agreements on data sharing; and
• They are linked through comprehensive and readily accessible directories containing descriptions of datasets that comply with agreed standards for metadata.

It is this suite of administrative and technical linkages that distinguishes the APSDI from a collection of uncoordinated datasets, and which makes the APSDI such a powerful tool for the region’s economic and social development and environmental management.

This working group is designing a strategy for the development of compatible national digital cadastral databases (DCDB) as one of the fundamental datasets in the APSDI. The working group has identified that it would be inappropriate to have a unique regional cadastral system, as there are far too many differences between the systems presently in operation in member nations.

DCDB must be able to be spatially related to other core spatial datasets through a common national control network and geo-reference system. A number of critical success factors for the development of cadastral survey systems, and hence the development of a DCDB, have been identified. These are:

• Public confidence in land ownership and investment;
• Security of tenure;
• Clear and simple processes;
• Readily accessible to appropriate users;
• Low transaction costs;
• Facilitates transactions and investment;
• Provides up-to-date information at low cost;
• Informs and supports other land administration and GIS applications;
• Seen to facilitate sound land use decisions;
• Educated user community; and
• Multi-purpose applications.

The working group has noted the outcomes of the Inter-Regional Meeting of Experts on the Cadastre contained in the Bogor Declaration. The Bogor Declaration identifies policy issues and principles and sets out strategies that member nations might consider applying to meet their own needs.

There have been a number of cost benefit studies carried out to support cadastral developments. The working group proposes to consolidate and share this information and experience.

The working group has identified that the issue of integrating the DCDB into a nation’s spatial data infrastructure (and particularly integrating it with the topographic dataset) is arguably the major limitation in establishing a spatial data infrastructure in member nations. The working group is proposing to examine these technical and institutional issues, through workshops, seminars and conferences concerned with integrating cadastral and topographic data.

This working group is concentrating on the establishment of a regional geodetic infrastructure. The Permanent Committee has endorsed a number of recommendations by the working group, including:

• Adoption of the new Earth Gravity Model 96 (EGM96) as the reference geoid for the Asia and Pacific region;
• Adoption of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) as the reference frame to be used for geodesy in the Asia and Pacific Region; and
• Implementation of a joint co-operative Asia and the Pacific regional geodetic project as a step towards the establishment of a regional geodetic infrastructure and the maintenance of a regional geodetic network for GIS applications.

The working group is also:

• Developing transformation parameters to convert between local and regional datums;
• Considering extensions to the network of permanent global positioning system (GPS) base stations in the region, and
• Implementing a geodesy section on the Permanent Committee internet home page.

A regional geodesy field campaign is planned for October 1997 with a series of observations at 65 sites across the Asia and Pacific region. The campaign comprises:

• A full month of observations using satellite laser ranging, PRARE, and DORIS systems;
• A week of GPS observations; and
• Two days of very long baseline inteferometry (VLBI) observation.

Australia is managing the field campaign and will assemble the data and make it available to member nations. Initial results of the field campaign will be presented to the meeting of the Permanent Committee at Tehran, Iran, in February 1998.

The working group is concentrating on documenting existing legislation and administrative arrangements and identifying examples of best working practice. The working group is also documenting examples of the sharing of spatial data within and between member nations.

Generally, there is a broad range of legislative and administrative arrangements operating within member nations. There is potential for member nations to benefit from the knowledge of these arrangements and from the implementation of common arrangements in the region.

There are many examples of good practice within and between member nations. These include memorandums of understanding, survey guidelines, common standards, data exchange mechanisms, and the operation of national and international co-ordinating committees. These initiatives can be used as a guide in developing the administrative framework for a regional spatial data infrastructure.

There are also a number of barriers to sharing spatial data. These include high prices, copyright and commercial policies, incompatible or non-existent standards (particularly data transfer standards); duplication of data; security considerations; lack of up to date knowledge on GIS; and language barriers.

There is general agreement on the need for:

• A practical implementation of the spatial data infrastructure in the region;
• Simple and workable arrangements for sharing spatial data between member nations;
• Timely data exchange mechanisms; and
• Arrangements to minimise duplication.

The objective of establishing common legislative and administrative arrangements, and in time a regional spatial data infrastructure, is to help those member nations which currently do not have such arrangements in place.

6. DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURES IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

Many member nations of the Permanent Committee are developing national spatial data infrastructures. Appendix A5 reports on the vision, plans and progress of five of those countries (Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea and Malaysia) as an indicator of the status of spatial data infrastructure development in the region.

It will be seen that each country is proceeding at a pace and in a direction that suits their political, economic and social environment. The role of the Permanent Committee is to ensure that each of those national spatial data infrastructures contains, in addition to any elements needed to meet individual national needs, those elements and characteristics required for the APSDI.

7. Implementing the GSDI

A number of issues need to be considered in implementing the GSDI. In considering these issues care must be taken to recognise and understand national, as well as global, needs and interests in order to ensure commitment, co-operation and participation by nations. Key GSDI issues are:

• The vision for the GSDI - its role and purpose, and the benefits that will be obtained from its implementation;
• The global issues that will be addressed by the GSDI, for example, sustainable development;
• The framework within which the GSDI will be implemented, recognising existing institutional arrangements and the role of bottom-up and top-down approaches;
• The fundamental datasets and technical standards required for the GSDI, recognising national interest issues and ownership rights and responsibilities; and
• The access and distribution arrangements for the GSDI, and the importance of sharing data, skills and experience.

1. Vision and Objectives

For the GSDI to be most effective in meeting the needs of the global community, nations must be able to understand, accept and commit to its vision and objectives. The present global concern about sustainable development provides a significant "raison d'etre" for the GSDI. The GSDI can potentially accelerate the achievement of sustainable development by ensuring ready access to fundamental data required for policy, planning, development and management.

The global strategy for achieving sustainable development, adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992, has already gained the commitment of the international community and provides one of several vehicles for GSDI implementation. At the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly to Review and Appraise the Implementation of Agenda 21 (Earth Summit+5), held in June 1997, it was stated:

"...Agenda 21 and the principles contained in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development established a comprehensive approach to the achievement of sustainable development. While it is the primary responsibility of national Governments to achieve the economic, social and environmental objectives of Agenda 21, it is essential that international cooperation be reactivated and intensified, recognising, inter alia, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities as set forth in principle 7 of the Rio Declaration. This requires the mobilisation of stronger political will and the invigoration of a genuine new global partnership, taking into account the special needs and priorities of developing countries. Such an approach remains as relevant and as urgently needed as ever. It is clear from the assessment that, although progress has been made in some areas, a major new effort will be required to achieve the goals established at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, particularly in areas of cross-sectoral matters where implementation has yet to be achieved...

...Economic development, social development and environmental protection are interdependent and mutually reinforcing components of sustainable development. Sustained economic growth is essential to the economic and social development of all countries, in particular developing countries. Through such growth, which should be broadly based so as to benefit all people, countries will be able to improve the standard of living of their people through the eradication of poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy and the provision of adequate shelter and secure employment for all, and the preservation of the integrity of the environment. Growth can foster development only if its benefits are fully shared. It must therefore also be guided by equity, justice and social and environmental considerations. Development, in turn, must involve measures that improve the human condition and the quality of life itself. Democracy, respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development, transparent and accountable governance in all sectors of society, as well as effective participation by civil society, are also an essential part of the necessary foundations for the realisation of social and people-centred sustainable development..." (United Nations, 1997)

In this context, a vision for the GSDI might read:

Providing the spatial data required for global sustainable development.

2. Implementation Framework

The Permanent Committee is proposing to build an APSDI in a similar way to the approach being taken to build a national SDI in many countries. Many countries are linking the SDI at local level into a broader national SDI. The APSDI is envisaged to be a network of linked national SDI. The principal benefit of this approach is that member nations manage and control their individual component of the APSDI and can therefore ensure that it is designed to meet their national needs and objectives, as well as contributing to broader regional objectives. This is achieved without compromising the independence and sovereignty of individual nations. National governments retain responsibility for custodianship of their data and control access to that data. This bottom-up approach is likely to encourage member nation participation in the APSDI. A potential weakness in the approach is the gaps that may arise in the APSDI due to different stages of SDI development in member nations. These gaps need to be filled, at least in the short term, by co-operation and support between member nations in the region, and by participation in global initiatives (for example, global data acquisition programs). Thus a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches is required in order to implement the APSDI.

The Permanent Committee believes that this approach is equally applicable to the implementation of the GSDI. The GSDI can be viewed as a network of inter-linked regional SDI, such as the APSDI. Where such regional SDI do not exist consideration should be given to establishing appropriate arrangements for their creation. The organisation model of the Permanent Committee may well apply in other regions. Given that large areas of the globe are unlikely to be covered by regional SDI, either in the short or long term, and given the need for global coverages of fundamental datasets in order to address global issues such as sustainable development, complementary global programs are also required. A combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches is required for implementation of the GSDI.

The GSDI requires an implementation framework that ensures, at the least:

• The needs and objectives at national, regional, and global level are properly considered and understood;
• Experiences, problems and solutions are shared, and opportunities for co-operation are fostered;
• Common approaches are taken wherever possible.

The United Nations provided early endorsement and support for the creation of the Permanent Committee and may have a similar role to play in the implementation of the GSDI.

1. Fundamental Datasets

An essential element of the GSDI are thematic coverages of spatial data that are fundamental to the achievement of the global objective of sustainable development. These data should be constructed to a consistent level of quality and be able to be managed and maintained by the data owners (or custodians). In determining these fundamental datasets consideration should given to the sensitivities and capabilities of nations to contribute such data, and to the issue of national sovereignty and authority over datasets. The starting point might be a small number of low resolution and content coverages that are likely to be supported by a majority of nations.

2. Access Arrangements

A guiding principle in the establishment of the GSDI should be that fundamental datasets are readily accessible to, and able to be shared between, nations. This principle raises many issues, such as, copyright and pricing, metadata directories, and distribution. However, global issues like sustainable development, are unlikely to be resolved in an effective manner unless these issues are confronted and addressed sensibly.

6. Conclusion

For a GSDI to be effectively implemented it must encompass a vision that is clearly understood and widely supported. It must address needs at the local, regional, as well as the global level. The key to its success lies in a broad based organisation framework that facilitates participation, cooperation, sharing and a willingness to pursue common approaches.

Many such organisational frameworks already exist at the national and regional level. The Permanent Committee provides an example of a regional forum that aspires to build not only a spatial data infrastructure for Asia and the Pacific, but to also support developments in member nations. The GSDI must build on these existing arrangements, therefore implying a need for both a bottom-up and top-down approach to implementation.

Initially, at least, a global sponsor such as the United Nations may have role to play in ensuring the GSDI receives international political support.

Finally, the success of a GSDI will be likely measured on the basis of the ready availability of fundamental datasets that are effectively used resolve global issues such as sustainable development.

The authors kindly acknowledge the contributions to the appendices in this paper by agencies in Indonesia, Japan, Korea and Malaysia.

Godfrey, B. Towards an Asia Pacific Spatial Data Infrastructure. Paper presented at the Fourth National GIS Conference, Tehran, Iran, 23-24 April 1997

Majid, A. Results of Recent Meeting of the UN Permanent Committee on GIS for Infrastructure Development. Paper presented at the Third Annual GIS Asia Pacific Conference, Jakarta, Indonesia, 14-16 October 1997

Permanent Committee on GIS Infrastructure for Asia and the Pacific, Internet home page, http://www.permcom.apgis.gov.au/

Permanent Committee on GIS Infrastructure for Asia and the Pacific, Report of Second Meeting, Sydney, Australia, 29 September - 4 October 1996

Permanent Committee on GIS Infrastructure for Asia and the Pacific, Report of Third Meeting, Bangkok, Thailand, 1-2 February 1997

United Nations, The Bogor Declaration, Inter-Regional Meeting of Experts on the Cadastre, Bogor, Indonesia, 18-22 March 1996

United Nations, Overall Review and Appraisal of the Implementation of Agenda 21, Report of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole of the Nineteenth Special Session of the General Assembly, New York, USA, 27 June 1997

To assist the Executive Board to prescribe the nature of a regional geographic information infrastructure and a framework for information exchange.

• Prepare a paper explaining the rationale behind the development of a regional GIS, including a definition of what is meant by "a regional GIS"
• Define the model to be adopted for a regional GIS, including purpose, fundamental data sets and operational use.
• Prepare a paper outlining the justification for development of a national GIS, including benefits, costs and case studies.
• Research and document the key agencies dealing with the co-ordination of spatial information in each member nation.
• Research and document the status of fundamental data sets within each member nation.
• Prepare a schedule outlining the individual activities, milestones and completion dates associated with the above activities.

To assist the Executive Board to design a strategy for the development of compatible national Digital Cadastral Data Bases as one of the fundamental data sets of a regional GIS.

• Prepare a paper outlining the justification for development of a national Digital Cadastral DataBase (DCDB), including benefits, costs and case studies.
• Research and document the status of DCDB development within each member nation.
• Prepare a schedule outlining the individual activities, milestones and completion dates.

To assist the Executive Board to design a strategy for the development of a regional geodetic infrastructure as the basis for a homogeneous regional GIS.

• Research and document the optimum geodetic spatial infrastructure necessary to support a regional GIS.
• Research and document the key agencies dealing with global and regional geodetic networks.
• Research and document the status of existing and proposed global and regional geodetic networks.
• Research and document the status of national geodetic networks within each member nation.
• Research and document the key agencies dealing with the spatial definition of international and economic zone boundaries.
• Research and document the status of international and economic zone boundaries within each member nation.
• Prepare a schedule outlining the individual activities, milestones and completion dates associated with the above activities.

To assist the Executive Board to provide guidance on the nature of legislation and administrative arrangements to the design, acquisition, management and sharing of spatial data

• Research existing legislation and administrative arrangements relating to the acquisition and sharing of spatial data and document best working practice;
• Research and document the sharing of spatial data within and between member nations;
• Prepare a paper outlining the rationale for adopting common approaches to legislation and administrative arrangements relating to the acquisition and sharing of spatial data, including benefits and case studies;
• Produce a discussion paper on administrative arrangements for sharing fundamental datasets and related information between members; and
• Prepare a schedule outlining the individual activities, milestones, completion dates and responsibilities associated with the above activities.

Within Australia, the introduction of a national spatial data infrastructure is being fostered by the Australia New Zealand Land Information Council (ANZLIC).

ANZLIC has a vision for an Australian Spatial Data Infrastructure that comprises a distributed network of databases, linked by common policies, standards and protocols to ensure compatibility.

ANZLIC believes that the Australian Spatial Data Infrastructure will provide the institutional and technical framework to ensure the required consistency, content and coverage to meet the community’s needs. The infrastructure will also ensure that all data collection and maintenance efforts are undertaken in the broad national interest, thereby maximising investment in data collection and maintenance from a national perspective.

In ANZLIC’s model, each database will be managed by custodians with the expertise and incentive to maintain the database to the standards required by the community and committed to the principles of custodianship.

The ANZLIC model comprises four core components - institutional framework, technical standards, fundamental datasets, and distribution networks. These core components are linked as follows:

• Institutional Framework - defines the policy and administrative arrangements for building, maintaining, accessing and applying the standards and datasets;
• Technical Standards - define the technical characteristics of the fundamental datasets;
• Fundamental Datasets - are produced within the institutional framework and
  fully comply with the technical standards; and
• Distribution Network - is the means by which the fundamental datasets are made accessible to the community, in accordance with policy determined within the institutional framework, and to the technical standards agreed.

Whilst all components of the infrastructure are important for its success, the critical contribution that must be made by governments is the development of the institutional framework. Within this framework, issues of data custodianship, access to data, data pricing, data maintenance, community consultation, and the facilitation of industry development must be addressed. The needs for education and training, the research and development needs, and the need for standards should also be considered within this overall framework.

If the national spatial data infrastructure is to realise its potential for improving the cost-effectiveness of data collection at all levels of administration, there are a number of issues that must be addressed by governments. Those issues include inter-governmental and interdisciplinary coordination, community consultation mechanisms, industry consultation mechanisms, spatial data standardisation, access to spatial data including pricing issues, research and development needs, and the development of skills in the industry and the community.

The national spatial data infrastructure requires the coordination, support and participation of many agencies, organisations and groups across all levels of government and the community, and across many disciplines. Likewise, the benefits and outcomes of this initiative affect many and varied groups and interests throughout the community.

In recognition of this, ANZLIC has initiated consultation with many peak coordinating bodies, including the ALGA. Further work is required to ensure coordination of effort at all levels of operation.

ANZLIC has commenced a process for community consultation on the nature of the national spatial data infrastructure through workshops, publications and the Internet. However, there will be an on-going need for consultation when it is implemented. Forums will have to be established through which data custodians can obtain community feedback on the need for data, priorities for acquisition, specifications and standards, and a host of other information that will guide the development of the spatial data infrastructure and its components.

ANZLIC anticipates that sponsor organisations will play an important role in these consultation processes.

It is an objective of the national spatial data infrastructure that industry and other users will be able to draw together datasets from several custodians and assemble from them new, value-added products with the minimum of effort.

This will only be achieved by the widespread adoption of common data standards.

If the national spatial data infrastructure is to maximise its potential, then issues of access will have to be addressed. Firstly, there are technological issues such as access to an efficient telecommunications infrastructure and support for the development of the hardware and software tools that will enable Australians to take advantage of the so-called "information super-highway".

However, this would be a wasted investment if there were not a parallel development of a comprehensive supply of quality-assured data to deliver through these channels.

Knowledge of what data is available to the community is a key factor in improving access. ANZLIC has developed guidelines on core metadata elements and is working to develop a national directory system that will link directories at the jurisdiction and agency levels.

Commitment to collecting metadata at all levels of activity, and contributing it to the Australian Spatial Data Directory, is necessary to achieve a reliable and comprehensive directory system.

A survey in 1995 by ANZLIC, in conjunction with industry groups, of research and development needs in the spatial data industry revealed over 100 areas where there was a need for some research and development. The results of the survey have been presented to the academic sector through a national workshop convened by the Australian Key Centre for Land Information Studies (AKCLIS) and ANZLIC will continue to discuss this issue with the education and research organisations. If appropriate, ANZLIC will draw the attention of the Australian Research Council to these perceived needs.

There is a role for government in ensuring that, wherever possible, the R&D efforts of government agencies are conducted in a coordinated way and with due consideration of the broader industry needs.

There is a role for the whole community in identifying R&D needs and in implementing the outcomes of research.

ANZLIC conducted another survey in 1995, and this one was directed to the spatial data community’s perceptions of educational and training needs. Again, the results of the survey were brought to the attention of the academic sector through the workshop conducted by AKCLIS and consultation with them will continue.

There is a role for government in consulting with industry to define skills profiles and training needs, and a complementary role for the community in identifying training needs and taking steps to develop those skills.

Co-ordination and policy development for the ASDI is being addressed by ANZLIC, while implementation of the ASDI is the function of individual Australian governments at Commonwealth (federal), State and Territory levels. The Commonwealth government has a special role to play in providing leadership for the identification of user needs, specification of key national datasets and development of the national directory system.

Indonesia consists of more than 13,000 islands, with a total land area of 1.9 million sq. kms, situated along the equator. The size, shape and distribution of these lands introduce particular problems with regard to regional planning. To address those problems, Indonesia is developing a National Geographic Information System. The National Coordination Agency for Surveying and Mapping (Bakosurtanal) has been appointed to coordinate that activity.

In 1993 a working group was established to identify the main land data users and producers. Based on the working group recommendations the following data custodians have been identified:

• Bakosurtanal - Topographic Database Centre and information centre;
• BPS - Statistical Database Centre and information centre;
• INTAG - National Forest Information Centre,
• PUSDATA-PU - Public Works Information Centre;
• PUSLITTANAK - Soil Database Centre;
• BPN - Land Use Database Centre; and
• BMG - Meteorological and Geophysical Database Centre and information centre.

The main data users were identified as being:

• National planning board
• Regional planning board
• Universities
• Government institutions, and
• Private companies.

Data custodians have duties to ensure that the data they supply conforms to the published standards and that its release does not breach security regulations. Data users must respect the producers' copyright, and in particular must not alter data they have received and then redistribute it to other users.

A fundamental requisite for a national database that is suitable for planning processes at both the provincial and the national level is a national spatial framework within which all agencies can create their databases.

That spatial framework comprises the national topographic base map and its purpose is to ensure that all spatial information produced by different agencies will have the same geographical reference frame.

As a coordinator of the National Geographic Information System (NGIS), Bakosurtanal is responsible for providing the spatial framework. Since only 62% of Indonesia is so far covered by topographic base maps it was decided, in 1993, to complete the coverage of the whole of the country using digital mapping methods.

Development of a national land and coastal area topographic database commenced in 1990. The project started by digitising existing topographic maps at the scales of 1:25,000, 1:50,000, 1:100,000 and 1:250,000. Coastal area charts at scales of 1:50,000 and 1:250,000, and national sea charts at 1:500,000 were also digitised. A total of approximately 2000 digital maps are in progress to be maintained in the database. In addition, the new maps of Java, Bali, the Lesser Sunda Islands and Southern Molucas, acquired directly in digital form, are scheduled to be completed by the year 2000 - a total of 1662 sheets.

Recognising the range of GIS software available in the market and the disparate nature of the data already collected in many institutions, Bakosurtanal is in establishing a standard data transfer format. In 1994 under the Land Resource Evaluation and Planning Project (LREP-2) a standard exchange format called Bako exchange format (BEF) for topographic data at scale 1:50.000 and 1:250.000 was introduced. BEF topographic data at those scales is compatible with ARCINFO, MapInfo, and AutoCAD software.

It is often difficult for users to find out what is available and where to get it. A national catalogue network will solve that problem. In establishing a national catalogue network, Indonesia is addressing the following factors:

• Common data architecture
• Data dictionary
• Metadata
• Information management
• Infrastructure

Within the framework of the National Catalogue, the establishment of the Bakosurtanal Catalogue has been completed. The Catalogue contains information concerning all Bakosurtanal products: topographic maps, charts, topographic digital data, aerial photographs and satellite imagery.

To achieve the implementation of the Catalogue, Bakosurtanal developed a catalogue data standard, collected catalogue data, and developed a catalogue viewer. It is now available in any computer medium, on diskette or on CD. A catalogue Internet browser is expected to be completed by next year.

Developing a common data architecture will solve poor planning caused by f lack of consistent data. Indonesia has a vision for a formal data resource where all data are defined in a common context, and this means that appointing data custodians is very important, especially for the maintenance, security, and updating of the daoabase.

Building a common data architecture does not require changing existing applications or databases. But it provides a way to define all existing and new data in common context so they can be easily understood and readily shared.

Many organisations use spatial data in the course of their day-to-day work. In the past this data was held on paper maps obtained from various sources; these were often out of date and mutually inconsistent.

With the introduction of digital data there is an opportunity for all users of spatial data to share the same up-to-date and consistent data. This is due to the high speed and low transmission costs associated with digital data. Ideally a computer network would link all the users with the custodians of spatial data. When data was edited, the new data would instantly be available to everyone else on the network. In reality though, there are still a great many impediments to realising this ideal.

Past experience has shown that one of the most confusing aspects of sharing data is the lack of consistency in the application of terms and names. So, development of a Survey and Mapping Data Dictionary was commenced in 1995. It covers topographic, bathymetric, geological, forestry and public works data. The following government institutions were involved in the development of the respective components of the Data Dictionary: the National Co-ordination Agency for Survey and Mapping, the Department of Public Works, the Directorate-General of Forest Management Inventory, and the Hydro-Oceanographic services of the Navy.

Metadata are data about data. Metadata includes the names and definition of data, the logical and physical structure of data, data integrity, data accuracy, ownership, and any other information about the data resources.

Indonesia has identified data centres and information centres. A data centre can essentially be anywhere, as long as that institution is the main data producer. In the Indonesian plan, a data centre is responsible for a very specific or a unique data, and no other institution has the right to produce it for national purposes.

An information centre is a place where information is kept in the form of metadata. This information centre will keep metadata of all data provided by that institution and acts as the clearinghouse for the institution.

A good example of an information centre is the Public Works Information Centre in the Ministry of Public Works (PUSDATA-PU) that keeps metadata for all datasets available from the three Directorates that comprise the Ministry.

Wide-area networks demand a reasonable standard of telecommunication links that are not always available, especially in the more remote regions. Data users with a thorough understanding of networking and database technology are very scarce. Based on these conditions, in the first stage a simple technology is implemented using a modem and telephone line, in order to encourage people to use the networking technology.

The National GIS Technical Co-ordination Meeting has been held annually since 1995. Representatives attended the last meeting, in March 1997, from 52 government institutions. The Meetings have developed a mutually agreed position on GIS-related issues, including institutional, data exchange, catalogue and database issues.

In order to resolve all the issues encountered in the building a National GIS, several technical working groups have been established:

• WG for land resources;
• WG for marine resources;
• WG for Data Centre and Information Centre at Data II level (modelling);
• WG for GIS implementation in socioeconomic matters (modelling);
• WG for establishing a regional planning database.

The management of national lands, seas and air is regulated by law no. 24/1992, which concerns the National Spatial Arrangements. The implementation of this law commenced with the establishment of the Co-ordination Agency for National Spatial Arrangements, which is chaired by the established Minister for National Development Planning. The short-term aim of this agency is to develop a national spatial management information system to support the sustainable development of the country.

A draft National Geographic Information System Arrangement Law is currently being prepared.

Repelita VI (the sixth five-year plan) includes a number of policies concerning the building up of a national database network and in order to fulfil those policies six main programs have been planned:

• GIS development program: developing a standard exchange format; developing a data dictionary; collecting metadata; building databases.
• GIS publicity program: extension to regional areas; organising seminars; establishing map/data distribution units; establishing public geographical information system units.
• Managing and supervising information technology industries: establish cooperation and partnership between government and private companies; copyright of digital data; digital data quality; domestic product evaluation.
• Training: define the manpower requirement; define the accreditation and GIS expertise requirements; promotion of GIS technology through mass media.
• Management and Supervision of Institutional Strengthening: coordination between data producers; coordination between data users; developing the Data Centres and Information Centres; developing the database catalogue network.
• Development of the controlling system: building a database of companies dealing with the natural resources (land, marine and space); building a database of survey and mapping projects, done or being done; building a database of laws, decrees, and all legislation available concerning or that will influence the national database network; establish a security procedures for the national database network; establish standard specification for the survey and mapping tasks.

Japan is very conscious of the deteriorating world environment and many agencies are contributing to the preservation of the global environment. It is in a good position to contribute to the global spatial data implementation because:

• Japan has strong relations with many countries around the world through international committees, the Global Mapping project of the Geographical Survey Institute (GSI) and the Global Research Network System project that the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) is coordinating.
• Japan is a major provider of overseas aid funds through aid programs that include training, including training in the fields of survey and mapping.
• Japan is a well-respected and technically competent member of the international spatial data community from where the fundamental datasets of the infrastructure are produced.
• Japan is a member of international standards groups such as ISO TC211.

The great Hanshin (Kobe) earthquake occurred on 17 January 1995. Around 6,000 people lost their lives, many more were injured, and enormous structural damage was caused. This event stimulated the Japanese Government to provided significant funds to improve earthquake prediction and to improve community response to major emergencies of this type. One of the measures taken was to promote the development of a national spatial data infrastructure.

In March 1995, a national spatial data infrastructure association of Diet members was established. Some Diet members had heard of the California-wide GIS used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for damage operations and other emergencies. They were impressed by the success of that system in enabling GIS teams to start making maps within 24 hours of a major earthquake to enable decisions on where to carry out clean ups and restoration work.

A proposal for the development of spatial data infrastructure was presented to several ministries in April 1995 by a GIS association in the academic sector. This was followed in July by a request for the development of a spatial data infrastructure by the survey & mapping industry association, a body that has been in existence for 30-40 years.

The National Land Agency (NLA) revised the guidelines for disaster prevention planning and included a proposal for the preparation of GIS for the support of disaster restoration.

The Ministry of Construction (MoC) established a GIS Research Committee in August 1995. The members of the committee are university professors and they produced their First Report on 2 February 1996. The report concluded that:

• There was an urgent need to establish a National Spatial Data framework.
• There was a need for standardisation of the National Spatial Data Framework, of geo-referencing, and of software.
• There was a need for strong government support for the National Spatial Data Framework, including:
• A leading role to be played by the Ministry of Construction;
• Development of an information interchange (clearinghouse);
• Maintenance and administration of the framework data;
• Government funding for the management, maintenance and revision of the framework;
• Participation in international standardisation activity, such as ISO TC211;
• Promotion of electronic data interchange;
• Implementation of a high capacity information communication network.

The GIS Research Committee released its Second Report on 30 May 1996 and it said that:

• Government agencies should provide leadership for the implementation of the Spatial Data Infrastructure and should take appropriate measures to implement GIS.
• National and local governments should cooperatively investigate ways of automatically updating the Spatial Data Infrastructure through their respective routine activities.
• Metadata and geo-referencing should be standardised and Japan should support international standardising activities in these areas.
• There should be good public access to public and private sector spatial data that conforms to proper standards. A clearinghouse should be established to facilitate this.
• There is a need to investigate ways to improve the utilisation of GIS, the development of a high-speed communication network, and legislative changes required to implement a Spatial Data Infrastructure.
• GSI, with the assistance of other governmental agencies, local governments and facility administrators, should complete the Spatial Data Framework by the beginning of the 21st century.
• A pilot project should be undertaken to promote better understanding of GIS and the Spatial Data Infrastructure, and to resolve institutional and technical issues concerning the implementation of the Spatial Data Infrastructure.

A Liaison Committee of Ministries and Agencies Concerned with GIS was created in September 1995, under the supervision of the Cabinet. The committee includes representatives from 21 ministries and agencies including MITI. The Cabinet Councillor’s Office, Cabinet Secretariat, provides secretariat support to the Liaison Committee, with assistance from GSI and NLA.

In the Committee’s First Interim Report the following observations were made:

• GIS will enable agencies to perform their tasks more quickly and accurately leading to reductions in administrative costs. Quality and uniformity can be improved. The private sector can also reap the same benefits from the use of GIS.
• A survey of all ministries and agencies showed that data development has been limited to a small proportion of government. Only eight ministries and agencies (out of 116) had developed large-scale datasets. Sharing of data between the central and local governments has also been undeveloped.
• In order for GIS to play a role in the realisation of a safe, comfortable, highly advanced, communications-oriented society, the government must take prompt measures to lay foundations for efficient development and mutual utilisation of GIS.
• The government should provide leadership for a National Spatial Data Infrastructure as a common basis for the community.
• The National Spatial Data Infrastructure should include a National Spatial Data Framework consisting of basic map data and geo-referencing information, as well as Basic Spatial Data such as basic statistical data and register data.
• A clearinghouse should be established to facilitate the exchange and utilisation of information. Metadata standards should be developed to further promote mutual utilisation of data.
• Government should implement programs to promote the utilisation of GIS in government, to improve cooperation with local government, to foster cooperation and exchange with the academic sector and the international community, to stimulate research and development, and to encourage staff training.

In particular, the report identified the following for immediate attention:

• Development and standardisation of National Spatial Data Infrastructure
• Establishment of clearinghouse and cooperation among GIS development bodies
• Standardisation of metadata; and
• Enhancement of organisational systems for GIS implementation.

After release of the First Interim Report, the membership of this Liaison Committee was raised to the level of Director-General, working groups were established and a Long Term Plan was developed.

The Long Term Plan, released in December 1996, provides a plan of action up to the beginning of the 21st Century.

In this phase, the National Spatial Data Infrastructure is to be defined. This phase includes standardisation of metadata; clarifying roles of the Government, local governments and private sectors; and, promotion of the establishment of National Spatial Data Infrastructure and its utilisation.

• The definition of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure should be completed by FY1998. Metadata standardisation would be required before that.
• Identify potential uses and users of GIS in a broad range of disciplines. Identify the necessary components of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure as a social infrastructure satisfying diverse user needs.
• Standardise data items and formats of metadata for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure; with due regard for domestic and international developments such as ISO TC211.
• Develop policies for preparation and utilisation of digital images as an element of National Spatial Data Infrastructure.
• Commence a clearinghouse pilot project and encourage Ministries with the spatial data to prepare their metadata for inclusion.
• Clarify respective roles of the Government, local governments and private sectors in the National Spatial Data Infrastructure.
• Establish a concrete plan for implementation of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure with the aim of completing initial implementation by the end of Phase II (approximately three years after the finish of Phase I).
• Develop the institutional framework for coordinating and sharing of spatial data between national and local governments and the private sector.

In this phase, the National Spatial Data Infrastructure will be implemented and the use, sharing and maintenance of the data will be promoted.

• National and local governments and the private sector will carry out their respective responsibilities for implementation of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure, as defined in Phase I. The aim will be to promote the use of GIS throughout Japan and to complete initial implementation by the beginning of the 21st century.
• Each organisation will collect metadata, and cooperate in the implementation of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure.
• Promote the use of GIS and the National Spatial Data Infrastructure so as to encourage collaborative efforts by governmental and non-governmental organisations.
• Create systems and institutions for the effective maintenance of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure as determined in Phase I, and encourage agencies to apply those systems and institutions.
• Encourage the sharing of technical experience between national and local governments and the private sector so as to promote the implementation, use and maintenance of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure.

The Long Term Plan will be reviewed at the end of Phase II and followed-up and re-designed if necessary, recognising that there will have been changes in institutions and technical developments in GIS and the National Spatial Data Infrastructure.

In 1995, the Geographical Survey Institute commenced production of a new type of digital cartographic dataset, called "Spatial Data Framework", for the metropolitan areas of Tokyo and Osaka. The datasets were published in April 1997 and cover a total area of 13,286 square kilometres.

The characteristics of Spatial Data Framework datasets are that they:

• Comprise just a few very simple items,
• Represent each block as a polygon (suitable for address matching),
• Contain a road network structure;
• Can be used on a personal computer and are easily transferred.

They were sourced from:

• Data converted from digital maps already held by GSI;
• Newly digitised data from the 1:2,500 base map for city planning which local governments have; or
• Newly digitised data from the 1:500 map for road management held by some local offices of the Ministry of Construction.

The content of the Spatial Data Framework datasets is shown in the following table:

The government of the Republic of Korea has recognised that a National Geographic Information System (NGIS) is one of the most fundamental infrastructures required to promote national competitiveness and productivity. Government has provided substantial funding for the development of the NGIS, based on the fact that the public sector will be the major user of the NGIS and recognising that geographic information is a basic asset of the nation.

In the past, many agencies have collected and controlled spatial data to meet their own needs and criteria. This has been done in an uncoordinated way causing unnecessary duplication of effort, wasted investment, and inconsistent quality of data.

Due to the lack of standardisation, data sharing and cooperation among agencies has not been easy to accomplish. In order to integrate and share data more effectively and easily, both private and government sectors recognise the need to introduce Geographic Information Systems (GIS). However, there are limits on the ability of the private sector to develop GIS alone since it requires a huge financial investment. It is in this context that the government has undertaken the development of the National Geographic Information System (NGIS).

The Korean government is playing a major role in construction of the NGIS, focusing on the development of spatial databases and the standardisation of information. The application of spatial databases, including technology development and training of GIS specialists, is also considered one of the basic roles of government. The budget for NGIS is in excess of US$360million over a five-year period. Central and local governments are expected to invest nearly 64% of the total costs with the remainder to be funded by private sector.

In the development of NGIS, the government is responsible for the following items:

• Establishment of basic database structure for the spatial information
• Design of the database
• Digital mapping of the topographical information
• Development of GIS technology and training of GIS specialists
• Development of required GIS technology
• Development of applied GIS techniques
• Training of GIS specialists
• Standardisation of spatial information
• Standardisation of basic topographic information
• Standardisation of data exchange format
• Financial support for the development of GIS application systems
• Development of a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS)
• Development of an Administrative Support System
• Management and distribution of spatial information
• Establishment and operation of information database clearinghouse
• Amendment of NGIS related legislation
• Funding adjustment between public and private sectors
• Update and modification of NGIS plan through consecutive annual plans

Several subcommittees have been established to manage the development of NGIS. The Ministry of Construction and Transportation (MOCT), among 11 ministries, plays the leading role in the development of NGIS. The Vice-Minister of MOCT is the Chairman of the Steering Committee of NGIS.

Under the Steering Committee of NGIS, there are 5 subcommittees and an Advisory Board. These are supported by the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements (KRIHS) and the Korea Transport Institute (KOTI). The five subcommittees are as follows:

• Administrative Subcommittee provides overall administrative management and support of other subcommittees. It also responsible for financial management of the project.
• Geographic Information Subcommittee is responsible for the digitising of topographic maps, thematic maps and underground utilities maps. The National Geography Institute (NGI) under MOCT plays a major role in drafting guidelines on digital mapping procedures.
• GIS Technology Subcommittee is a technical and planning part of NGIS. It is responsible for the development of GIS technology and training of specialists.
• GIS Standard Subcommittee is responsible for the development of various standards required in NGIS. Those standards cover databases, system specification and mapping codes.
• Cadastral Information Subcommittee is responsible for the preparation of the framework of cadastral information within NGIS.

There are two distinct phases in the development of NGIS based on an analysis of users’ needs. Basically, Phase I focuses on developing a GIS infrastructure and is scheduled to be implemented by 2001. Phase II will concentrate on the application and maintenance of the database developed in Phase I and will start in the year 2002.

Phase 1 (1995 - 2001) During the first phase of NGIS, the focus will be on the construction of various databases as well as conducting some pilot studies. They include:

• The Administrative Subcommittee will undertake studies to assist the other subcommittee’s tasks, including pilot studies to develop Decision Support Systems (DSS). The schedule for this activity is as follows:

1996. Conduct a pilot study to develop an underground utility management system
1997. Develop a scheme for utilising GIS for public sector applications

• The Geographic Information Subcommittee Digital will undertake the production of topographic maps, thematic maps and underground utility maps. The schedule for this activity is as follows:

• 1:1000 scale maps of 74 urban cities (excluding mountainous regions)
• 1:5000 scale maps of the whole nation (excluding mountainous regions)
• 1:25000 scale maps of mountainous regions

• The GIS Technology Subcommittee will import and/or develop the required GIS technology and provide training for GIS specialists.
• The GIS Standards Subcommittee will conduct a pilot study and develop a model for GIS standardisation. The committee will place an emphasis on international standardisation of GIS complying with the standards being developed by ISO TC211, one of whose members is Korea.
• The Cadastral Information Subcommittee will conduct a pilot study and undertake the digitisation of cadastral maps from 1998 to 2001. A few cities have been selected for this pilot study; surveys have been conducted and digitising is currently being undertaken.

Phase 2 (2002 - ) During the second phase of NGIS, a Korean GIS will be established within the context of multinational standardisation of GIS. NGIS activities will include the following:

• The Geographic Information Subcommittee will undertake the maintenance of developed database.
• The GIS Technology Subcommittee will continue with the development of the required GIS technology and skills.
• The Cadastral Information Subcommittee will continue the development of digital cadastral maps.

The need for an effective Land Information System to assist in Planning and Development in Malaysia has been felt since the early 70s. Through careful planning Malaysia has become a rapidly developing country. While contributing to the high growths, that rapid development has also exerted heavy pressures on Malaysia’s land and natural resources. To effectively manage its land resources and to ensure that the progress made is sustainable, the Malaysian government is establishing a National Infrastructure for Land Information System (NaLIS).

Several land related agencies have already developed computerised systems to speed up the processing of land related matters. They include:

• Land Data Bank Sabah
• Land and Survey System Sarawak
• Quit Rent System Semenanjung Malaysia
• Computer Assisted Land Survey System
• National Forestry Information System
• Computer Assisted Mapping System
• Property Assessment System KLCH
• Valuation Information System
• Land Use Information System
• Demographic Information System
• Coastal Erosion Monitoring System
• Forest Information System Sabah
• Penang GIS (PEGIS)
• Public Works System (SUTRA)
• Computerised Land Registration System(CLRS)

These systems contain a great deal of valuable land information. However they exist as stand alone systems thereby making it difficult for users of land information to get access to them. Through NaLIS, all land related agencies will be linked in a network to communicate with one another. Standards and common referencing systems will be established to provide a single facility to provide access to these systems.

The objective of NaLIS is to support the sharing of information among producers and users of land data in order to:

• Enable on-line access to land data residing in land related agencies
• Avoid wasteful duplication of effort in the collection and production of land data, and
• Ensure the accuracy, timeliness, correctness and consistency of land information used in planning for development and management of land resources.

NaLIS is based on the following principles:

• Cooperation between Federal, State and Local Authorities to support the use of land information in such areas as transportation, community development, agriculture, industry, environmental management and information technology; and
• Avoid wasteful duplication and promote effective economic management of resources by Federal, State and Local Authorities.

NaLIS makes use of the existing organisational structures to coordinate its development and operations. Land related agencies retain ownership and custodianship of land data. NaLIS users can get access to these data for planning and development purposes.

The NaLIS system design is based on a single NaLIS Window access to data. Using a PC, a user will log on to NaLIS that provides a directory of all the databases that can be accessed, giving a description of data available (Metadata). The user will be able to browse through the data to select the data that is required to make a request. Through the NaLIS Support Unit (clearinghouse) the system automatically routes the request to the agency that keeps the data and the data requested is sent to the user.

The NaLIS Network connects all data providers in the Land Related Agencies as well as data users to NaLIS using Jaring/Internet. The hardware at the NaLIS Support Unit consists of a server, hub and router. At each data provider site, a NaLIS gateway server links the provider’s system to NaLIS. The function of the gateway server is to extract the data that is to be used by NaLIS users. The software used will be able to handle spatial as well as textual data.