Major Achievements and Accomplishments
Seventh United Nations
Regional Cartographic Conference for the Americas
Conference Rapporteur
Resolution 1 - Seventh UNRCC for the Americas
The resolution is fully implemented by evidence of the conference being in session.
Resolution 2 - Establishment of an expert working group to define the mission and focus of the Seventh UNRCC for the Americas
An expert working group was convened 25 – 27 March 1998 at the facilities of the National Institute for Statistics, Geography, and Informatics in Aguascalientes, Mexico. The experts made two recommendations.
1) Creation of a UN Geographic Information Commission
2) Revitalization of the UN regional cartographic conferences
The Geographic Information Commission was not created because of budgetary restraints. However, the regional cartographic conferences have been rejuvenated as evidenced by the recent UNRCC for Asia-Pacific held recently in Kuala Lumpur, and the UNRCC for the Americas now in session.
Resolution 3 – Creation of a Permanent Committee on GIS Infrastructure for the Americas
The committee was established in Bogotá, Colombia 29 February 2000, and named “Permanent Committee on SDI for the Americas – PC IDEA”. The committee made a report at the Fifteenth UNRCC Asia-Pacific, and held its second meeting at this conference.
Resolution 4 – Establishing National Spatial Data Infrastructures
A letter has been sent by the Secretariat UN Statistics Division to all member States, stressing the importance of creating an NSDI, and the importance of participating in the Global Map Project, which also supports GSDI.
Resolution 5 – Role of the Cadastre in the Spatial Data Infrastructure
PC IDEA includes a working group to assess issues, and has indicated that the group will follow the recommendations of the UN/FIG Bathurst Declaration (Australia 1999).
Resolution 6 – Development of the Global Map
Despite participation by 81 States and the letter of encouragement from the Secretariat, Statistics Division, there are still 35 States awaiting official approval from their respective governments as well as some States not yet participating.
Resolution 7 – Enabling Technologies
There is no specific action to report although there is much activity in many States and at the UN regarding this issue.
Resolution 8 – Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN)
Work is being accomplished through direct activity with member States especially with the U.S. Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC).
Resolution 9 – Regional Workshops and Seminars on the Benefits of Advanced Satellite Imaging Systems
There is no action to report.
Resolution 10 – Vote of Thanks
The full report will provide specific information on each of the agenda topics as well as taking note of ideas, analyses, and trends. Also, there were many country reports submitted and noted by the Conference, which conveyed the status of mapping efforts in the various countries. The objectives of the Conference were defined by the Secretariat, and included the fostering of the exchange of ideas and information focusing on training and technology with special attention to all aspects of spatial data infrastructure. Of particular importance to the Conference are the papers and contributions of the invited speakers and other participants.
Topics of concentration included Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI), local, national, regional, and global. An entire afternoon was devoted to papers on this topic. Augmenting the SDI sessions were relevant sessions devoted to data collection, application, and dissemination. Clearly, the Conference recognizes the importance and significance of the role of SDI and spatial data in cartography and cartographic development. We are at a crucial stage where the appropriate development and implementation of NSDI and GSDI is essential to the support of “sustainable development”. The discipline of cartography is essential to this effort, and the use of cartographic products (conventional and especially digital) is a critical tool in the decision-making process for solving some of todays most perplexing and demanding problems. These problems, of course, include population and demographics issues, environmental issues, technical development and training, and others. We should all be proactive in demonstrating to the appropriate fiscal officials in our respective governments how the direct and indirect benefits of cartographic products far outweigh the cost of their production.
There were several papers devoted to the impact on National Mapping Organizations (NMO – also referenced as NMA or Agency and NMP or Program) of today’s fast paced technology and the ever changing and increasing requirements. The Conference explained the many facets of commercialization and/or privatization on NMOs. The primary concern (as always) must be preservation of data integrity, and therefore user confidence. Each NMO must reach a dynamic equilibrium in this matter based upon their own State’s philosophy and requirements.
A portion of the Conference addressed the technology driven aspects of data collection and dissemination. Conventional methods of spatial data capture are still being employed and are relevant, but are rapidly yielding to more efficient digital means of data collection with incredible expanded and expanding capacity. The promulgation or dissemination and distribution of spatial and associated data are ultimately the goal otherwise there is little need for developmental work. Once again, technology has over the past five years had a profound and positive influence on our ability to distribute and to collect data. There is so much data available that data integration is not only desirable but also absolutely necessary. Although everyone is concerned with quality assurance, some parochial and myopic views regarding data ownership still exist! Data integrity must be guaranteed, and then data integration and real time access will become a complete reality. We are on the verge of implementing real time monitoring, smart searches, and analytical engines. Data ownership and copyright issues are problematic in some States, but these problems can be negotiated to a satisfactory conclusion on a global scale. Data and information are necessary for problem solving.
The expanding technological requirements are placing overwhelming demands on an already under funded and logistically demanding program of training especially for developing States. Technology itself seemingly might provide some of the solutions to this dilemma through increased use of telecommunication and web-based programs. Already, we are noticing increasing use of web-based application for data maintenance.
We are encouraged by all that is happening in the field of cartography even though the demands created by our own success require a zealous commitment on our part. The use and application of cartographic data is everywhere fully recognized as indispensable as a tool and aid in determining the solutions to today’s problems. This is further evident by the formation of a UN team to establish a geographic database at the crux of which must undoubtedly be cartographic application.
We are further encouraged by the formal and universal recognition of this and other conferences that geographical names is a required data layer of Framework in support of a National Spatial Data Infrastructure
Much remains to be done at this crucial time, and we have taken steps toward that end. For example, the Permanent Committee on SDI in the Americas (PC IDEA) has proposed the formation of working groups such as Cadastral and Capacity Building and others. The Fifth Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Conference is scheduled for 21 – 25 May 2001 in Cartegena, Colombia where the theme of this major conference is “GSDI for Improved Decision-Making”. All of these endeavors and our hard work and cooperation are necessary for achieving sustainable development.