Who we Are What we are Doing

Harlan Onsrud, Executive Director (Interim)GSDI Association

http://gsdi.org

GSDI Defined:GSDI Defined:

The Global Spatial Data Infrastructure supports ready global access to geographic information …

… achieved through the coordinated actions of nations and organizations promoting awareness and implementation of complimentary policies, common standards and effective mechanisms for the development and availability of interoperable digital geographic data and technologies to support decision making at all scales for multiple purposes. global forum to support exchange of ideas and encourage joint activities at the global level

Global Spatial Data Global Spatial Data Infrastructure AssociationInfrastructure Association

… a global forum to support exchange of ideas and encourage joint activities at the global level

Members: Think global, act local Organization: Think local, act global

MeetingsMeetings

• GSDI 1 Bonn, Germany 4-6 Sept, 1996• GSDI 2 Chapel Hill, USA 20-21 Oct, 1997• GSDI 3 Canberra, Australia17-19 Nov, 1998• GSDI 4 Cape Town, South Africa13-15 Mar, 2000• GSDI 5 Cartagena, Colombia 21-24 May, 2001• GSDI 6 Budapest, Hungary 16-19 Sept, 2002• GSDI 7 Bangalore, India 30 Jan – 6 Feb, 2003• GSDI 8 Cairo, Egypt 16-21 April, 2005• GSDI 9 Santiago, Chile Nov 6-10, 2006• GSDI 10 St Augustine, Trinidad 25-29 Feb, 2008• GSDI 11 Rotterdam, Netherlands 15-19 June,

2009

While the primary work tends to be focused on addressing technical and policy issues, done within the context of important social goals.

Goal 6:• foster spatial data infrastructure developments in support of important worldwide needs such as:

-- improving local to national economic competitiveness,

-- addressing local to global environmental quality and change,

-- increasing efficiency, effectiveness, and equity in all levels of government, and

-- advancing the health, safety and social wellbeing of humankind in all

nations.

Non-Profit Organization- heavy focus on inclusiveness

and democratic processes

A. Membership- organizations and individuals - agencies (national to local), companies (all sizes), academic institutions, non-profits, individuals- dues scaled upon approximate ability to pay

B. Board of Directors (18 - most elected)(18 - most elected)

• Officers - President, President-elect, Past President

• Sectors – Industry, Government, Academia, Non-Profit

• Regions – Africa, Asia/Pacific, Europe, N. America, S. America

• Permanent Regional Committees – Europe, Africa, Americas, etc.

• International & Global Organizations - International Geographic Org., GSDI Related Global Initiative, International Industry Org.

Ex-Officio Members of Council

Ongoing Activities of Ongoing Activities of Interest to Developing Interest to Developing CountriesCountries• Newslist (news@gsdi.org - 3000 subscribers)• Monthly Regional Newsletters – Africa, Latin

America, Asia/Pacific (electronic)• Working Groups & Task Groups – Technical,

Legal & Economic, Standing Committees, etc. • Web Discussion Forums• Small Grants Program• Regular Global Mtgs plus Training Workshops• Affiliated Projects: ESRI Global Map, Intergraph

Open Interoperability Grant Program

Current Hot Projects (funded in budget)

Developing SDIs Best Practice Manual (i.e. SDI Cookbook)

- how to implement SDI concepts within any nation adhering to interoperable standards- ongoing international cooperative effort - version 2, Jan 2004, several languages - being rewritten again … recommended suites of software versions

Knowledge Portal for World’s Mapping Agencies SDIs

- self-reporting web form system published directly to web- who are the leading authorities in each nation? national, province and local - insider perspectives & updates on status of SDI developments in each nation - discussion lists for tech and resource transfer among agencies contact- online surveys of most pressing needs

Best Practices Task Group

Primary Literature: web form for reporting germane literature by academics with links/uploads, search

Best Ten Papers: nominations and peer assessment, each of several categories from research to applications to implementation descriptions, five-year assessment cycle

Prototype Web Hosting Service for Geodata Organizations in Developing Nations

- help develop initial content and easy update interfaces- help develop interactive capabilities for communicating over time (lists, wikis, blogs, etc) - host with stable electrical connections and tech support

Major Goal: - work with and mutually support other efforts in the geospatial organizational community

e-SDDC Action Lines and GSDI Cooperation/Collaboration 1. Think Tank Network

2. Scientific Data Center Network

3. Technology Transfer and Assistance Network

4. Online Training and Education Network

5. Data Applications Network

Join us at GSDI 10 St Augustine, Trinidad

25-29 Feb, 2008http://gsdi.org/gsdi10