The GSDI Association, along with partners and participants, has allocated resources from the U.S. Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) and the GISCorps of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA), to fund a small grants program to support national or sub-national activities that foster partnerships, develop in-country technical capacity, improve data compatibility and access, and increase political support for spatial data infrastructure and earth observations application development. 

The final report format for GSDI Small Grants projects is available at this link .

2011-2012 Small Grants

• Call for proposals for the 2011-12 program.
• Awards were announced in February 2012. Announcement in PDF Format

Cash awards:

• Albania - Increasing the Understanding of SDI within the Albanian Geo-society by Promoting and Distributing SDI Cookbook 2009 in the Albanian Language 
  Primary Contact: South-East European Research Association on Geo Sciences (Geo-SEE); Bashkim Idrizi
• Colombia - Linked Data and Spatial Data Infrastructures 
  Primary Contact: Research and Development for Geographic Information Centre (CIAF), Geographic Institute Agustín Codazzi; Elena Posada
• Ecuador - Training in the Field of Metadata for the Implementation at National Level of Ecuadorian Metadata Profile (EMP)
  Primary Contact: Sección Nacional del Ecuador del IPGH (Ecuadorian National Section of IPGH), Consejo Nacional de Geoinformación Conage - Senplades (National Council of Geoinformation); Miguel Ruano, Alejandra Repetto, María Gabriela Erazo
• El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua - Gulf of Fonseca Surveying and Nautical Charting Stand Up and Planning Meeting
  Primary Contact: Pan American Institute of Geography and History; Paul Cooper
• Ethiopia - Establishment of Geoportal (metadata and Clearinghouse Node) with Open source Solutions for Environment Resources Management and Conservation  
  Primary Contact: Horn of Africa Regional Environment Centre and Network (HoAREC/N); Melakeneh Gelet
• Macedonia - Non-Governmental Organizations for Spatial Data Infrastructure - NGO4SDI
  Primary Contact: Association for Geospatial Information in South-East Europe (AGISEE ); Luka Jovičić
• Rwanda - Use of GIS and SDI in promoting Coffee Quality in Maraba Sector South Province of Rwanda
  Primary Contact: Center for Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing Research, National University of Rwanda; Jean Pierre Hitimana
• South Africa - Developing a Framework for South African SDI Education and Training
  Primary Contact: Centre for Geoinformation Science, Dept of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria; Victoria Rautenbach
• Tajikistan - Introducing Cadastral Maps into National SDI of Tajikistan: Designing and Implementing a Pilot Project
  Primary Contact: Design and Research Institute, FAZO (DRI FAZO); Foteh Kurbonov and Armen Asryan

Cash award and offer of professional services from GISCorps:

• China - Multilingual (Four Languages) Place Name Data Base for Regional SDI
  Primary Contact: Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Alishir Kurban
• Southern Africa - Knowledge Management System and Geographic Information System Project
  Primary Contact: The Endangered Wildlife Trust; Brenda Daly
• Uzbekistan - Stakeholder Analysis of Institutions in Uzbekistan Involved State Cadastres in Order to Increase Awareness on Implementation of Spatial Data Infrastructure
  Primary Contact: National Center of Geodesy and Cartography of Uzbekistan; Nodir Mirzaev
• Zimbabwe - Strengthening the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Effort in Zimbabwe Through the Establishment of Requisite Institution and Technological Structures
  Primary Contact: The NSDI steering committee - Department of Geoinformatics and Surveying; T. P. Masarira
• Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe Standards-based Web Mapping and Data Access Services Online Platform/Portal
  Primary Contact: Savetech Solutions, Dept of Sustainable Environment & Developmen; Tawanda Manyangadze

Awarded the offer of professional services from GISCorps:

• Russia - An Interregional Seminar “Creation of Infrastructure of Spatial Data for the Southern Urals (Russia)” 
  Primary Contact: South Ural State University; Valentina Maksimova and Olga Dyachenko
• Sudan (Darfur) - Estimating Genocide: Using Satellite Data and Image Processing to Determine the Impact of Human Rights Violations
  Primary Contact: Columbia University in the City of New York; Grant Gordon
• Tanzania - Modelling Fragmentation in Vulnerable Ecosystems Using Remote Sensing in Morogoro region 
  Primary Contact: University of KwaZulu-Natal; Mercy Ojoyi

2010-2011 Small Grants

• Call for Proposals for 2010-2011 Small Grants Program
• Awards were made in Febrary 2011, Announcement in PDF Format

Cash awards:

• Ethiopia - Establishment of Geospatial Metadata and Clearinghouse Node Using Open Source Solutions 
  Primary Contact: Information Network Security Agency (INSA); Temesgen Alemayehu 
  Final Report
  
• Ethiopia - The 2nd General Congress of the GIS Society of Ethiopia Promoting the need for National Spatial Data Infrastructure of Ethiopia 
  Primary Contact: Geographic Information Systems Society of Ethiopia (GISSE); Dr. Dagnachew Legesse
  Final Report -- Conference Program -- Opening Speech
  Presentations: Assessment of SDI Implementation (INSA) -- Standard on Urban Cadastre of Ethiopia (Min. of Urban Development and Construction)
• Indonesia - Tailor-Made SDI Workshop & Training: Use of GeoPortal for Integrating Community Data and SDI Layers in Support of Collaborative Efforts in Urban Disaster Reduction in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
  Primary Contact: Gadjah Mada University; Dr. Trias Aditya
• India - Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) of Western Ghats of India-Capacity Building for stake holders for developing Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI)
  Primary Contact: Open Source Geospatial - India (OSGeo-India); Santosh Gaikwad
  Final Report
  
• Jamaica - NSDI Awareness Campaign
  Primary Contact: Office of Prime Minister, Land Information Council of Jamaica, National Spatial Data Management Division; Ms. Cecille Blake
• Kyrgyz Republic - SDI Awareness Training – Central Asia (SDIaware.CA)
  Primary Contact: Kyrgyz GIS Association (KgGISA); Dr. Ainura B. Nazarkulova
  Final Report -- SDIaware (Spatial Data Infrastructure Tutorial)
• Philippines - Workshop for the Harmonization of Spatial Data Infrastructure and Application to the Ancestral Domain Database Information System
  Primary Contact: Ancestral Domains Office, National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP); Atty. Jonathan D. Adaci 
  Final Report -- Photos and Graphics from Workshop
  
  
• Southeast Europe - Workshop for Building Network Related to the South Eastern European Spatial Data Infrastructure
  Primary Contact: Hungarian CASCADOSS Association; Géza Péter Juhász 
  Final Report --- Workshop Summary
  
• Ukraine - The Development Of The Thematic Component Of Spatial Data Infrastructure In Ukraine
  Primary Contact: Institute of Geography of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; Dr. Putrenko Victor
  Final Report --- Seminar Web Site
  
• Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe National Spatial Data Infrastructure (ZNSDI):  Making NSDI a Reality by Raising Awareness Through National Workshops and Publication of an NSDI Newsletter
  Primary Contact: University of Zimbabwe; Mr. L. T. Buka and Mr. Neddie Mlambo
  Final Report  --- Workshop Proceedings
  

Cash award and offer of professional services from GISCorps:

• Nigeria - Integration of Web Map Services with the current Nigeria NGDI Portal Primary Contact: National Space Research and Development Agency (NASDA); Dr. Ganiyu Ishola Agbaje
  Final Report
• Nigeria - Sensitization Program for the GRDC Metadata Clearinghouse Node and the Extension of its Present Capabilities Primary Contact: Geographical Resources for Development Centre (GRDC); Anthonia Ijeoma Onyeahialam-Okoro

Awarded the offer of professional services from GISCorps:

• Cameroon - Development of a Geodatabase of the Activities of Councils Forests in Cameroon 
  Primary Contact: Centre Technique de la Forêt Communale (CTFC)
  Project not initiated.
• Indonesia - Establishing Metadata And Clearinghouse Nodes Spatial Planning Data Policy 
  Primary Contact: Jaringan Kerja Pemetaan Partisipatif (Indonesian Community Mapping Network)
  Project not initiated.

2009-2010 Small Grants

• Call for Proposals for 2009 Small Grants Program
• Recipients Announced for 2009 Small Grants Program

AFRICA:

• Africa - Spatial data taxonomy and metadata management for climate change policy development
  Primary Contact: Geoinformation Systems Section of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
• Malawi -  Addressing the needs in terms of geographic information and GIS capacities to support HIV/AIDS monitoring, evaluation and response in Malawi
  Primary Contact: National Spatial Data Centre (NSDC) under the umbrella of the Malawi Geographic Information Council (MAGIC)
  Final Report
  Malawi NSDI Training

  

• Rwanda - Development of a Spatial Data Sharing Policy Document
  Primary Contact: Centre for GIS and Remote Sensing, The National University of Rwanda
  Final Report -- 2011 URISA Journal Article
• West Africa - GIS and Spatial Data Infrastructure - Capacity Building for Professionals for Disaster Management in West Africa
  Primary Contact: Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Surveys (RECTAS)
  Final Report
  West Africa Workshop hosted 22nd – 28th May, 2011, Obafemi Awolowo University Campus, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

• Botswana - Integrating cultural heritage in the National Spatial Data Infrastructure of Botswana
  Primary Contact: Archaeology Unit, History Department, University of Botswana
  Final Report
• South Africa - The Cape Urban Observatory Geo-Portal
  Primary Contact: School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics, University of Cape Town
  Final Report
• Tanzania - Assessment of SDI Readiness Index: A Case Study of Dar Es Salaam City
  Primary Contact:  School of Geospatial Sciences and Technology, Department of Geoinformatics, Ardhi University, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania Grant Update: Towards Implementation of SDI in Tanzania: Private Sector more inspired than Government institutions This research project was supported by the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Association (GSDI) Small Grants Program - 2009/10 and conducted in Dar-es-Salaam City (commercial Capital of Tanzania). The research focused on determining SDI Readiness Index for Dar-es-Salaam in a bid to identify problems that undermine the implementation of SDI and fostering a fast socio-economic development in Tanzania. Until 1975, Dar-es-Salaam - the largest commercial centre with business contributing almost 75% of the national GDP was the capital city of Tanzania, but was replaced by Dodoma, a central town in country. The study research targeted geospatial technology stakeholders including municipal councils, private companies, NGO’s and individuals with vested interests in spatial data generation and derived product use in Dar-es-Salaam. The study reveals that more than 64% of the institutions/organizations/companies surveyed in Dar-es-Salaam are ready to implement SDI. However, a general apathy exists among government institutions to share/exchange geospatial data, mainly due to unclear cost benefits of SDI investment, in addition to lack of SDI training capacity. The private sector is most inspired relatively more willing to implement SDI than government institutions. The problems hindering the implementing SDI in Tanzania were identified as lack of a National SDI Policy, limited knowledge on SDI and the general lack of awareness, limited funds to sustain SDI, lack of institutional leadership to coordinate SDI development activities, and lack of political commitment. Tanzania has a long way to reach the implementation of SDI. In the mean time, there is need to intensify awareness amongst the stakeholders and decision makers on importance of SDI in national socio-economic development. Efforts to develop a National SDI Policy should be equally intensified. The implementation of SDI in Tanzania can therefore be achieved through a knowledge based economy, development of evidence based decision-support-systems as well as the promotion of collective resources management strategies for sustainable development. A similar study can be extended to other major towns to identify contraints to policy development and future implentation of SDI in the country. For further information, contact Dr. M. Hagai, Ardhi University - School of Geospatial Sciences, Department of Geoinformatics and Geodetic Sciences, P.O. Box 35176, Dar es salaam, Tanzania at hagai@aru.ac.tz.

ASIA/PACIFIC:

• Philippines - Assessing the SDI needs of NGOs in the Philippines: Non-profit groups as stakeholders in spatial data infrastructure
  Primary Contact: TAO-Pilipinas, Inc, Quezon City, Philippines
  Final Report
• Timor Leste -  Build the future of Timor-Leste with Maps
  Primary Contact: National Directorate of Land and Property and Cadastral Services, Ministry of Justice, Timor-Leste
  Final Report

2010 GIS Day Event in Timor-Leste

AMERICAS:

• Colombia - Developing and Presenting a Course in Spatial Data Infrastructure
  Primary Contact: Research and Development for Geographic Information Centre, Geographic Institute Agustín Codazzi, Bogota, Colombia
  Final Report

  Workshop Attendees

  

• Ecuador (Amazon GISNET)- SDI First Results Dissemination of the Atlas Project of 10 Indigenous Nationalities of the Amazonian Lowlands of Ecuador (AmazonGISnet)
  Primary Contact: The University San Francisco de Quito, Campus Cumbaya, Ecuador
  Final Report

June 2011 - 1st ENCUENTRO NACIONAL “Planificando el Territorio para el Sumak Kawsay con las Nacionalidades y Pueblos”. (Planning the Territory for the GOOD LIFE with the indigenous nationalities and communities of Ecuador).

EUROPE:

• Serbia - Fostering the Use of Spatial Data among Small and Medium Enterprises
  Primary Contact:- Republic Geodetic Authority (SME), Republic of Serbia 
  Final Report

2008 Small Grants

Call for Proposals for 2008 Small Grants Program

AFRICA:

• Africa - Southern and Eastern African Regions (7 Nations-7 proposals), Convening 2-day national workshops and hands-on training leading to developing of the coastal and marine Spatial Data Infrastructure in 7 nations on data quality assessment, data uploading and metadata developmentProposing: To convene 2-day unified 7 intra-national workshops and hands-on training on development of the coastal and marine Spatial Data Infrastructure for data quality assessment, data uploading and metadata development for the nations of Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Tanzania
• Rwanda - Spatial data inventory and metadata management at the GIS and Remote Sensing Centre of the National University of Rwanda (CGIS-NUR)Proposing: To inventory metadata representing the spatial data holdings of CGIS-NUR, and establish a sample web mapping service uploading the gathered information to a Geo-portal.
  Grant Update: Please refer to the Grant Report  

ASIA/PACIFIC:

• Indonesia - Tailor-Made SDI Workshop & Training: Improved Use of Geospatial Data Infrastructure Portals for Collaborative Efforts in Urban Disaster Reduction in IndonesiaProposing: To conduct training for staff and decision makers of national agencies dealing with urban disaster reduction projects using the National Geospatial Data concluding with a national workshop on the use of Geospatial Data Infrastructure for Improved and Efficient Urban Disaster Reduction.
  Grant Update: Article published in GIM International magazine (May 2010 issue).  

• Kyrgyz Republic - SDI Demonstrator for Kyrgyz RepublicProposing: To set up OGC conformant services and the required technical infrastructure for a demonstrator-level implementation of some key services with a focus on communicating the value of an integrated SDI approach within the country and the wider region.
  Grant Update: Please refer to the Grant Report and Metadata Creation Example
• Philippines - Policy and Institutional Requirements for the Development of a National Spatial Data Infrastructure in the Philippines.Proposing: This study reviews and defines the policy framework and institutional arrangements for NSDI. The objective is to come up with a roadmap that would define the processes and strategies in developing and implementing SDI in the Philippines. This roadmap could serve as an advocacy tool to gain support and buy-in from various stakeholders, particularly the policymakers.

AMERICAS:

• Caribbean - Caribbean Metadata Profile WorkshopProposing: To host two workshops on the creation of metadata in the Caribbean. focus on awareness and importance of metadata in GI sharing. The first workshop will target managers supervisors and GI policy makers and the second will deal with hands on training.

2006-2007 Small Grants

• Call for Proposals for 2006 GSDI Small Grants Program
• Announcement for 2006-2007 GSDI Small Grants Program
• Recipients announced for 2006-2007 Small Grants Program

AFRICA:

• Africa (regional) - Integration of Metadata in current MadMappers Web Archive
• Burkina Faso - Technical Workshop on the Production of Metadata
• Chad - Organization of Spatial Data at the CNAR (Tchad) & Implementation of a Spatial Metadata Base for Researchers
    Grant Update:  PDF Newsletters from September 2007 and October 2007 
• Egypt - National Spatial Data Infrastructure: Policies, Regulations, and Standards
• Kenya - Enhancing Capacity of Mapping Services within the International Livestock Research Institute
     Grant Update: Please refer to the Grant Report and Workshop Summary Report
• Kenya - Mau Watershed (Sub-region) Spatial Data Infrastructure 
• Kenya - Metadata training for Kenyan government and non-profit cooperators
• Niger - Niger National SDI Plan
• Nigeria - Spatial Data Infrastructure Capacity Building for Nigerian Professionals
• South Africa - Training of Data Managers in GIS
• South Africa - Address Standards Workshop
• West Africa (regional) - Metadata for the Management of the Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem Region

ASIA/PACIFIC:

• Mongolia - Establishing web mapping services and applications  
• Nepal - Cadastral Metadata of Nepal  
• Pakistan - Environmental Spatial Metadata Archive of Pakistan  

AMERICAS:

• Americas (regional) - Global Map of the Americas User Application Survey   
• Belize - Promoting the use of Metadata Standards in Belize 
    Grand Update: Announcement of Grant to Galen University 
• Jamaica - Fostering a Culture of Metadata Production
    Grand Update: Announcement of Grant to Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
• Peru - SDI National Workshop  

EUROPE:

• Moldova - Geospatial Data Standardization

2005 Small Grants

• Call for Proposals for 2005 GSDI Small Grants Program
• Reminder of deadline for 2005 GSDI Small Grants Program
• Announcement for 2005 GSDI Small Grants Program 

Three (3) grantees received $2,500 in funding from GSDI supplemented with voluntary services from the GISCorps:

• Hungary - Institute for Ecology & Botany: Vegetation Map Portal  
• Mali - World Food Programme: Strengthening SDI
• Marshall Islands - Marshall Islands: Metadata/clearinghouse

Nine (9) grantees received $2,500 in funding from GSDI: 

• Colombia - Instituto Geografico Agustin Codazzi (IGAC): Web Mapping Workshop to support ICDE 
• Dem. Rep. of Congo - Observatoire Satellital des Forêts d'Afrique Centrale (OSFAC): Survey of Institutions  
• East Timor - Directorate of Land and Property (DNTP): SDI Workshop 
• Kenya - Foodlink: Workshop on Data Sharing and Stakeholder Agreement Development  
• Jamaica - Ministry of Lands & Environment: Continuation of work on 2004 grant topic
  Grant Update:  The ultimate objective is to make geospatial datasets readily available via the portal to various stakeholders inclusive of decision makers when it is required. At the touch of a button, datasets on geology, topography and socioeconomic conditions among others can seamlessly be integrated. This will help to improve the development approval process, sustainable planning activities, and disaster management initiatives among others. The information which is needed to make decisions will now be readily available and accessible. This will create new possibilities while simultaneously assisting the county as it moves toward achieving sustainable development. The NSDI is truly a sustainable approach to national, regional and international development.  1. A land Information Council of Jamaica (LICJ) home page with general information on the Council, its mission and vision, GIS News and links to GIS resources.  2. Metadata uploading and publishing and basic web GIS capabilities to search, view, print and download complimentary local data.  3. GIS Forum for the posting and answering of technical questions. Project Status - Based on post evaluation of the proposal as written and other pending related activities it was decided that another approach should be taken to implement the activity. The decision was taken to proceed with the project in collaboration with Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN)/The U.S. Geological Survey EROS Data Center to establish an Internet Map Server.  The GSDI grant was earmarked to purchase Web GIS Software and Server hardware in combination with in kind contribution from other parties.  The approach adopted was to purchase a mini server to be used for establishing the web service.  A Dell Poweredge 1800 sever with Zeon processor. 3.4 GHZ was purchased in November 2006 at a cost of US$4,345.  An additional US$1,845 was provided by Government of Jamaica/LICJ to purchase the server. To support the installation, under the Global Map Programme, ESRI provided ArcIMS and ArcSDE software.  In February 2007 with technical assistance from USGS/EROS and the IABIN/DGF project ArcIMS was installed configured and made operational.  To date, base data on Jamaica such as parish boundaries, road network, rivers, schools hospitals and fire stations are available via the portal.  From the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management there are emergency management data sets inclusive of emergency shelters, hurricane tracks from 1950 to 2005, high risk flood prone areas, among others.  The following are screen shots of what is available on the portal. 
• Kenya - International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI): Data Inventory & Clearinghouse Development 
• Nigeria - Niger Delta On-line GIS 
• Philippines - Information Management: Building NSDI, Technology Working Groups; Policies, and Database 
• Uganda - National SDI for Development Workshop
  Grant Update: Report of the Workshop

Three (3) Grantees received voluntary services from the GIS Corps:

• Namibia - Biodiversity: Biodiversity Database
• Armenia - Web-mapping Volcanoes
• Kenya - Coastal Resources Maps / Oil Spills 

2004 Small Grants

AFRICA:

• Malawi - National Spatial Data Centre, Lilongwe
• Namibia - Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), Windhoek
• Tanzania - Tanzania Agricultural Research Project, Dar es Salaam  
  Grant Update:  PDF of report 
• Zimbabwe - SADC Regional Remote Sensing Unit, Harare  

ASIA/PACIFIC:

• Bhutan - Centre of GIS Coordination, Department  of Survey and Land Records, Thimphu
• Mongolia - MonMap LLC/MSPRS, Ulaanbaatar
  Grant Update: In September 2004, the first Workshop on a National Spatial Data Infrastructure was conducted by the Mongolian National Society for Photogrammentry and Remote Sensing in Uulanbatar, Mongolia with 66 Domestic participants representing 21 national Ministries, agencies, NGOs and the private sector.   Sessions discussion group topics included raising SDI awareness, barriers to SDI development and how to over come them, establishing an NSDI advocacy organization, education and training, standards, funding, framework, and related issues. 

AMERICAS:

• Americas (regional) - Pan American Institute for Geography and History, Mexico City
• Argentina - Federal Council for Cadastre, Rawson, Chubut 
• Jamaica - Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Land & Environment, Kingston Please see the Grant Update in 2005 Small Grant winner listing for more information.  

EUROPE:

• Czech Republic - Czech Association for Geoinformation, Praha Grant Update: The grant is helping the Czech Republic become more involved in the EU's INSPIRE activities.  Efforts include but are no limited to framework normalization, metadata (a long tradition in the CR) creation with work toward meeting ISO standards has escalated, development of a "MetaProtal," and a document of "Czech INSPIRE - scope and implementation"  had been created outlining the steps for implementation of Czech INSPIRE.PDF of report  

2003 Small Grants

Botswana - Department of Surveys and Mapping
Grant Update:  Introduction - In 2003 Department of Surveys and Mapping (DSM) was granted a small grant amounting to $2,500 by the FGDC at the US Geological Survey in the United States, this was for a period of one year from August 15, 2003 - April 30, 2004. The grant was to facilitate the establishment of a metadata clearing house node and a web map service for the Botswana National Atlas. To achieve the overall objective, a coordinated metadata service and a web map service was to be established to ensure wider distribution of the Atlas information.  

Requirements for the grant - The grant was to facilitate the training of local staff to become knowledgeable on the use of the system. The Department already had ArcIMS software granted through Global Map/GSDI Grant from ESRI. Therefore, training on all the requirements of the main elements of ArcIMS would require support to up-grade skills of requested staff and in line with advancements in technology. Among the required upgrade/training were the following:   internet Map Service, which would be OGC compliant allowing users to easily search, retrieve, access and exploit geospatial information from multiple locations, identify a common Metadata standard used probably the FGDC, clearinghouse node registration to provide link from the Atlas website to clearinghouse search mechanism, and develop work plan for the metadata. 

IGIS II Project- At this time DSM was in preparation to start the second phase of IGIS II project. This project was a continuation of IGIS I, which started in 1997 and ended in 2004. The contract for the project was signed with Swede Survey in November 2004 and the project duration was three years. The main objective of the IGIS II project is to integrate cadastral, geodetic, and topographic databases. This will facilitate the provision and dissemination of all our geographic data in a cost effective and speedy manner, to all our stakeholders and customers.  he IGIS II project has been structured into seven task groups with six to seven members in each task group these are 01-Information Technology (IT), 02-National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), 03-Geodesy, 04-Cadastre, 05-Geodatabase, 06-Cartography, and 07- Topography. Plus the project management team which include two consultants from Swede Survey. Each task group has been assigned a set of objectives to work on. In total twenty objectives will be implemented in this project.

The Geodatabase task group has the responsibility to design data models, ensure that all data in the geodatabase is compliant with the agreed DSM standards for easy access, retrieval and management. This task group will be an overseer of different production flows (Cadastre, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography) that they are integrated efficiently and effectively in the Geodatabase. All products at DSM will be derived from the Geodatabase.  The main objectives of this task group are tofully implement the new National digital base map into the geodatabase (Village map, topographic Map 1:50000, Topographic Map 1:250000), to Implement a Geographical Name Database, Development of the Geodatabase, and to integrate National Atlas data with Geodatabase. 

National Atlas Web Map Service- The Geodatabase task group explained above will take over the activities of integrating the existing National Atlas data and integrate into the Geodatabase. This will involve analyzing the data for the 29 chapters in the National Atlas, applying transformation parameters according to the new Botswana National Geodetic Reference System (BNGRS02) data conversion and attribute mapping and finally the web map service. 

The first step towards the preparation of the Atlas metadata has been done, an officer was sent to Nairobi at the Regional Center for Services in Mapping and Remote Sensing Development (RCMRD)for a short course in ArcIms software specifically to deal with the Atlas. The officer has already started the compilation of the data and will work with the Geodatabase task group for that particular task. One consultant from Swedesurvey is assisting in this task. Another task in ensuring the wider use of the PC Atlas, a workshop will be arranged with Secondary School teachers, to train them on the use and the importance on the web service. 

It should also be noted that the GSDI Grant has facilitated the production of the Map of the Republic of Botswana (1:1million) based on the 2002 Orthophoto maps and the new reference system. The map is now available at DSM and the demand for this new edition has been phenomenal. A copy of this map will be submitted for exhibition at the ESRI conference in Egypt (6^th - 8^th December, 2005) as a token of acknowledgement for the use of ESRI products.  

Conclusion- The Implementation of the IGIS II project at the Department of Surveys and Mapping will ultimately become a gateway to the development of a National Spatial Data Infrastructure for Botswana. It has however, become evident that the newly started IGIS II project for the establishment of a geo-spatial data management system at DSM will need additional financial support to augment the already stretched current budget for this project. The Department therefore welcomes and appreciates grants such as the one from the USGS, which has indeed made a significant contribution to the fundamental requirements of the project (IGIS II).

Burkina Faso - Secretaire Permanent du Conseil National pour l'Environnement et le Development Durable
Grant Update:  PDF of report

Ethiopia - The Ethiopian Mapping Agency

Malawi - Malawi National Spatial Data Centre

Mauritius - University of Mauritius
Grant Update:  Jaishree Beedasy, together with Kate Lance and PCGIAP, implem