Indonesia, 2012

StandardizedStandardized geographicalgeographical namesnames: : g g pg g pas a part of national as a part of national geospatialgeospatial

data structuresdata structuresdata structures data structures

Helen Helen KerfootKerfoot

PastPast Chair, UNGEGN (2002Chair, UNGEGN (2002--2012)2012)(Natural (Natural ResourcesResources Canada)Canada)

Communication problems if no names Communication problems if no names thematic maps air photosthematic maps air photos–– thematic maps, air photos ... thematic maps, air photos ...

Land use - 2004

... satellite images... satellite imagesgg

Geographical names neededGeographical names needed to identify, describe, analyse

AimsAims todaytoday

• What do we mean by “geographical ” “t ”?names”, “toponyms”?

– What is “standardization”?• Why do it? Who does it?

• What are some of the benefits of namesWhat are some of the benefits of names standardization?

– For spatial data infrastructure etcFor spatial data infrastructure, etc.

• What about Indonesia and South-East Asia?

ReferringReferring to places and to places and featuresfeatures• By latitude and longitude

– or other world rectangular grid (military/ civilian)or other world rectangular grid (military/ civilian)• By description

– 18 km NW of Yogyakarta– administrative capital of particular region– at crossing point of two roads

as particular activity centre market town– as particular activity centre - market town• By number …. e.g. Lake 1, Lake 2, etc.• By name !• By name !

– in combination with locational information

So ....So ....• Logical and most useful if:

S lli l i t t bi– Spellings are clear, consistent, unambiguous– A name is clearly ‘tied’ to a location– Difficulties with what names are correct are

sorted outTh d d t d d– These names are recorded, stored and are easily available to governments and the publicE er bod can se the same set of names to– Everybody can use the same set of names to communicate

““GeographicalGeographical namename””• UNGEGN Glossary (2002):

hi l– name, geographical“name applied to a feature on Earth“

(usually in English = “toponym”, although this can include names on other planets)

(place name = toponymor = name of populated place)or name of populated place)

WhatWhat types of places/types of places/featuresfeatures??yy

• Populated places / administrative areas / hi l f tgeographical features

• Land / water• Offshore features – water / underwater?• Names within urban areas?Names within urban areas?

– streets; buildings; parks?• Changing or temporary features?• Changing or temporary features?

– open water areas in sea ice; dunes; winds?

““StandardizationStandardization””

• UNGEGN Glossary:– standardization, geographical names

“The prescription by a names authority of one or more particular names together with their precise written formparticular names, together with their precise written form, for application to a specific geographical feature, as well as the conditions for their use.”

• Authority – apply some official status to names – written form

how name is applied– how name is applied– how used– romanization (?)

Standardization means Standardization means --

• Avoiding –– Duplication of names– Poorly recorded names– Confused applications– Lack of quick and

easy access to data

Who decides on names?Who decides on names?

Friends and family

Local community

Friends and family

Local community

Province / stateProvince / state

National levelNational level

International level

What sort of authority is appropriate?What sort of authority is appropriate?The choice depends on the nature of the country:• size; diversity; type of government; languages;size; diversity; type of government; languages;• population density and distribution; layers of history

Many arrangements are possible including:Many arrangements are possible, including:

(1) Centralized national names board

(2) Decentralized to regional names boards

(3) A combination of (1) and (2)

(4) Default if no names board

• Is it a board a council a commission a committee ?• Is it a board, a council, a commission, a committee .....?

Aim Aim –– clarity and avoid ambiguityclarity and avoid ambiguity

A process is needed ....... to record (recognizing local usage),... to process and store, ... to authorize (standardize), and... to distribute geographical names data

( il bl d il ibl )(available and easily accessible)

CardsCards to to databasedatabase -- MozambiqueMozambique

coordinates; feature type;coordinates; feature type; administrative region; authorized

Geographical names databaseGeographical names databaseg pg p

• Name records must be geo referenced• Name records must be geo-referenced(coordinates) and will contain a variety of attributesattributes- unique identifier for name and/or feature

• Aim to collect the information once for national use – avoiding overlap

• Develop to international standards

Canadian Geographical Names Data BaseCanadian Geographical Names Data Base• Some 500,000 records for places and features

across Canada – recognized by the Boardacross Canada recognized by the Board• Data supplied primarily by provinces/territories for

this central database, available on the web,• Digital database from card

files in the 1980s (before (digital mapping)

• The source of toponyms p yfor federal maps and charts (paper and digital)

Distribution of Distribution of authorizedauthorized namesnamesd t bd t b tttt……databasedatabase, , mapmap, , gazetteergazetteer

M liMongolia

National spatial data infrastructuresNational spatial data infrastructures• SDI, NSDI, GSDI ... for government, public• Growth in use of geo referenced data for GIS• Growth in use of geo-referenced data for GIS

and as a tool to support other activities– Use of geo-information in industry transportationUse of geo information in industry, transportation,

banking, communication ...– Climate change, natural disasters, natural resource

management, sustainable development – common issues requiring regional / global handling

• Isolated “islands of geo-information” must be integrated into a g ggeo-information archipelago where data sharing, data exchange and interoperability can be easily implemented (SEASC 09)

Geographical names in NSDIGeographical names in NSDI

Quality dataQuality data

Authoritative sources

Standards for content and format

Free or low cost

Redistribute orlicence

Geographical names in SDIGeographical names in SDIgg

• Vital locational component for inclusion in all geo-referenced data– Pali Lehohla (S. Africa) re statistics/census and names

• Direct and intuitive point of access• Help integrate data sets to provide powerful

d i i ki t ldecision-making tools• Necessary for presenting practical results of

spatial data analysis and interpretation planningspatial data analysis and interpretation, planning and provision of emergency and humanitarian aid

Entry to spatially organized dataEntry to spatially organized data

postal

mapbases

census

? ?

postal data

bases

NSDI Query

? ?

miningsites

Q y

By using a nameelectric

lines buildings

By using a name

Hurricane IsaacHurricane IsaacGulf of MexicoGulf of MexicoAugust 2012August 2012

Value of standardized street names for evacuation planning

Following Katrina (7 years ago) – details of streets and buildings ... for shelter provision, for tracking family members

Red River floods Red River floods –– Canada/USCanada/US

Red River floods Red River floods Red CrossRed Cross –– Fargo USAFargo USARed Cross Red Cross –– Fargo, USAFargo, USA

• Red River Valley

• Floods• Road• Road

closures

Earthquake vulnerability Earthquake vulnerability –– Ottawa, CanadaOttawa, Canadayy

Last 5 years – 0.4-5.4

BenefitsBenefits of of standardizedstandardized namesnames??e e se e s oo s a da d eds a da d ed a esa es• UNGEGN brochure … several languages

Advantages of clarity and consistency– Advantages of clarity and consistency

E iTechnical

Economicbenefits

benefits

CulturalSocial

benefits Cultural benefits

benefits

BenefitsBenefits of of standardizationstandardizationCulturalCultural• language• history

Technical• maps, atlases

GIS d SDI

Socio-economic• communication• development

UNHQ• GIS and SDI• web searching

development• emergency services

BenefitsBenefits –– exampleexample of UNOCHAof UNOCHABenefitsBenefits exampleexample of UNOCHAof UNOCHA• United Nations Office for the Coordination of

H it i Aff i (OCHA)Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)– Earthquake in Pakistan, 2005

• Problem of delays in providing assistance to remote villages• Problem of delays in providing assistance to remote villages• Difficult to obtain - standardized names, coordinates of

villages, gazetteers, population statistics, maps

J I d i th k 2006– Java, Indonesia, earthquake, 2006• Aid progressed rapidly … maps,

standardized names integrated into GIS, easily available

– Need for cooperation and move towards a global toponymic databasetowards a global toponymic database

BenefitsBenefits: : exampleexample of Chinaof China• China

– growth of cities … new urban areasgrowth of cities … new urban areas– more than 20,000 new urban names

needed every year(training to 400 people in a year to(training to 400 people in a year to improve city name planning)

– Problems in towns with no street names?• Development of GIS for service infrastructure

– (road, rail, water, sewer, electric power, gas lines)• World Bank help for addressing in Africa

Yaoundé CameroonYaoundé, Cameroon

GIS/SDI ... new opportunitiesGIS/SDI ... new opportunitiesM l iI d i • Malaysia – re-delineate electoral constituencies; social issues database is g-tagged (locating and plotting domestic violence)

• Indonesia – earthquake zone maps support the development of quake resilient infrastructure; BIG “one map”; cloud computing for sharing data domestic violence)

• Philippines – Senate urged to fund GIS and SDI to enable disaster simulations; geo hazard risk mapping

cloud computing for sharing data

simulations; geo-hazard risk mapping of key urban centres

• Brunei Darussalam – 3D mapping for flood monitoringfor flood monitoring

• Vietnam – impact of climate change on rice farming ... assess vulnerability

Si O M• Singapore – OneMap manages geospatial data, including street names, for health, recreation, etc.

B l d h• Bangladesh – risk map of malaria prevalence in south

INNDONESSIA

GIS and SDI on the upswingGIS and SDI on the upswingGIS and SDI on the upswingGIS and SDI on the upswing• These are all examples of the recognition of information

technology as an enabling tool.

• New business opportunities are arising.

• With geospatial activity centred round land information, the geospatial industry is growing.

• Consistent and accurate geographical names are so basic to these developments being effectivedevelopments being effective.

Distribute names through Google Maps etc ?Distribute names through Google Maps, etc.?- millions of internet users; economic interest

Outstanding questionsOutstanding questionsgg

• Duplication of names in an area– Confusion of address for emergency services

• led to wasted time and loss of life

D li i• Delivery services– More efficient with clear and

unambiguous place namesunambiguous place names• savings of time and money

• Name changes• Name changes– Lack of information causes confusion in

communication (e.g. airline/railway/bus timetables)communication (e.g. airline/railway/bus timetables)

In concludingIn concludinggg

• Names are vital elements in accessing our digital world and also to preserving our cultures– standardized spelling and application are key to

i k d t f ieasy, quick and accurate referencing– providing benefits for all users - in government,

science education publicscience, education, public …– a process needs establishing in each country to

ensure standardized name information is il bl ti ll d i t ti llavailable nationally and internationally

– Standardized names are key to SDI