A GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION STRATEGY FOR NORTHERN IRELAND
RESPONSES TO THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT
GI Strategy Project Team
March 2003
1. Executive Summary
1.1 Background
1.1.1 It has been recognised for some years that there is a requirement to better co-ordinate geographic information. This is now more relevant with developing UK and EC policy on public sector information, and geographic information in particular. Recent reviews have led to the conclusion that a new approach is required in Northern Ireland. With the help from a wide representative stakeholder group, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, through its Agency, Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland, has facilitated the development of a strategy and proposes a co-ordination framework that draws together the areas in which greatest benefit is possible.
1.1.2 A Geographic Information Strategy for Northern Ireland was issued for consultation on 20th December 2002 and over 1000 copies were issued to the following groups:
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§ Government Departments
§ Northern Ireland Geographic Information System (NIGIS) Representatives
§ OSNI Customers
§ Strategy Contributors
§ Participants at the Lusty Beg Future Search conference
§ District Councils
§ Education and Library Boards
§ Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure’s Equality Scheme List
§ Society Of Local Authorities Chief Executives e-government working group
§ Other important organisations e.g. Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
§ Proposed representatives on Steering Groups
§ Geographic Information Groups e.g. Eurogeographics
§ E-Government Board
§ MLAs
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1.1.3 The consultation period ended on 7th March 2003 and a total of 41 responses were received:
§ Central Government: 17
§ Local Government: 8
§ Private Sector Companies: 4
§ Transport and Emergency Services: 4
§ Education: 2
§ Geographic Information Organisations: 2
§ Rural Development Council: 1
§ NIPSA: 1
§ Equality Commission: 1
§ Youth Development Council: 1
Total: 41
A full list of the respondents is attached at Appendix A.
1.2 Overview of Responses
§ This report summarises the views and comments of the 41 respondents and the answers they provided to the specific questions posed in the questionnaire. A copy of the questionnaire is included at Appendix B.
§ The strategy has been welcomed and well received; respondents commend the initiative and are of the view that the document offers a practical way forward for the co-ordination of geographic information in Northern Ireland.
§ The benefits of this co-ordination, including efficient and effective governance and enhanced delivery of public services, are recognised by respondents.
§ Many respondents comment on the need to develop an open and collaborative culture between organisations in order to facilitate the sharing of information.
§ Responses are broadly positive and although some respondents debate certain issues, no response could be described as negative.
§ Many responses are very detailed with respondents answering the questions in great detail and providing useful comprehensive additional comments.
§ Other responses are more general; simply agreeing with all the proposals contained in the strategy or agreeing with the general thrust of the document and providing short comments on certain points.
§ Many respondents offer their full support for the strategy and either offer to assist where required to contribute to a particular steering group.
§ Several respondents comment on the need to keep the momentum of the initiative going.
§ ESRI (a supplier of software and services in support of geographical information handling) are willing to devote resources to help demonstrate some ‘early wins’ for the strategy. This would involve building proof of concept demonstrators for a selected set of promising applications. This offer would be without pre-conditions and cost to the Northern Ireland Government.
1.3 Proposals
The comments and proposals inserted at the end of each section have been compiled by the GI Strategy Project Team for consideration by participants at the feedback workshop.
2. Analysis Of Responses
2.1 Is the vision for geographic information in Northern Ireland the right one?
30 out of the 41 respondents referred to, or answered, the question on the proposed vision. All 30 were supportive of the vision and broadly believed that it is the right one for geographic information in Northern Ireland.
§ The vision was described by various respondents as being comprehensive, worthwhile, broad, inclusive, ambitious, timely and achievable.
§ The Department of Regional Development (DRD) highlighted their support for the emphasis within the vision on the need for leadership and co-ordination.
§ The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) believe that it is essential that this strategic approach to the collection of data / availability of information is taken.
§ The Rural Development Council (RDC) agrees with the vision and believes that it will be beneficial for both the public and private sectors.
§ DCAL’s Museums, Sport and Lottery branch described the vision as structured and an appropriate way forward.
Other respondents qualified their support by suggesting that the vision could be enhanced further:
Organisation / CommentNorthern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) / A reference to spatial data standards should be made in the vision.
The Youth Council / The vision should refer to the promotion of a culture of sharing and collaboration within the public sector in Northern Ireland.
ESRI Ireland / The word ‘availability’ should be included in the vision because a vision is difficult to achieve if there is a lack of availability of the subject matter i.e. GI. A strategy is something that is dynamic and will change over time. The vision statement should be mindful of this and the words ‘strategic leadership’ could be replaced with ‘foundation’.
A slightly amended version of the vision was therefore suggested by ESRI Ireland:
“To provide the foundation required for a practical, co-ordinated and inclusive approach to improving the collection, funding, dissemination, availability and use of geographic information, in order to maximise the social, economic and educational potential of this crucial component of the national infrastructure resource”
Proposal:
§ The vision statement should be amended to reflect the above.
2.2 Have the key themes been identified? Are there any others that should be added/addressed?
27 respondents referred to, or answered, the question on key themes and all 27 respondents agreed that the key themes had been identified.
4 organisations recommend that other new themes should also be addressed as the project progresses.
The Association for Geographic Information NI (AGINI) consider that it is sensible to restrict the number of themes to the essentials on the basis that each one will require considerable effort to deliver on objectives. They believe that there is a danger of stretching limited resources too far. They suggest the establishment, management and delivery of themes in a phased manner.
The following suggestions were made:
Organisation /Suggestion
DCAL’s Museums, Sport and Lottery branch / ‘Cultural Tourism’ should be an additional themeDRD / ‘Regional Spatial Planning’ should be an additional theme
Gareth Herron / ‘Professional’ (Statisticians, Legal, Political and Teachers) should be an additional theme
Crawford Jordan / The Environment theme should be re-named ‘Environment and Agriculture’ (or vice-versa) to reflect the close relationship and common interests between these two sectors. Alternatively, an explicit ‘Agriculture’ theme should be added.
Geological Survey (GSNI) / ‘Natural Resources’ (including the indigenous resources of energy, minerals and water) ‘Health’, ‘Education’ and ‘Tourism’ should be additional themes
ESRI Ireland / ‘Public Health’, ‘Tourism’ and ‘Leisure’ should be additional themes
The Youth Council / Educational/youth/community and voluntary policy areas should be dealt with effectively
Proposals:
§ The Environment theme should be renamed Environment and Agriculture.
§ A separate steering group should be established for Tourism/Tourism and Leisure/Cultural Tourism
2.3 Do you agree that steering groups should be established to co-ordinate each strategic theme? If not, how should each theme be co-ordinated?
29 respondents referred to or answered the question on steering groups and 22 were explicitly supportive of the steering group approach.
The following organisations made suggestions as to the representation of particular groups:
Organisation / SuggestionDCAL’s Policy, Evaluation and Research Unit / NISRA should be included in the Key Datasets group.
DRD/RPTD / Should be represented on at least one steering group. RPTD could perhaps be included in a high-level working group.
Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) /
Consider that they would have an important part to play in the Environment group.
Crawford Jordan / Should be represented on the Environment group and should contribute to the other groups as appropriate. The Environment group should be chaired at senior civil service level with the chair alternating between EHS and DARD.GSNI / Consider their membership of at least one key sector steering group and technical group to be essential.
Craigavon Borough Council / Councils should be represented on the Public Safety and Emergency Services, Land and Property and Environment, Transport and Utilities and Networks steering groups. Bord Gais should be represented on the Utilities and Networks group.
Belfast City Council / District Councils should be represented on the Emergency Services group.
Central Emergency Planning Unit / Suggests the addition of a steering group to cover emergency planning.
Proposal:
§ The above suggestions should be addressed when establishing the steering groups by approaching the relevant representative bodies and seeking their nomination.
The following organisations have offered their support:
Organisation / Support OfferedThe Rate Collection Agency (RCA) / Willing to become involved in the Land and Property steering group.
AGINI / Offer their services to lead the Education and Awareness group and are willing to participate and liaise with the Governance group.
University of Ulster / Offer their services where required particularly in the Education and Awareness group
Proposal:
§ That AGINI/UU should take the lead on establishing the Education and Awareness group.
Suggestions were also made as to how the groups should be managed:
Organisation / CommentPublic Records Office NI / Would expect that the different groups would be empowered to consult with relevant parties outside their representation.
Environment and Heritage Service / It is important that the groups are productive, with clear terms of reference, roles, targets and commitment from different players.
Gareth Herron / Groups should be tightly controlled to ensure that standards are adhered to.
Belfast City Council and Phoenix Gas / Liaison and communication between the steering groups and the Governance group is essential
A certain degree of caution towards the steering group approach was expressed by some organisations:
§ ESRI Ireland believes that the steering groups should be small and focussed and have clear deliverables. Private Sector participation should be encouraged, as input from the sector will bring energy and ideas in line with common business practices.
§ ESRI UK advises against the creation of a large number of committees to push forward the initiative. They suggest that only one committee should be established initially with the objective of identifying short-term, achievable goals. They advise that the private sector should be involved and recognise that, although the choice of individuals will be difficult because will be seen to be there for commercial reasons, it does not necessarily follow that they cannot lay their commercial perspective aside for the greater good of the community. ESRI demonstrate a willingness to play a full part in implementing the strategy.
§ Translink believe that there may be difficulties in attracting the appropriate leaders of steering groups or maintaining their long-term commitment.
§ AGINI advise that appropriate time, care and attention should be taken when establishing the steering groups, as they are fundamental to the success of strategy.
Comments:
These points have been noted and the importance of the steering groups has been recognised as being crucial at this stage in the process.
2.4 Do you agree that an initial project to identify key datasets should be established?
30 respondents referred to or answered the question on key data sets. All 30 agreed that an initial project to identify key datasets should be established and there was broad agreement that this project would help avoid duplication of effort in the capturing of data and enhance the collaborative ethos that the strategy encourages.
It was suggested by several respondents that there should be a central point of contact for the viewing and retrieval of key datasets. NIHE used the example of the proposed NISRA GIS-enabled website for viewing 2001 census information.
Several respondents believe that the issues of ownership, maintenance, cost and accessibility of data would have to be addressed.
3 respondents highlight the need for widespread consultation to ensure that a broad range of interests is represented and that key datasets are not omitted.
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Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland offers its support in relation to the key datasets project and offers to chair the group if required.
Proposal:
§ OSNI should take on board comments from the various organisations, take the lead on the steering group and facilitate the identification of key datasets across all key thematic areas.
Specific comments:
Organisation / CommentDRD/RPTD / Would like to be involved in the Key Datasets steering group.
GSNI / Highlight the links between GSNI datasets and the strategic themes in the document. They point out that the strategy does not acknowledge the importance of GSNI’s key datasets
Belfast City Council / Social and crime statistics should be included as key datasets.
The Youth Council / Key datasets must come from all major policy areas and should contain education, youth, community and voluntary sectors.
Craigavon Borough Council / Additional insertions in key datasets table as shown in the document.
ESRI Ireland / Key social, economic and infrastructural datasets should be identified to the lowest common denominator.
Crawford Jordan /
Orthoimagery should be included as an example of a key dataset.
Comments:
There are a number of potential pilot projects for the establishment of key datasets:
§ Pointer and Orthoimagery are already underway.
§ The Land and Property steering group have discussed a pilot GIS for Land and Property.
§ A possible Transport project concerning road centre lines.
§ The MOLAND project at European level which uses data systems and methods to help provide local sustainability indicators.