UNGI WORKING GROUP

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UNGI WORKING GROUP AND UNITED NATIONS GEOGRAPHIC
DATABASE Presented to the 8th PCGIAP Brunei
Darussalam, 16 - 19 April 2002 By Vladimir
Bessarabov Bessarabov_at_un.org
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Address of UN Secretary-Generalat AAG conference
in March 2001

• ...last year we at the United Nations
  established a Geographic Information Working
  Group to improve the way in which the many
  entities in our far-flung system use cartographic
  and geographic information. One of the Groups
  main goals is to establish a common UN Geographic
  Database. It will be working with national
  mapping agencies, non-governmental organizations,
  industry groups and research institutions.
• I encourage you to contact us and get involved,
  if you have not done so already.

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UN Geographic Information Working Group UNGIWG
An inter-agency group consists of focal points
and professionals working or interested in GI
within the UN
3rd meeting July 2002, Washington D.C., hosted
by World Bank
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UNGIWG Objectives

• To promote the use of geographic information
  within the United Nations system and Member
  States for better decision-making
• To identify and implement protocols for sharing,
  maintaining and assuring the quality of
  geographic information within the United Nations
  system for efficient and cost effective use of
  such information with close co-operation with
  Member States, non-governmental organizations,
  research institutions and industry
• To develop and maintain a common geographic
  database as a crucial capacity-building effort to
  enhance normative, programme and operational
  capabilities and efficiencies within the United
  Nations system

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UNGIWG Task Groups

• Metadata and clearinghouses
• Framework data international boundaries (land
  and maritime) and coastlines
• Framework data administrative boundaries
• Remote sensing and satellite imagery
• Field operations
• Cartographic guidelines
• Training

And a UN GI Strategic Plan
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Call for Co-ordination
ECOSOC resolution of 19 February 1948 calls for
co-ordination of cartographic services of
specialized agencies and international
organizations by

• promoting the exchange of technical information
  and the development of uniform international
  standards
• co-ordinating the plans and programmes of the
  United Nations and specialized agencies in the
  field of cartography
• developing close co-operation with cartographic
  services of Member Governments

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UN Geographic Database
UN Geographic Database
UN Views
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Database Requirements

• SHARE not re-create Interoperate not
  re-design
• Multi-scale Seamless
• Distributed network with participating agencies
  as the custodians of their respective data layers
• Must be shared freely within the UN System
• Must be MAINTAINABLE

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Creating a UN Geographic Database(Phase I)

• Duration 19 months
• Implementing Partners
• Cartographic Section, Department of Public
  Information
• Department of Political Affairs
• Department of Peace-keeping Operations
• Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
  Affairs

UNGIWG serves as an advisory body and provide
project monitoring and technical support
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Programme Activities

• Strategic Plan
• Needs assessment
• Data models and ISO compliant standards
• System architecture
• Data policy
• Collaborative arrangement
• Project sustainability including capital
  investment plan

Metadata and Clearinghouse Clearinghouse
architecture and metadata conventions UN
geographic data clearinghouse
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Programme Activities (cont.)

• Quick Impact Data Development
• Data format and coding scheme
• Framework data sets
• Country profile database
• Assemble available global data sets

Application Pilot Information dissemination
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GIS Operational Concept for Peacekeeping
Situation Center
DPKO
UNHCR
Situation Map Storage
UNICEF
OCHA
UNDP
Operations/Planning
Logistics
WFP
UN Geo Database
Cartographic Section
Base Map Storage
Operational Map Storage
Terrain Analysis
Special Map Storage
Current Operations Future Planning
GIS
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The Security Council
Close attention to working methods procedures
flow of info
Better informed via new approach to enhanced
briefings
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For more information Please visit our web
site www.ungiwg.org You can also visit the web
site of the UN Cartographic Section www.un.org/De
pts/Cartographic/english/htmain.htm