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Workshop entitled “Spatial Data Infrastructure and Disaster Management” held in Kathmandu on July 2, 2008
Survey Department/National Geographic Information Infrastructure Project (NGIIP) organized a one half day workshop on the topic “Spatial Data Infrastructure and Disaster Management” in Kathmandu on 2 July 2008 with the following objectives:
- To obtain input from the professionals as to the content of a national atlas planned to be produced.
- To btain input from the professionals involved in use and production of spatial data in order to make the SDI initiative more functional and effective especially in the context of disaster management.
- To establish and strengthen cooperation, coordination and collaboration among the partners of the Nepalese SDI initiatives
The workshop was attended by some forty officials representing different Ministries, Departments, Stakeholders and Universities.
Mr. Raja Ram Chhatakuli, the Director General of Survey Department chaired the programme. The programme started with a welcome speech by Mr. Durgendra Man Kayastha, the Chief of NGIIP. The chief guest Mr. Babu Ram Acharya, Secretary at the Ministry of Land Reform and Management had addressed the seminar.
Following five technical papers were presented during the workshop:
Spatial Data Infrastructure: Opportunities and Challenges Mr. D.M.Kayastha, NGIIP
SDI and National Atlas Mr. S.M.Shrestha, NGIIP
SDI and Disaster Management Mr. S.K.Dhakal, NGIIP
SDI and Land Administration Mr. S.N.Rajbhandari, DOLIA
Geomatic Education in the context of SDI Dr. Bhola Thapa, KU
Open discussion followed the paper presentation session. The discussion session was focused on the following four points:
- Institutional framework for the co-ordination of National Geographic Information Infrastructure
- Co-operation and co-ordination among different agencies for the preparation of National Atlas
- Way to information sharing for the Disaster Management among the organizations
- Integration of data relating to land ownership, land information, forest etc. in the SDI framework.
Elaborate discussions were held during the session and several suggestions were made. Finally, the workshop concluded by drawing a set of resolutions as follows:
- Government of Nepal should take necessary initiatives to facilitate development of suitable infrastructures of geographic information and to establish Disaster Management Support System at appropriate level in the country, given the importance of geographic information in the disaster management activities.
- National Policy of geographic information should be formulated and adopted. A high level geographic data/information committee be constituted with appropriate representation of all stakeholders to enhance inter-agency cooperation and also to manage all sectors related with spatial data and information, in order to achieve effective and sustainable development of geographic information. Also emphasized the need of establishing a National Geographic data/information Centre as an implementing agency of the proposed high level committee.
- Considering the importance of production, analyses and dissemination of geographic data/information, necessary changes should be made in related education levels to include the above topic in their curriculum.
- National Atlas signifies the level of development of a nation. Considering above adage, preparation of national Atlas should be expedited, the first step would be forming a committee of related experts.
- In order to facilitate informed decision making and also to support coordinated development of national geographic information infrastructure, all government agencies should take necessary initiatives to establish a GIS unit. Government of Nepal shall give highest priority in acquisition, archiving and distribution of updated information in all government agencies including survey department. Environment should be created to facilitate sharing of data among government agencies at minimal cost and with ease.
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