Technical Committee III report
The 16th UNRCC-AP and the 9th PCGIAP
Okinawa, Japan, 14- 17 July, 2003
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Committee topics
Development of an Asia Pacific Spatial data Infrastructure
Regional Geodesy network
Scope
To review the progress by PCGIAP on the development of Asia Pacific Spatial Data Infrastructure
(APSDI) and Geodesy related matters since the 15th United Nations Regional Cartographic
Conference for Asia and the Pacific (UNRCC-AP)
To consider the presentations and discussions made during the 16th UNRCC-AP and to further discuss in depth matters on the committee topics.
To make recommendations and to prepare drafting resolutions on appropriate activities for APSDI development and associated regional Geodesy activities which provide guidance for APSDI further development for future action plans during the period between this conference and the 17th
UNRCC-AP conference
To prepare an overview committee report for presentation to the plenary meeting of the 16th
UNRCC
Chairman, and Rapporteur
Chairman : Professor Kyehyun Kim (Republic of Korea)
Rapporteur : John Manning (Australia) - confirmed during the meeting)
Date and Time
Thursday 17th July 1040 -1200 and 1400-1700
Agenda confirmed during the committee meeting
Terms of Reference
Appointment of Rapporteur
Review 16th UNRCC presentations
Progress Report on achievements 2000-2003
Review development of APSDI

Discuss future activities
Develop action plans where appropriate
Draft resolutions for APSDI
Review specific activities of WG1
Discuss future activities
Develop action plans where appropriate
Draft resolutions
Introduction
The chairman opened the meeting and welcomed the participation of 19 countries and 35 persons in the meeting which has two aspects
APSDI development and specific progress in the development of the regional Geodetic infrastructure
Agenda Item 1
The terms of reference were endorsed by the meeting
Agenda Item 2
John Manning was confirmed as Rapporteur for the Techniical Committee III
Agenda item 3
The chairman summarised the themes of the presentations made during the 16th UNRCC-AP and discussion followed on the pertinent points raised during these presentations. These were summarised as :
The need to extend the APSDI laterally to build linkages with statistical data such as census and population data
The desirability of establishing a calendar of PCGIAP events and associated meetings
The need to further develop data distribution mechanisms for open communication systems
The desirability of using the extended geodetic framework as a linkage tool to harmonise not only cadastral and topographic information but also statistical and other cultural and physical information such as geohazards
The continuing need for further capacity building, refreshing training needs and identifying funding for support the attendance of small nations at PCGIAP and UNRCC events
The need to now strengthen national spatial data infrastructures as basic building blocks for
APSDI
Also the need to ensure appropriate linkages between APSDI and other global initiatives such as
GSDI, Global map , Digital earth and some remotely sensed projects
Agenda item 4
Sixteen of the nineteen countries gave reports on national SDIs and geodetic network

developments.
Agenda item 5
Progress on the overall development of APSDI was discussed and the importance of national SDIs as building blocks was again evident.
Agenda Item 6
It was clear from discussions that it is essential for the building of the APSDI continue to provide a focus for the development of national spatial data infrastructure. This should include
Continued development of a regional geodetic infrastructure
Identification of fundamental datasets and linkages to statistical information
Developing the role of cadastral and land tenure layers within the regional spatial data infrastructure
Institutional strengthening for building spatial data infrastructure through capacity building, education, training, and workshops
Agenda item 7
Arising from discussion in the committees several suggestions for consideration by PCGIAP were identified as :
PCGIAP develop a calendar of workshops, meetings, and events 2004-2006
Extend APSDI to include linkages to statistical information
Make greater use of geo-referencing to link cadastral, topographic, and statistical information
Promote data distribution using open communication systems
Identify training needs and encouraging capacity building
Identify funding sources for participation in PCGIAP for developing countries
Agenda Item 8
The following draft resolution developed for the 16th UNRCC-AP. This has three components as given in Annex 1 below :
Agenda Item 9
Review of the activities of the Regional Geodesy Working Group The chair of the WG1 Regional geodesy presented a summary of the activities of the working group since the 15th UNRCC-AP as given in Annex 2 below. Highlights include the on going regional geodetic campaigns and the start of a regional absolute gravity network. Japan, Indonesia and Australia presented results from their processing of the past regional geodetic campaigns and a number of countries referred to their previously presented country reports and the geodetic activities contained in those reports
Agenda Item 10

The need for the future ongoing activity of the Regional geodesy Working Group was endorsed for the next three years.
Agenda item 11
Australia tabled a draft workplan for the next three years in line with draft UNRCC-AP resolution and this was accepted as a guide for future activity .
Agenda Item 12
A draft resolution to the 16th UNRCC-AP was developed calling for the continuation of the regional Geodesy Working Group
Closure
The Chairman thanked members for their participation and closed the meeting at 1600
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UNRCC-AP Draft resolutions from Technical Committee III
Asia Pacific Spatial Data Infrastructure (APSDI)
Recognisingthe importance of Spatial Data Infrastructures in supporting sustainable development at national, regional and global levels
Notingthe progress made by PCGIAP in building a regional spatial data infrastructure for Asia and the Pacific
Consideringthe important role that national SDIs play in the development of the APSDI.
Bearing in mindthat capacity building is also an important need for developing people through training courses and associated technology transfer by participation in international workshops
Recallingthe benefit of the integration of cadastral and statistical information with topographic information in providing and appropriate basis for supporting sustainable development and environment management
Realizingthe need to gather further information to better assist national agencies in the development of nation spatial data infrastructure and to identify the best practice procedures
In recognitionthat all elements in the spatial data infrastructure need to be uniformly georeferenced to ensure homogeneous integration
Recommendsthat
(1) The PCGIAP continues its work in the development of a regional spatial data infrastructure for
Asia and the Pacific through data integration in the following activities:

Continued development of a regional geodetic infrastructure
Identification of fundamental datasets and linkages to statistical information
Developing the role of cadastral and land tenure layers within the regional spatial data infrastructure
Institutional strengthening for building spatial data infrastructure through capacity building, education, training, and workshops together with identification of needs and funding options for member countries to improve participation in PCGIAP activities
(2) That governments of the region strongly support the further development of National SDIs and their smooth integration into the APSDI
(3) That the PCGIAP ensures that appropriate linkages are developed between the APSDI and other global initiatives
2. Regional Geodesy Network
Recognisingthe importance of establishing an homogeneous geodetic network as the basis for the Asia and the Pacific regional spatial data infrastructure as part of the International Terrestrial
Reference Frame (ITRF).
Notingthe progress made by the PCGIAP Regional Geodesy Working Group in establishing a precise regional geodetic framework as the base layer in a regional spatial infrastructure
Realisingthe continuing need to extend regional geodetic infrastructure established so far to include other countries in Asia and the Pacific region together with associated technology transfer and information exchange.
Bearing in mindthe limited financial resources and availability of equipment and expertise in observation and processing of acquired GPS data.
Recommendsthat the regional geodetic framework continues to be developed through integration of national geodetic networks and through appropriate linkages to global reference frames through the following projects :
Enhancement of a regional geodetic infrastructure through annual cooperative campaigns , including ties to vertical datum origin points
Review the status of the regional geoid in relation to current and improved global gravity models available from satellite gravity, and the application of absolute gravity as a means of developing a regional gravity reference frame
Promoting the application of new geodetic adjustment techniques and datum change

transformation parameters for regional spatial data integration and for geo-referencing cadastral and statistical information
Encourage the transfer GPS technology to Pacific Island nations and other developing countries through regional and local geodesy workshop activities
Development of a catalogue of regional tide gauges for monitoring sea level changes and placement of GPS at key sites.
Review the status of geodetic networks in individual countries and upgrade PCGIAP web site information