The Importance of Geospatial at the United Nations
Article

The Importance of Geospatial at the United Nations

The Fifth Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) meeting was held at the UN HQ in New York during August 2015. James Norris explains the background to this significant body and the role of Ordnance Survey Great Britain.

The UN-GGIM (United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management) is a formal part of the United Nations system with a mandate from the Economic and Social Council.

The committee operates at a political rather than an organisational level and attendees are nominated by and represent their Member States. The UK delegation comprised Peter ter Haar (Ordnance Survey), Ian Coady (Office of National Statistics) and James Norris. Other UK representatives included Vanessa Lawrence (Co-Chair of UN-GGIM) and Louise Brooke-Smith (Immediate Past-President, RICS). Another UK attendee was Andy Coote.

UN-GGIM provides a forum for discussions at a strategic level on topics relevant to the global geospatial industry, such as legal and policy frameworks, international standards, the global geodetic reference frame, etc. It is now in its fifth year of existence. Over this time, we at OS have taken the lead in coordinating activities. This has included working very closely with colleagues across government, both in Whitehall and at the UK Mission to the United Nations in New York, to ensure that the UK is properly represented.

Wide Consultation

The meeting follows a set agenda, with formal papers published ahead of time. We consulted with a range of key stakeholders, including central government departments, the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Assemblies, RICS, the AGI and UK industry. The Policy and Engagement Team at OS then drew all the responses together into briefing notes, which were used during the session. Some topics have wide scope and potential impact, so a considered and balanced approach was taken, reflecting the views of the wider UK.

During the Session, agenda topics are introduced, either by leaders of the Working Groups, or by Member States with a significant interest in the topic. The floor is then opened up for general debate and discussion. Formal interventions can be made by representatives of Member States and this is where the briefing notes come in.

Areas of Progress

UN-GGIM has made significant progress on a number of topics, including the adoption of a UN General Assembly Resolution for a Global Geodetic Reference Frame. The resolution is the first of its kind to be agreed by the UN and recognises the global importance of location and positioning for many different areas of development. Also adopted at the meeting were important guidelines for international geospatial standards, and examples of good practice. This is an area where the UK, through its work with OS International and the Kingdom of Bahrain, was cited as a global example of cooperation and partnership.

Other key achievements relate to sustainable development and the post 2015-sustainable development agenda, as well as the application of geospatial information to land administration and management. Both of these provide opportunities for the UK to be active as a thought-leader.

Future Trends

Another topic for discussion was the adoption of the second edition of the report “Future trends in geospatial information management: the five to ten-year vision”. The first edition was published in 2013 and at its fourth session the Committee decided that an update should be completed last year. Like the first edition, the second was collated and edited by OS.

As well as exploring new areas, the 2015 edition highlights changes to the trends identified in the original report, showing how the role of government is changing and documenting the increasing role of data collection technologies and processes. It observes that in a world which is increasingly driven by the consumer, the most significant geospatial information changes will not come through singular technologies, rather the linking of multiple technologies and policies. The updated report explores these ideas through a series of themes, focusing on four emerging and developing trends:

  • Artificial intelligence and Big Data;
  • Internet of things and smart cities;
  • Integration of statistics and geospatial information; and,
  • Indoor and outdoor mapping.

 

Lawrence Steps Down 

It would not be right to finish this report without mentioning the work over the last five years of OS’s former CEO, Vanessa Lawrence, who stepped down from the role of co-chair at this meeting, a position she has held since 2011. In recognition of her work, a certificate of appreciation was presented by the UN’s under-secretary-general of the department of economic and social affairs, Mr Wu Hongbo.

UN-GGIM continues to grow in both reach and influence across both the UN system, national organisations and governments. It was an honour to be part of the UK delegation to again this year, and we look forward to working with other government departments and organisations in the year to come as the UK continues its support for such important work.

The full list of topics, and the papers discussed can be found at http://ggim.un.org/ggim_committee.html

Observer’s View

Andy Coote was also there as an observer – his organisation ConsultingWhere being closely involved with National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) development in a number of countries. He comments: “This was the first GGIM meeting in the UN that I have attended. Despite being very formal and bureaucratic in official sessions, the side meetings and networking sessions allowed observers to get their views across too. The big prize being talked about was GGIM becoming a commission of equal status to the status of statistics. Whether or not this happens we will know in April 2016 but one thing is for sure, GGIM has usefully increased the awareness of things geospatial in the UN which can’t help but be good for all of us.”

This article was published in Geomatics World January/February 2016

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