The Role of Geospatial Technology in Achieving the 2030 SDGs · UN technical and financial...

James L. Querry, Jr.

Program Director and Associate Professor

MS in Geospatial Technologies for Geodesign

STI Forum 2017United NationsNew York, NY

May 16, 2017

The Role of Geospatial Technology in Achieving the 2030 SDGs

What is GIS?• Technology• Intelligence (data)• Mapping• Analysis• Informed Decision-making

GIS can help to achieve the SDGs through:• Data Management• Analysis and Understanding• Enhanced Collaboration• Sustainable Design and Planning• Informed Decision-making

How?• Officials and Scientists can work together• Break down data silos and promote sharing• Citizen Engagement / Participation• UN Funding and Technical Assistance• Government Policy and Standards

Statistics

Information

Staten Island Case Study

Hurricane Sandy 2012 – Area of Inundation McHarg 1969 – “Areas Unsuitable for Urbanization”

Staten Island – Hurricane Sandy 2012

Eton Place, Staten Island - 1983

McHarg: “Unsuitability for Urbanization”

Staten Island – Hurricane Sandy 2012

Eton Place, Staten Island - 2012

Author(GIS Admin, Planners)

Serve(Web services and process automation)

Use(Sharing & Collaboration)

GovernmentAgencies

Approved Project

Content

Shared Content

GIS Data

Community Engagement

Geospatial Technology and Design Collaborators

Design Content

SDG Outcome

Collaboration and Citizen Engagement

• Online Mapping and Analysis• Robust GIS Database• Community Engagement• Online GIS Framework• Interactive Communication Platform

Proof of Concept: St. Raphael, Haiti

Integrating with the Sustainable

Development Goals

• In this diagram indicates how The Millennium

Earth Project can directly affect and address The

Sustainable Development Goals

• The SDGs are separated into tiers based on how

directly the goal can be addressed

• Red indicates goals which can be addressed

relatively directly as they deal with urban design

• Yellow indicates goals which can be analyzed

and addressed with secondary and tertiary

interventions.

info@consciousglobalchange.orgwww.consciousglobalchange.org@consciousglobal + facebook

Recommendations

1. UN technical and financial assistance:

• The UN should support the development of comprehensive, integrative

information systems, preferably utilizing GIS, geospatial technology and

geodesign processes to promote accomplishment of the SDGs

• The UN should assist governments and experts (scientists) to build

platforms for sharing information for planning, monitoring implementation,

and tracking accountability

2. Government data-sharing policies and practices:

• Governments should promote a comprehensive and integrated platform

for data sharing among all units and all stakeholders in society

(businesses, civil society organizations, and community-based

organizations)

• Governments should develop policies, provide information infrastructure

and develop education/training programs for helping officials and citizens

to use this government-wide and society-wide platform for sharing data

3. Government promotion of citizen engagement:

• Governments should promote citizen participation in the collection,

analysis and sharing of data from all sectors and between all levels

• Governments should provide ways for every person in society (no one is

left behind) to have a voice in the planning, monitoring implementation,

and accountability processes.