The way forward
- a discussion by GSDI steering committee on 13 March 2000

Issues relating to resources

Allocate sufficient resources to undertake activities

 

Establish a permanent secretariat

 

Obtain funding for staff and pilot projects that match significant issues

 

Issues relating to actions and outcomes Produce results in an acceptable timeframe
  Produce results relevant to emerging economies
  Link results to sustainable development and decision-making
  Determine direction after Africa and South America
  Link to Global Map, Digital Earth, UN Global Database Project and CEOS
  Develop a policy cookbook
  Undertake activities that help me in my own country
  Keep the 'G' in GSDI, reminds us of need for compatibility across borders
  Broker the development of a global services catalogue
  Broker funding from range of sources
  Two functions emerging, conference group and task-project management group, seek volunteer to permanently resource the latter
  Accept invitation by ISO TC211 of Class A liaison status
  Engage industry, multi-national banks and UN, establish taskforce to engage these people
  Engage the military, databases could be released as a result
  Market the concept of SDI templates (eg data management best practice) to funding agencies
  Undertake a pilot project (eg global inventory of spatial data)
  Concentrate on ways to help countries institutionalise their NSDI's
  Find ways to help countries to be involved
  Need to produce something (like the TWG cookbook)
  Use geospatial as a means of communicating policy
  Continue the broad workplan approaches demonstrated by the TWG
  Find a better definition for GSDI
  Consider holding GSDI6 in Europe, managed by EUROGI
  Effective communication and funding mechanisms are needed
  Need to define a unique role

 

Issues relating to organisation Define the roles of members of the steering group
  Clarify current steering committee structures
  Establish a stronger steering committee
  Prepare for the umbrella organisation, with a co-operative public/private form, based on the outcomes of the business case

 

Business case

Pursue the business
  Don't just focus on case studies
  Focus on development of economies, not just saving money
  Use what-if scenarios (eg with GSDI would response to Mozambique floods have been better)
  Design a case that works in worst of bureaucracies
  Use cost avoidance approaches

 

General comments and perceptions Encouraged that idea is catching on as evidenced by numbers at GSDI4
  Has a place in furthering the knowledge base
  Helps our understanding of complementary initiatives
  Primarily an advocacy group
  Is going to happen, our efforts guide and steer this happening
  A forum for communication, providing a focus not happening in other forums
  Promotes communication and common understanding
  An advocacy group and a broker
  Is about convergence and understanding
  PhD's are now being done on this topic