INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR GEO-INFORMATION SCIENCE AND EARTH OBSERVATION

SDI Capacity in Africa

Kate Lancelance@itc.nl

Map Africa 2007 29-30 Oct. 2007

Cape Town

My vantage point

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Outline

SDI snapshots various highlights of SDI capacity/progress in Africa

SDI performance measurement a more formal approach to evaluating SDI capacity

Treating ‘geospatial’ as a sector Sector-wide indicators to assess/compare SDI capacity in Africa

Final thoughts

a bottom-up, service-oriented architecture-based SDI

SDI snapshots – web services

Thus far…

Oct. 2006 SDI Conference in Kigali

- Jul. 2007 Several events to promote GI Science at Ministries, NGO’s, Private Companies

Aug. 2007 SDI training with participation from Pres. Office and RITA (Rwanda Information Technology Authority)

Sep. 2007 Set up of GIS Portals at the National University (open access) and in Kigali (restricted access)

Oct. 2007 Start metadata collection at selected ministries

Nov. 2007 Awareness Workshop for Ministries

SDI snapshots – Rwanda (2007)

Somali Water & Land Information Management (SWALIM) using int’l and open standards for metadata and online data access and distribution

Online Data Portal – Search & DownloadOnline Data Access – in development/testing

SDI snapshots – Somalia (2007)

SDI snapshots – assorted 2007 highlights (1)

Kenya: KNSDI in National Development Plan since 2002, but allocated budget by

govt for first time (2007) National standards workshop July 2007 - stakeholders endorsed Kenyan

ISO 19915 metadata profile Uganda:

Donor dialogue on natural res. mgt. (i.e., data mgt issues being raised; possibility of basket fund under Min. Finance)

Tanzania NSDI Steering committee prepared 2nd draft of NSDI policy (March 2007).

3rd draft will go to Parliament (viewed as key step to funding). Ethiopia:

At recent World Information Technology Forum (WIFOR) conference, Minister of Capacity Building chaired entire conference (sign of political commitment)

Niger Drafting of Niger National SDI Plan underway

Libya Libya Spatial Data Information Infrastructure (LSDI) part of a larger initiative to

develop the Libyan NII Geospatial metadata standard & catalog under development

Chad Organization of spatial data at the CNAR (Ministere de l'Enseignement Superieur

et de la Recherche Scientifique) & implementation of a spatial metadatabase for researchers

Botswana Integrated Geographic Information System (IGIS) National SDI Conference, 26-30 November 2007

South Africa Core data set maintenance and Interoperability awareness seminars (2007) – to

receive inputs for the National GIS Strategy Working draft of address standard for urban and rural areas (SANS 1883) – to

enable interoperability in existing address datasets

SDI snapshots – assorted 2007 highlights (2)

SDI snapshots – volunteered content OpenStreetMap (OSM)

a collaborative (wikipedia-like) project to create free vector maps using data from portable GPS devices. OpenStreetMap data are published under a Creative Commons license.

Mapping projects in Algeria, Cameroon, Congo-Kinshasa (DRC) Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda

First OSM mapping party in South Africa, Nov. 11.2007, Cape Town - Noordhoek “We will be meeting at 2pm. After a chat about the game plan, we will head

out and mapping. Afterwards we can meet at the Red Herring for pizza.”

Traks4Africa (T4A) Tracks4Africa community touring Africa, doing meticulous record

keeping of their travels using GPS devices

Non-conventional data producers Conservation community in particular

SDI snapshots – indigenous local knowledge / mapping

SDI snapshots – decision support & alerts

CSIR Advanced Fire Information Service With the detection a of a fire, email and SMS text messages

are created and sent to relevant authorities. Personal Digital Assistance Animated Weather System

(PAW) people can access satellite information on severe storms

through their cell phones. PAW provides near real time information on clouds, rainfall, wind and fires.

South Africa’s Meraka Institute has been playing a big role in customizing the product for South and Southern Africa and providing local information.

West-African Market Information Network (RESIMAO) Interactive maps on price levels for regional

commodities/markets.

SDI snapshots – earth observation (1)

Real-time African earth observation infrastructure is emerging (i.e., AlSat-2, NigeriaSat-1 & 2, EgyptSat-1, SumbandilaSAT) African countries launching their own earth observation

satellites, joining the league of ‘sensing’ countries

African satellite engineering teams designing and developing earth observation satellites, setting up ground receiving stations

Furthermore, African countries are working together to employ space technologies e.g., South Africa, Algeria, Nigeria, and Kenya jointly are part of

the African Resource Management (ARM) constellation

SDI snapshots – earth observation (2) The joint approach (potentially) will enable the

coordinated reception of imagery, as well as coordinated product development on a continent-wide basis

Map source: Fortescue and Ntisana, 2005

SDI snapshots – emerging market Private companies are developing road/street databases for African

users (e.g., TRAXmap, LeadDog) Foreign companies entering African market with belief their efforts will

reap adequate return. African-owned companies also tapping into market, in both product

and service development (e.g., MapIT, CEASER-MAP) South Africa-based MapIT signed a license and distribution agreement

with Tele Atlas. MapIT trying to build seamless street-level map of the whole of Africa to support the development of location base service

company already established office in Nigeria, and will eventually open in Ghana and Kenya as well.

Several foreign companies have set up offices in Africa (e.g, MAPS Geosystems, in Conakry and Dakar; ImageAfrica in East Africa; Google, in Kenya)

SuperMap established first distributing agent in Africa (Botswana) company plans to find and appoint a series of distributors/resellers in

Africa

SDI snapshots – external assistance

African Monitoring of Environment for Sustainable Development (AMESD) project EDF-funded, 21 million EURO over 4 years designed to help African countries introduce EO information to

better manage water and land resources. Global Monitoring for Environment and Security

(GMES) extended to Africa “GMES Africa” would be a continuation of AMESD

SERVIR-Africa Platform that integrates satellite and other geospatial data for

scientific research and decision making (NASA/USAID) Designed to enable users to search, browse, download, and

visualize geospatial information (particularly EO)

Among many initiatives…

African Geodetic Reference Frame (AFREF) initiative meant to unify and modernize the geodetic reference frame for Africa and the national and regional reference networks. When fully implemented, will consist of a network of

permanent GNSS/GPS stations whose generated data will be freely available to users anywhere in Africa

SDI snapshots – AFREF and MAFA

UNEDRA: University Network for Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa

Mapping Africa for Africa (MAFA) Fundamental data survey; data availability & metadata;

addressing data gaps

Other regional initiatives:

MadMappers

SDI snapshots – better communication Newsletters

Kenya NSDI Secretariat newsletter SWALIM updates & feature articles (Somalia) AFREF newsletter EIS-Africa newsletter SALB newsletter GLCN newsletter

Email lists - GI SIMaC email list (Somalia) Sudan Inter-agency Mapping list SDI-EA List (East Africa) (and blog) TZGISUG list (Tanzania); Botswana GIS Yahoo-group CGIS-NUR list (Rwanda) University Network for Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa (UNEDRA) SCGIS-Kenya (conservation GIS) ASIGEO (Senegal)

Etc.

SDI snapshots – SDI-Africa (2) subscribers Mailing list is quite

robust – very few ‘incorrect’ addresses

But… only a fraction of readers are actual subscribers

Map produced by Carmelle Terborgh

SDI snapshots – SDI-Africa (3) no. page views/month

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SDI snapshots – SDI-Africa (4) no. contributors/month

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Are we headed in right direction?

Photo source: yahoo.com

How does all this activity add up?

Outline

SDI snapshots various highlights of SDI capacity/progress in Africa

SDI performance measurement a more formal approach to evaluating SDI capacity

Treating ‘geospatial’ as a sector Sector-wide indicators to assess/compare SDI capacity in Africa

Final thoughts

Evaluation status quo (1)

African governments (and govts worldwide) making use of geospatial technologies and in the process of developing and delivering an array of geospatial services.

Despite this ubiquitous investment in geospatial infrastructure, few government ministries or agencies evaluate public effort in this area. striking in light of public sector reforms that call for a greater emphasis

on efficiency and accountability.

The same goes for donors/development partners, who seldom are evaluating the outcomes of geospatial investment.

For example, the AFRICOVER project of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) provided a bounty of geographic information for twelve countries in eastern and central Africa...

So? Could make for an excellent case study…

Evaluation status quo (2)

SDI evaluation

Thus far, SDI evaluation seemingly done (only) if required: A legislative requirement (e.g.,

INSPIRE implementing rules) A contractual requirement or part of

corporation law (e.g., AltaLIS, PSMA) A budgetary requirement / program

accountability (e.g., Geospatial One-Stop, OMB Circular A-11; GeoConnections, RMAF)

(Lance et. al., 2006)

Photo source: The Economist

Appropriate indicators / methods needed (new area for capacity building)

Vertical nature of evaluation

SDI activity

Ministry Ministry HealthHealth

Ministry Ministry Edu-Edu-cationcation

Ministry Ministry WaterWater

Ministry Ministry Agri-Agri-cultureculture

Ministry Ministry Transpor-Transpor-tationtation

$$$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$$$

SDI activity

SDI activity

SDI activity

SDI activity

Graphic source: adapted from Doug Nebert

Utopia: horizontal evaluation

Ministry Ministry HealthHealth

Ministry Ministry Edu-Edu-cationcation

Ministry Ministry WaterWater

Ministry Ministry Agri-Agri-cultureculture

Ministry Ministry Transpor-Transpor-tationtation

Shared Data& Services

$$$$$$$$

$$$$ Deliver public service delivery to citizensDeliver public service delivery to citizens

Manage natural resourcesManage natural resources

Strengthen national securityStrengthen national security

$$$$ Design and monitor poverty reduction programsDesign and monitor poverty reduction programs

SDI activity

SDI activity

SDI activity

SDI activity

SDI activity

Graphic source: adapted from Doug Nebert

(in a vertical environment)

So… how to get horizontal evaluation?

Also, performance measurement only tells so much...

Source: Gilbert Garcin (artist)

Perf. meas. limited when it comes to non-quantitative (intangible) outcomes

And use of GI poorly understood

Rational decision-making is not the norm… ‘garbage can’ is norm

Ultimately…

Evaluation, an indication of an SDI initiative’s maturity i.e., SDI ‘taken seriously’ when results are expected or when

there are potential consequences for weak performance i.e., evaluation, part of legitimacy

Evaluation enables us to understand of the value/contribution of geospatial technologies

i.e., evaluation, part of value management

Outline

SDI snapshots various highlights of SDI capacity/progress in Africa

SDI performance measurement a more formal approach to evaluating SDI capacity

Treating ‘geospatial’ as a sector Sector-wide indicators to assess/compare SDI capacity in Africa

Final thoughts

Geospatial sector evaluation

Geospatial industry growth (value added)

Geospatial investment / expenditures (government / external)

Geospatial employment

Geospatial sector

Geospatial education & training

Geospatial sector indicators can …

Facilitate identification of market trends, market opportunities, and enable service analysis

Enable cross-country comparisons: e.g. “geospatial opportunity index” or “SDI implementation deficit”

Inform policy makers Serve as starting point for research on SDI development

Geospatial employment

Source: Mondello et. al., 2004. 10-year industry forecast. ASPRS.

employment & labor/skill shortage statistics

Geospatial employment

However, more consistency needed in position/job classification or titles

E.g., Cartographer Geodetic Surveyor, Hydrographic Surveyor, Land Surveyor GIS Specialist, GIS Analyst, GIS Coordinator, GIS Researcher, etc. Photo interpreter Photogrammetrist Remote Sensing Specialist Etc.

Professionals working with geospatial technologies & services may currently be pegged as part of the Architecture-Planning-Engineering discipline or Information Technology (ICT) discipline

How to deal with the issue of ‘moonlighting’ (government employees who are also private sector employees)… to what extent will this inflate the numbers?)

Country 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Total Benin 3 5 6 6 2 6 2 8 3 8 49 Burkina Faso 3 2 2 4 2 4 6 6 29 Cameroon 4 3 7 12 17 2 21 1 1 68 Ghana 3 4 2 1 3 1 5 3 4 26 Mali 1 4 3 2 1 1 1 13 Niger 1 1 2 4 Nigeria 32 27 20 14 10 25 10 19 9 15 181 Senegal 2 1 3 3 11 2 7 10 39 Year total 45 45 43 37 15 69 20 66 22 47 409

Students trained at RECTAS in past 10 years, at technician, technologist and post-graduate diploma levels (combined).

Distribution of colleagues who have benefited from ITC training

App Dev

Image Processing

Data Conversion

and MonitoringData Analysis

Dbase

0

50

100

150

200

250

Nigerian data infrastructure user skill requirements

Geospatial education/training

Geospatial industry growth

Definition of ‘geospatial industry’ is an issue National industry classifications for mapping/geospatial are not

well defined (and no international definition exists) One definition states: (Geospatial Industry Workforce Information System, 2007)

“The geospatial industry acquires, integrates, manages, analyzes, maps, distributes, and uses geographic, temporal, and spatial information and knowledge. The industry includes basic and applied research, technology development, education, and applications to address the plannng, decision-making, and operational needs of people and organizations of all types”

This definition much broader than surveying and mapping Comprehensive statistics on geospatial industry difficult to

produce as many relevant companies may be considered part of the mining, agriculture, consulting, and computer industries.

Census Survey of the Geomatics Industry (Statistics Canada, 2004)

Geomatics Industry 

No. establishments 2,215          

No. employees 27,300       

Revenue $2.8 billion    

Exports $497 million

Value Added $2.4 billion   

Geospatial investment

Tracking geospatial investments = ‘fiscal archeology’ Public investment levels and

financing mechanisms Fund allocations by

development partners to geospatial activities

Tracking investments: (example Egypt)

Ministry / Agency Project Project Amount Funding Implementation Period

Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA)

Egyptian Environmental Information System

CIDA Contribution: $12,783,000 EEAA Contribution: $1,800,000 CDN in Egyptian L.E.

Government of Egypt and Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

1997 to 2004

General Organization for Physical Planning (GOPP), part of the Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities (MHUUC)

Support to GOPP in Planning and Geographic Information Systems

SIDA, Government of Sweden

Began in January 2005

General Organization for Physical Planning (GOPP)

Development of Regional Physical Planning Centers by the Establishment of a Network for a Geographical Information System

US $ 1,165,019 UNDP 1999-2004

Egyptian Survey Authority (ESA)

Training Programme for the Development of Managers and Supervisors for the National Cadastre

€ 1.256.053 Royal Netherlands Embassy

2001-2004

Egyptian Survey Authority (ESA)

Egyptian Cadastral Information Project (ECIM)

€7 million Finnish government 2002 -

Ministry of Health and Population, National Population Council

Demographic and Health Survey

USAID

Tracking investments: aid management / harmonization

Methodology (concerns/impediments)

How? Employment surveys? Central business registry? Geospatial establishment/enterprise census (e.g., Statistics Canada Census Survey of the Geomatics Industry)?

Geospatial expenditure tracking (e.g. South Africa’s survey instrument to assemble information on government science and technology expenditures; World Bank land mgt public expenditure reviews)?

BUT… Geospatial not a ‘traditional’ sector in budget or aid terms Geospatial not clearly identified within ICT or programmatic activities For sustainability and continuity (time series), data collection cannot be

based on a one-time survey Also, for international comparability, a common approach needed.

Is geospatial sector evaluation fanciful, exceeding feasibility?

Source: Gilbert Garcin (artist)

Survey of African remote sensing market (2008-2018)

Supported by USGS (time frame: Nov. 1, 2007 to Oct. 31, 2008) follow on to the NOAA-supported North America, Europe, and Asian

surveys (aerial and space borne) already conducted resulting report will analyze technical advances impacting RS over the

next 10 years; political, economic, environmental issues impacting RS; data/application usage projections; and sensor development projections.

Goal of the study is to: Further understand African remote sensing community needs Raise awareness of African remote sensing needs Positively impact data supply levels for African remote sensing users

Methods an on-line survey instrument and personal interview focusing on academic, government, and commercial end users, data to

be collected from eight sectors Contact: Sherry Loy, sherryloy@globalinsights.com

NOAA 2005-2015 Remote Sensing Industry Research

© Global Marketing Insights, Inc.

47

Survey of SA & SADC space arena

South Africa National Working Group on Space Science & Technology currently conducting an audit of the South African Space Arena a snapshot of the space arena part of a wider process to optimize the use of space science and

technology for sustainable development. Survey of the SADC space arena

meant to support the recommendations of the development of an African Institute of Space Science; DST contracted the Working Group to conduct the audit.

These surveys both are in the write-up stage. Summary docs will be made available on the SA space portal in due course.

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR GEO-INFORMATION SCIENCE AND EARTH OBSERVATION

SDI Capacity in Africa

… we’re ‘there’ when evaluation of SDI capacity is institutionalized

and ‘geospatial’ is treated as a

sector…

Conclusion Continued communication about existing activities and capacities

(e.g., SDI-Africa) SDI performance & impact assessment, with focus on both direct

and indirect impact of geospatial technologies on economic growth and social development. In this context, more involvement of academic institutions is

recommended. Online global database of SDI evaluation practice, lessons learned Geospatial sector data collection should not be based on a one-time

survey, but be fully integrated into the country's national statistical system

Who/how? GI projects/agencies held more accountable International bodies support/initiate process of geospatial sector data

collection.

Conclusion - SDI professionals, new capacities needed

a capacity to: communicate across sectors, institutions and different interest groups; motivate (coax) people into action; lobby for political support; mobilize human and financial resources; prepare proposals and negotiate for projects; manage programs: diagnose problems, assess needs, set objectives, budget, monitor and evaluate, and report manage for results

These capacities are different from those that conventional GI professionals have. Do our training programs address this? Do our hiring practices address this?

Data Sharing Agreements

with all Counties

1995 1996 1997 1998

Exploratory Forums

Strategic Planning Retreat

Mission Statement/StrategicInitiatives Adopted

Guiding Principles Endorsedby Key Stakeholders

Newsletter/Web Site

Street CenterlineCustodial

Agreement

First Policy Board Meeting

13 Priority Business Info Needs Endorsed

Business Plan Started

Data Finder Operational

1999

Fair-Share FinancialModel & Benefits

Studies Completed

Public Benefit Found

Full FunctionalityPursued

2000

Custodial Agreements Two Priority

Information Needs

Board Endorsed

Business Plan

Policy for Private Access to

Regional Parcel Dataset

2001-02

Metro Council Sponsorship to

2003

Final note (1): MetroGIS Milestones (Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota)

•Data Distribution Mech.•Regional Data Solutions•Performance Measures•“Umbrella” Agreements•Nat’l GeoData Alliance•Participant Satisfaction

Source: Randall Johnson, MetroGIS, 2001

Custodial Agreements Two Priority

Information Needs

Final note (2): enjoy the ride!

Thank you. Questions?

Kate Lancelance@itc.nl