Opening speech by Mr. Willem de Vries
SIXTEENTH UNITED NATIONS REGIONAL CARTOGRAPHIC CONFERENCE FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC OKINAWA, 14-18 JULY 2003
STATEMENT OF MR.DEVRIES, OFFICER-IN-CHARGE OF THE UNITED NATIONS STATISTICS DIVISION
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His Excellency Vice-Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Honorable Governor of Okinawa Prefecture Distinguished Delegates and Observers, Ladies and Gentlemen,
$B!!!!(BIt is a great pleasure to welcome you to the Sixteenth United Nations Regional Cartographic Conference for Asia and the Pacific. I would like to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules and traveling to Okinawa to actively participate in this Conference.
$B!!!!(BThe Japanese Government kindly offered to host the Sixteenth conference, in Okinawa, and I would like, on behalf of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, to express our gratitude and appreciation to the Government of Japan for hosting the Conference. I would also like to thank the Permanent Committee on GIS Infrastructure for Asia and the Pacific and its President, Prof. YANG Kai of China, for their tireless efforts to ensure the success of this conference.
$B!!!!(BThe Fifteenth Conference, held in Kuala Lumpur more than three years ago, adopted resolutions and agreed on a set of recommendations which focused on "spatial data infrastructures, as part of the national infrastructure, and its critical role for economic and sustainable development, the key role of cadastre in spatial data infrastructure, the importance of national and regional geographical names standardization programmes, the cooperation with the United Nations Geographic Database initiative, the importance of the development of Global Map, and other issues related to assisting members states in the region to utilize fully the opportunities provided by geographic information technologies and applications".
$B!!!!(BThe breadth of these resolutions demonstrates the broad reach and importance of these regional conferences. A review of the agenda for this conference shows the importance of data spatial infrastructures and geographic information technologies and applications in addressing the most critical global, national, regional and sub-regional issues. I believe that the current conference, gathering talented specialists from all over the world, provides the opportunity to review and assess how successful geographic information has been in dealing with these critical issues and to identify the impediments and barriers that still exist, with a view to finding appropriate solutions in order to overcome them.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
$B!!!!(B While I will not attempt a comprehensive appraisal of the achievements of countries of the Asia and Pacific region during the past three years, it is useful to consider some key trends and important shifts which influence the development of cartography and geographic information and could help to address the issues of the current agenda.
First:
$B!!!!(BThe information revolution allows us to think more strategically about information needs, the collection of information and the resources needed to deliver information to a wider market. What is remarkable is that most of the information delivered, up to 80%, can be geo-referenced. The reason for this is that we live in a physical world and human activities are closely linked to geographic location. Geographic information is a rapidly growing and important part of the information society, with applications in many sectors: regional planning, land management, environment and natural resources, health care and emergencies, transportation and urban systems, marketing studies, as well as in most of the service sector activities. Increasingly, these geographic information applications are moving from the marketing and research area to management and strategic decision-making.
$B!!!!(BVery little is free in this world and the collection and management of spatial data can be costly. Moreover, the development and maintenance of spatial databases is often expensive and time consuming. It will become ever more necessary to minimize duplication of effort and data and encourage the sharing of core data. Due to changes from natural monopolies providing a public good to a new environment characterized by privatization and economic competition and efficiency, National Mapping Agencies (NMA) need to consider their position in the spatial data community particularly regarding supply of and access to spatial data
Second:
$B!!!!(BBuilding spatial databases, at national and local levels, is increasing and the concept of spatial data infrastructure, as part of the national infrastructure, is emerging. Furthermore, a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) is coming to be regarded as a fundamental asset of a society, equal to its roads, communications networks, and other public utilities. It is now widely accepted that developing national spatial data infrastructures will better facilitate the availability and access to spatial data for governmental organizations, the private sector, universities and citizens in general.
$B!!!!(BThe big challenge is how to harness the enormous potential of geographic information technologies to build a sustainable national infrastructure and go beyond national level applications to regional and global ones. It is becoming clear that the major barriers and impediments to harnessing geographic information will not be technical ones but rather the ability to restructure national mapping agencies and other governmental organizations, to cooperate with one another, to learn from each other and to create regional and global data infrastructure standards.
Third:
$B!!!!(BThe last issue I would like to address is some recent achievements regarding the coordination with relevant initiatives of the United Nations Regional Cartographic Conferences, the United Nations Conferences on Standardization of Geographical Names and the United Nations Geographic Information Working Group.
$B!!!!(BThe UN Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN) Secretariat is working to forge such ties with the UN Regional Cartographic Conferences, recognizing that cartography, GIS and Geographical Names are crucial to the promotion of geographic information. Indeed, the 15th UN Regional Cartographic Conferences in Kuala Lumpur and the '7th UNRCC-A in New York recognized the importance of standardized and consistent geographical names as a fundamental data set of national and regional spatial data infrastructures. At these two regional cartographic conferences, UNGEGN members participated actively - by chairing a Technical Committee of the 15 UNRCC-AP and holding the Rapporteur position of the 7th UNRCC-AP.
$B!!!!(BIn April 2002, under the umbrella of the United Nations Statistics Division, a web site was launched to improve the communication with member states and geographical names and geographic information experts, and so help promote and realize the goals and resolutions of the Conferences.
$B!!!!(BThe UN is not only aware of the importance of global and national spatial data infrastructures but recognizes that their role is crucial not only for economic and social growth but ultimately for human development itself. The establishment of an inter-agency Working Group to coordinate geographic information activities within UN, including the development of a global geographic database, demonstrates the importance UN places in the development of geographic information.
$B!!!!(BThe UN Geographic Information Group is considering and encouraging the creation of national geographic databases, which could be usefully woven into the design of the new UN Geographic database.
$B!!!!(BThis example shows that we have the means; the question is whether we have the will to take up this challenge. This is why this and other conferences like it are so important.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
$B!!!!(BThis conference is held in the beginning of a new millennium and a new age - the information age. Cartography and geographic information are facing crucial challenges: new sensors collecting high resolution data in digital form, integrated management of information and the use of Internet and multimedia to disseminate information, and increased demand on cartographic services and products. In addressing the issues of the agenda of this Regional Cartographic Conference, you will contribute to identifying appropriate solutions to reap the benefits of these challenges. I wish you great success in your endeavors.
Thank you very much for you attention.