Annexure 8
Attachment
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Permanent Committee on GIS Infrastructure for Asia and the Pacific

Working Group 2

Regional Fundamental Data

WORK PLAN 1998 - 2000

Chairman

Mr Peter Holland, Australia <PeterHolland@auslig.gov.au>

Vice Chairman

Prof Jun Chen, China <jchen@gps.ceic.gov.cn>

Task Coordinator - APSDI Data Nodes

Prof Jiang Jingtong, China <rmliu@public3.bta.net.cn>

Task Coordinator - Regional Fundamental Data

Mr Saeid Noori Bushehri, Iran <saeidn@ncc.neda.net.ir>

Task Coordinator - Regional GIS Application Demonstrations

Mr Evgeniy Zhalkovskiy, Russia <Fax: +7 095 124 3535>

Dr Munahbaatar Enkhbayar, Mongolia <enkhbayar@mailcity.com>

Executive Officer

Mr Glenn Johnstone, Australia <GlennJohnstone@auslig.gov.au>

Working Group 2 – Regional Fundamental Data

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Title:Regional Fundamental Data Working Group

Role:To assist the Permanent Committee in the development and maintenance of regional fundamental datasets as a core element of a homogeneous regional GIS infrastructure

Context:The Working Group recognises that it should play a key role in assisting the Global Mapping and Global Spatial Data Infrastructure projects to achieve their goals.

Objectives:To establish regional fundamental datasets and mechanisms for sharing these data, and to foster an understanding of the benefits of use of regional fundamental data.

Structure:Membership of the Working Group shall consist:

    * Chairman
    * Vice-Chairman
    * Project Coordinator, Regional Fundamental Data
    * Task Coordinator, APSDI Data Nodes (Nominee required)
    * Task Coordinator, Regional GIS Application Demonstration

Operation:The business of the Working Group will be carried out under the chairmanship of a person appointed to the position at each three yearly UNRCCP meeting.

The Chairman with concurrence of the working group may invite observers to meetings to provide specialist advice on specific issues. Observers may speak on specific issues when invited, but input will normally be through the national member.

The business of the group will be undertaken in a workplan that describes milestones and completion dates and responsibilities associated with activities.

The workplan will be subject to endorsement approval by the Executive Board at each meeting.

Reporting:A report from the Working Group will be prepared for each Executive Board Meeting. This should address action on all issues referred to the Group, progress on current workplan and suggestions for forward work programs.

Actions:

  1. Develop a practical policy for sharing fundamental data
  2. Develop regional fundamental datasets
  3. Develop a network of APSDI data nodes
  4. Develop regional GIS Application Demonstrations

Project 1 – Policy for Sharing Fundamental Data

Scope

There is a broad range of legislative and administrative principles and policies operating within member countries. However, to establish the common principles and policies that would enable ready access to data for regional applications, the Committee will need to achieve agreement on simple and workable principles and policies.

Until member countries’ policies related to specific datasets at resolutions suitable for regional applications are known, it will be difficult to frame legislative and administrative principles and policies for agreement by members.

Issues such as regulations, security, financial limitations, and programme conflicts may be impediments to sharing data, reinforcing the value of developing agreed common principles and policies.

Agreement on common legislative and administrative principles and policies, and their acceptance under the institutional arrangements of the APSDI, will help member countries that do not currently have such principles and policies in place.

Project Design

Policy for Sharing Fundamental Data ― Coordinator: WG 2 Executive Group
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Action

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Responsibility

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Target Date

1. Identify the relevant work done by the previous WG4, including relevant actions endorsed at Tehran meeting

Australia

January 1999

2. Identify the Global Mapping policy for sharing data

Australia

February 1999

3. Draft PCGIAP policy for discussion at the next PC Executive Board meeting

WG 2 Executive Group

April 1999

4. Distribute draft policy to all PC members for comment

Australia ("Node" countries??)

June 1999

5. Final discussion and endorsement of policy

All members

Bangkok 2000

Project 2 – Develop Regional Fundamental Datasets

Scope

There are already important global initiatives such as the Global Map project with which the Committee would develop common approaches to avoid duplication of efforts.

At the Tehran meeting MEGRIN offered to make available their prototype dataset for assessment. The WG should make the most of other prototype or completed datasets.

The technical specification for the Global Mapping project should be used as a base and could be enhanced for the APSDI.

Project design

Regional Fundamental Datasets ― Coordinator: Iran
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Action

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Responsibility

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Target

1. Research similar projects elsewhere around the world - particularly 1:1M scale mapping the Asia/Pacific area. Also examine the approach Global Mapping use to delineate areas of interest. Prepare summary report on what exists and how the WG may utilise

Iran / Australia, seeking input from all members

March 1999

2. Definition of what constitutes a regional fundamental dataset, including a definition of the technical specification for APSDI (based on Global Mapping spec)

All members

April 1999

3. Assess MEGRIN prototype dataset and make results available to WG members

Australia

April 1999

4. Make the Administrative Boundaries the first of the fundamental datasets available

Iran

End 1999

5. Conduct research on Admin Boundaries - what is available, formats, structure and how this matches with Global Map specification

Iran

June 1999

6. Acquire digital data of Admin Boundaries, including digitising hard copy maps if required. Agreements for access and publication of data may have to be negotiated.

Iran

August 1999

7. Translate into APSDI technical specification

Iran

October 1999

8. Create seemless database of Admin Boundaries for APSDI. Upon completion promote the availability of the dataset and provide copy to Global Mapping

Iran

End 1999

9. Make results of the various steps above available on WWW

Australia

On-going

Project 3 – Develop Network of APSDI Data Nodes

Scope

It was proposed and accepted in Tehran that a network of APSDI Data Nodes should be established to distribute, manage and maintain fundamental data. These Data Nodes should also be responsible for metadata records.

The APSDI Data Nodes may work in a similar way to those centres that look after Antarctic data - National Antarctic Data Centres (NADC's).

One option could be to have 4 Data Nodes set up - one for each of the "sub-regions" in the Permanent Committee (as identified by the PC Taskforce) - West Asia, South-East Asia, North Asia, Australasia/Pacific. This requires further investigation - who has the expertise and resources to set up and maintain a Data Node. The final number of Data Nodes will have to be determined by all members.

More information on the rationale behind this project has been requested from China, who initiated and who are coordinating the project.

Project Design

APSDI Data Nodes ― Coordinator: China (until otherwise notified)
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Action

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Responsibility

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Target

1. More information on rationale and functions of a Data Node

China

End 1998

2. Prepare discussion paper on how a Data Node would be established, how it would operate.

China

January 1999

3. Determine the number and location of Data Nodes

All members

April 1999

4. Options for architecture of proposed Asia Pacfic Data Directory (APDD) - WG members need to consider

Australia

April 1999

5. Determine prototype Data Node for demonstration

Australia

End 1999

6. Set up Data Nodes

Those countries that wish to be a Data Node.

Bangkok 2000

7. Publish directory of APSDI Data Nodes, and details of access to data, on WWW

Australia

Post-Beijing and on-going

Project 4 – Develop Regional GIS Application Demonstrations

Scope

It is important that WG members - especially those without a well developed GIS infrastructure - are able to see the practical benefits from the application and modelling of spatial data in the GIS environment.

This project, in the first instance, should make use of an existing dataset (preferably one that covers a large area and multiple themes) to demonstrate the effectiveness with which a GIS can deliver planning solutions to a range of economic and environmental issues.

Project Design

Regional GIS Application Demonstrations ― Coordinator: Russia

Action

Responsibility

Target

1. Investigate current small scale GIS datasets that could be demonstrated.

[Mapping of the Baltic Sea Region - may be a good example dataset to start. For more information visit http://www.grida.no/baltic/]

Russia

April 1999

2. Create a demonstration dataset for viewing

Russia (collaboration with "Data Nodes"?)

Late 1999

3. Demonstrate APSDI fundamental datasets as and when completed

Russia

Bangkok 2000

Russian contact is:

Mr Evgeniy A. Zhalkovskiy

Deputy Head

Federal Agency of Russia for Geodesy and Cartography (RosKartografiya)

Krzhizhanovskogo Ul. - 14/2, Moscow 117801

Phone: (+7 095) 124 35 35, 127 57 14, 127 00 54

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