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June 29, 2007: Symposium of Senior Policy Executives and Decision-makers on Spatial Data Infrastructure
Survey Department conducted a half day Symposium of Senior Policy Executives and Decision-makers on Spatial Data Infrastructure on June 29, 2007 in Kathmandu as part the National Geographic Information Infrastructure Programme (NGIIP). Honourable Minister of Land Reform and Management (MOLRM) Mr. Jagat Bahadur Bogati, Honourable Member of National Planning Commission Mr. Bhim Prasad Neupane, Officiating Secretary of MOLRM Mr. Rewati Raj Kafle and Director General of Survey Department Mr. Toya Nath Baral were among the prominent personalities who addressed the Symposium.
Three technical papers were presented at the Symposium. Dr. Chudamani Joshi of Ministry of Science and Technology (Geo-ICT and e-governance), Doctoral student of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign USA Mr. Nama Raj Budhathoki (Spatial Data Infrastructure from the Theoretical Perspectives) and Programme In-Charge of NGIIP Mr. Raja Ram Chhatkuli (Status of SDI Implementation in Nepal) presented the papers.
Plenary discussions followed the technical presentations. Mr. Chhatkuli proposed the following points for discussions:
- Nepal is one of the about 100 countries in the world, who have initiated NSDI. NGIIP was established in 2002. Whether this initiative was justified or not?
- No comprehensive NSDI policy has been formulated by GoN as yet. Whether a separate NSDI policy is necessary or it can be incorporated within the National IT Policy or the national surveying and mapping policy?
- What could be the role of Survey Department, and other data users and producers in SDI? What could be the institutional mechanism for a sustainable data sharing mechanism among different stakeholders?
- How could we encourage de-facto participation in SDI? How could we enlarge the numbers and memberships in different Working Groups? How could more organizations volunteer with metadata in the NGII Metadata Clearinghouse?
- Whether we support free exchange of public data. If yes, how could we make this functional while (1) we do not know who has what data, (2) many organizations are, sometimes, interested to generate higher revenue from data, and (3) bureaucratic process sometimes take too much time to change existing systems.
- What focus should the soon-to-be formulated Interim Plan outline on SDI?
Very elaborate discussions were held mainly focusing on the above topics. At the end of discussions the following draft resolutions were passed unanimously.
The Symposium resolves that
Resolution 1: SDI initiatives in Nepal developed as the National Geographic Information Infrastructure is essential and necessary, and that it be promoted further.
Resolution 2: A guiding policy statement on the importance of NSDI and Geo-ICT be stated in the National IT Policy and a comprehensive SDI Policy be formulated separately.
Resolution 3: An appropriate institutional framework for SDI be approved by Government of Nepal under the umbrella of a National Geo-Information Council (to be formed) headed by National Planning Commission and a National Geo-Information Centre (located at the Survey Department) at the core of implementation.
Resolution 4: All geo-data produces and users organizations contribute through de-facto participation in NSDI through publishing metadata of their data in the NGII clearinghouse and that they encourage their experts to participate in different Working Groups.
Resolution 5: All geo-data produces and users organizations contribute to the promotion of NSDI through exchange and sharing of non-restricted data easily and freely (which means at a minimal cost); and in so-doing review and revise the pricing of their data to keep minimal.
Resolution 6: The National Planning Commission take appropriate step to state the importance of SDI and a commitment for its promotion in the soon-to-be formulated three-years' Interim Plan which is due to be approved by Government of Nepal.
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