Overview of UN Initiative on
Global Geospatial Information
Management (GGIM)
•What, How and Why?
•Critical Issues
•Past Activities
•Present Status
•Future Plan
18 October 2010
What?
UN’s initiative to enhance and coordinate global
geospatial information management (GGIM).
How?
By setting up a formal mechanism under the UN
auspices to discuss and coordinate GGIM
activities and by involving Member States as the
key players.
Why Necessary?
No initiative/organization exists in the current global geospatial
information community?
One more conference, travel, endless talk and headache?
•There are actually many international organizations that
have been working on outstanding issues on geospatial
information and related subjects.
•Yet from UN perspective there is need of official
mechanism that links the outcomes of these
organizations to specific policy decisions and actions of
the Member States.
•A mechanism needs to be established so that Member
States be involved in the discussions and subsequent
actions.
Opportunity rather than Competition
Why Global?
Existing national and regional activities not enough?
•There are growing number of global issues including
many cross-border problems like climate change
and natural disasters that no single nation or region
can self-sufficiently deal with.
•Global coordination among Member States and
international organizations is indispensable.
•Yet no global mechanism currently exists that leads
to specific decisions and actions on GGIM by the
Member States.
•Existing national and regional activities would be
better coordinated with a new global mechanism.
Why UN?
UN is the only entity for Member States to get together?
•Contribution to global issues requires high level
policy makers’ support.
•Member States should act as the primary player to
involve policy makers in GGIM.
•UN provides Member States with the best forum
for global policy development with much attention
from policy makers.
•A global mechanism under the UN auspices will
link all regional cartographic conferences together
and serves as the apex entity of the global
geospatial information community.
Why Now?
Any urgency?
•Growing concerns on global problems including
climate change and natural disasters.
•Technologies are available and more people are
getting familiar with geospatial information.
•Ready to apply them for real world problems.
•Yet little coordination among Member States and
international organizations, and lack of
knowledge/interest among policy makers.
•Strong interest and support from the UN
Secretariat.
Number of Countries/Regions
200
150
100
Total Number of Countries/Regions
Participating in
Global Mapping Project
A letter from UN
to NMOs
50
Establishment
of ISCGM
0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Year
Letter from UNSD
Critical Issues (1/2)
• Management of global geospatial information to address
and rapidly respond to key global challenges including
climate change, disaster management, peace and security,
and environmental quality
• Changing roles of governments in the emergence of
growing capability of the private sector in geospatial
information development and location-based services
• Coordination among Member States, and between
Member States and international organizations on
geospatial information management
Critical Issues (2/2)
• Principles, policies, methods and mechanisms for
standardization for rapidly evolving technologies, and
interoperability and sharing of geospatial data and
services by overcoming legal and institutional barriers
• Compilation and dissemination on best practices of
geospatial information management
• Development of effective strategies on capacity building
for the management of geospatial information, especially
in developing countries.
An intergovernmental process is required
Past Activities (1/2)
An Informal Consultation
And
Two Preparatory Meetings on GGIM
Convened in 2009 and 2010 by UNSD in collaboration with UNCS
Need of global mechanism on geospatial
information management supported.
Preparation of a report on GGIM for ECOSOC initiated.
Past Activities (2/2)
Resolutions
(at 18th UNRCC-AP and 41st UN Statistical Commission)
A report should be prepared for ECOSOC on GGIM and
on the possible creation of a high level global forum
Decision
(at ECOSOC in July 2010)
Secretary-General should submit a report on GGIM
by 2011 session of ECOSOC.
Present Status
Mission Statement/ToR Prepared by UN Secretariat
(Mission Statement/Terms of Reference of UN Committee of Experts on GGIM)
Reviewed by volunteers and revised
Available on the GGIM website
Informal Consultation on 17 October 2010
Participants strongly supported the establishment of UN mechanism on GGIM
Future Plan
Third Preparatory Meeting planned in March 2011
(Final draft report for ECOSOC will be discussed)
ECOSOC Session in July 2011
(Secretary-General’s report will be discussed)
First High Level Forum on GGIM in October 2011
(Seoul, Korea)
For further information,
please visit the GGIM web site:
http://ggim.un.org/
GGIM Web Site
First High Level Forum on GGIM