JOINT ACTION PLAN TO EXPEDITE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE AMERICAS

Transcription

1 Joint Action Plan to Expedite the Development of Spatial Data Infrastructure of the Americas The Pan American Institute of Geography and History (PAIGH) The Geocentric Reference System for the Americas (SIRGAS) The Permanent Committee on Spatial Data Infrastructure for the Americas (PC-IDEA) The CAF/PAIGH Geospatial Network for Latin America and the Caribbean (GeoSUR) JOINT ACTION PLAN TO EXPEDITE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE AMERICAS Santiago Borrero, Secretary General, PAIGH Claudio Brunini, President, SIRGAS Luiz Paulo Souto Fortes, President, PC-IDEA Eric van Praag, Regional Coordinator, GeoSUR Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 15, IPGH, SIRGAS, CP-IDEA, CAF/IPGH-GEOSUR

2 Joint Action Plan to Expedite the Development of Spatial Data Infrastructure of the Americas Joint Action Plan to Expedite the Development of Spatial Data Infrastructure of the Americas by Pan American Institute of Geography and History is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at PAIGH, SIRGAS, PC-IDEA, GEOSUR The final version is also available in Spanish and Portuguese. Any use of information contained herein must be identified as follows: PAIGH, SIRGAS, PC-IDEA, GeoSUR Joint Action Plan to Expedite the Development of Spatial Data Infrastructure of the Americas, PAIGH, Mexico City,

3 Joint Action Plan to Expedite the Development of Spatial Data Infrastructure of the Americas Content Acknowledgements... 5 Executive Summary... 7 I. Introduction... 9 II. Institutional Framework 1. The Pan American Institute of Geography and History (PAIGH) The Geocentric Reference System for the Americas (SIRGAS) The Permanent Committee on Geospatial Data Infrastructure for the Americas (PC-IDEA) The CAF/PAIGH Geospatial Network for Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF/PAIGH-GeoSUR Program) III. Common SDI Elements in the PAIGH, SIRGAS, PC-IDEA and GeoSUR Work Plans: The Interrelationship of the Actions Plans for SDI-Related Initiatives 1. From the PAIGH's Perspective From the SIRGAS' Perspective From the PC-IDEA's Perspective From the GeoSUR's Perspective IV Joint Action Plan PAIGH Proposals SIRGAS Proposals PC-IDEA Proposals GeoSUR Proposals PAIGH-SIRGAS-PC-IDEA-GeoSUR Joint Action Plan Acronyms References IPGH, SIRGAS, CP-IDEA, CAF/IPGH-GEOSUR

4 Joint Action Plan to Expedite the Development of Spatial Data Infrastructure of the Americas 4

5 Joint Action Plan to Expedite the Development of Spatial Data Infrastructure of the Americas Acknowledgements The authors of this institutional document would like to thank the collaborators who contributed to its preparation. Particularly: Claudia Ulloa, Head of Statutory Meetings at the PAIGH; Laura Sánchez, Vice President of the SIRGAS and, on behalf of the PC-IDEA, Esteban Tohá, Vice President, Valéria Araújo, Executive Secretary and Álvaro Monett, Coordinator of the GTplan. The trilingual edition has been possible thanks to the editorial coordination services of Julieta García, Head of Publications. Angel de la Cruz, PAIGH, designed the cover and was responsible for formatting the text. The English translation is the work of Teresa Flores and the Portuguese translation is the work of Valéria Oliveira Henrique de Araújo. In the case of the Portuguese edition, Anna Maria dos Santos, Cristina Ramos Carlos de Carvalho and Katia Domingos Vieira poofread and edited the text. Moema Jose de Carvalho Augusto provided the technical consulting services for the translation. All the latter are officers of the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics). Santiago Borrero, Secretary General, PAIGH Claudio Brunini, President, SIRGAS Luiz Paulo Souto Fortes, President, PC-IDEA Eric van Praag, Coordinator, GeoSUR IPGH, SIRGAS, CP-IDEA, CAF/IPGH-GEOSUR

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7 Executive Summary As part of the endeavor to develop the data infrastructure of the Americas, the regional entities that play a key role in its consolidation (the Pan American Institute of Geography and History - PAIGH, the Geocentric Reference System for the Americas - SIRGAS, the Permanent Committee on Geospatial Data Infrastructure for the Americas - PC-IDEA and the Geospatial Network for Latin America and the Caribbean - GeoSUR) would like to submit this document to the specialized community. Its main aim is to harmonize efforts and work plans, foster specialization and avoid duplication, as well as to prepare relevant institutions for the constant technological changes and innovations that take place in this field of development. As is the case of the Internet, the purpose is not to bring about a new form of governance of regional SDI rather to consolidate a widely distributed system of responsibilities, while respecting the necessary independence of the parties. This effort seeks to consolidate: the role of the PAIGH as a key facilitator of regional processes and as a capacity builder in keeping with the nature of its Commission on Cartography; the function of the SIRGAS as undisputed supplier of geodetic reference frames for the region; the enormous responsibility of the PC-IDEA as steward of regional and institutional policies and direct liaison with the United Nations and the role of the GeoSUR as developer of services and applications built on institutional and regional spatial databases. All of this is achieved in this Joint Action Plan, which was created by comparing the features of each organization, their functions, work plans and, above all, their institutional projection. Underlying this undertaking is the consensus among the leaders of the four participating agencies that the SDI of the Americas will not become a tangible and sustainable reality as a result of individual actions, rather as the result of the united and coordinated actions of all parties, as requested by its members. This is also an exercise that considers the global connections of each agency, as is the case of the PAIGH and its role as liaison with several international organizations; the SIRGAS with the IAG; the PC-IDEA and its close relationship with the UN (particularly with the regional system of cartographic conferences and the GGIM) and the GeoSUR with the Conference and the Eye on Earth network. 7

8 This document was first submitted to the Directing Council of the PAIGH at its 44th Meeting held in Argentina and will now be submitted to the corresponding authorities of the SIRGAS, the PC-IDEA and the GeoSUR for its incorporation and in order to share it with the entire international community so its application can be the result of the collective effort that is required to spatially enable all the peoples of the Americas. From left to right: Eric van Praag, Coordinator of the GeoSUR Program; Valeria Araujo, Executive Secretary of the PC-IDEA, representing the President of the PC-IDEA; Claudio Brunini, President of the SIRGAS and Santiago Borrero, Secretary General of the PAIGH The representatives of the PAIGH, SIRGAS, PC-IDEA and GeoSUR signed the joined action document on November 15, 2012 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, during the 44th Meeting of the Directing Council of the PAIGH 8

9 I. INTRODUCTION By its very nature, the building of Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) is a long term, dynamic process that combines concepts, methods, cultural and institutional issues, as well scientific and technological resources, capital and specialists in order to be able to put spatial information at the service of development at different scales. 1 The construction of the regional infrastructure of the Americas is framed within these parameters, as indicated in the most recent diagnosis of the PC-IDEA (GTPlan). 2 This process is unquestionably not an easy one, as is also the case in other regions such as Africa or Asia and the Pacific. Although the regional or supranational level is perhaps the hardest to advance, it is important to acknowledge the progress achieved in Europe with its INSPIRE initiative. 3 In the Americas, the creation of regional SDI has been going on for more than 15 years with efforts being undertaken by several sectors. The following is a brief overview of the highlights of that process: the establishment of the SIRGAS at the International Conference to Define a Geocentric Reference System for South America held in Asuncion (Paraguay, 1993); the creation of the Inter-American Geospatial Data Network (IGDN) in 1995; the resolutions adopted by the four United Nations Regional Cartographic Conferences for the Americas which have been held quadrennially since 1997; the February 2000 agreement signed in Bogota (Colombia) in which 21 nations from the American continent created the PC-IDEA; the resolutions of the Meeting of Consultation of the Commission on Cartography held in 2001 and 2005 and the 18th General Assembly of the PAIGH (Venezuela, 2005), the Development of Spatial Data Infrastructure for the Americas Declaration by the Directing Council of the PAIGH issued in Bogota in 2007 and the PAIGH Pan American Agenda ; The Inter-American Science and Technology Program of the Organization of American States - OAS (Peru, 2003) which incorporates the Initiative for Hemispheric Cooperation in the Field of Geographic Information for the Comprehensive Development of the Americas and Resolution 2328 of the 37th General Assembly of the OAS (Panama, 2007); the signing of the collaboration agreement between the CAF (Development Bank of Latin America) and the PAIGH to coordinate the GeoSUR Program established in Brasilia, Brazil in March 2007; the publication of the family of rules of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in Spanish in 2011 and the World Conferences of the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Association (GSDI) held in the region (Colombia, 2001; Chile, 2006, Trinidad and Tobago, 2008 and Canada, 2012) Definition of SDI: "The Global Spatial Data Infrastructure supports ready global access to geographic information. This is achieved through the coordinated actions of nations and organizations that promote 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. These actions encompass the policies, organizational remits, data, technologies, standards, delivery mechanisms, and financial and human resources necessary to ensure that those working at the global and regional scale are not impeded in meeting their objectives" < < < 9

10 The truth is that there is still much to be done and that those who have been called upon to hasten this process are the directing boards and active members of the authentically regional initiatives that sustain and project themselves in the Americas, as is the case of the Commission on Cartography of the PAIGH, the SIRGAS, the PC-IDEA and the GeoSUR. To this end, the support of the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), the United Nations Regional Cartographic Conference for the Americas and the PAIGH is essential. 4 The case of the PAIGH is unique. As the specialized body of the OAS in charge of the spatial component it has, for years, assisted its Member States with their efforts to establish SDI at the national and regional level through their National Geographic Institutes and the creation and development of the SIRGAS, the PC-IDEA and the GeoSUR. Nonetheless, aside from the important task undertaken by the PAIGH Commission on Cartography since 1946, the role of the PAIGH has fundamentally been, and in the future it shall consolidate itself as, that of a key facilitator of regional processes and as a promoter of the capacity building required by the leadership and nature of the SIRGAS, the PC-IDEA and the GeoSUR as pillars of SDI in the Americas. It is within this context, and in order to hasten the development and construction of SDI in the Americas, that this policy document is being submitted to the specialized community. Its purpose is to harmonize the efforts and work plans of these initiatives, foster the specialization of each of them, avoid duplications and prepare relevant players and institutions for constant technological changes and innovations, such as cloud data warehousing, crowdsourcing and to highlight the importance of sharing, reusing and interoperating spatial data at the regional scale. These actions will lead to the consolidation of SDI as an increasingly efficient mechanism for decision-making, regional integration and growing the infrastructure required for the sustainable development of the Americas. In this scenario, the undisputed function of the SIRGAS, for example, as supplier of geodetic reference frames for the region, the responsibility of the PC-IDEA as regional policy steward and direct link with the United Nations system 5 and the role of the GeoSUR as outstanding developer of applications and regional spatial databases viewers is patently clear. This document, which was initially submitted to the Directing Council of the PAIGH at its 44th Meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina, will be put forward to the corresponding authorities of the SIRGAS, the PC-IDEA and the GeoSUR for its incorporation and shall be shared with the community of specialists in the Americas to contribute resolutely to the achievement of one of our main priorities which is to, our cultural diversity notwithstanding, spatially enable all the peoples of the Americas 4 5 In this process it is essential to have the general support of regional and global multilateral cooperation agencies, as is the case of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the World Bank and international associations involved with spatial information such as the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), the International Cartographic Association (ICA), the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) and others that are equally material. Most recently, also with the United Nations Initiative on Global Geospatial Information Management < 10

11 II. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK Below is a summary of the institutions responsible for the Joint Plan of Action and the initiative. Additional information regarding the participating agencies can be found at the link provided at the end of each section. 1. The Pan American Institute of Geography and History (PAIGH) The PAIGH was founded on February 7, 1928 at the Sixth International Conference of the Americas held in Havana, Cuba. In January 1949, upon the signing of an agreement with the Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) it became the first specialized body of the Inter - American system. The PAIGH is an inter-governmental agency with the main purpose of fostering, coordinating and disseminating the research and work carried out by specialists in the fields of cartography, geography, geophysics and history; encourage cooperation among specialized institutions of the Americas and international organizations, as well as to provide technical cooperation in the four areas mentioned above. The following is its organizational structure: a General Assembly, a Directing Council, Commissions and National Sections in each Member State. The General Secretariat is the main and permanent organ of the PAIGH and is headquartered in Mexico City. Through the Commission on Cartography and the Technical Assistance Program the PAIGH contributes to the development of the spatial component of the Inter - American system. To that end, in 2003 it set up the Hemispheric Cooperation Initiative in the Field of Geographical Information for the Comprehensive Development of the Americas which is part of the Inter- American Science and Technology Program (Peru, 2003). Subsequently, in Resolution 2328, the 37th General Assembly of the OAS (Panama, 2007) stated the role the PAIGH would play in the consolidation of the territorial databases of each country as part of the infrastructure that is necessary for social and economic development in the Americas. Based on this Resolution, a new decennial plan for the development of the PAIGH was created and a Declaration entitled The Development of Spatial Data Infrastructure in the Americas (Colombia, 2007) was issued. The PAIGH s current strategic plan, the PAIGH Pan American Agenda (Ecuador, 2009), states that one of its main goals is to consolidate the role of the Institute as an identifier and coordinator of regional and institutional competencies, backing and steadfastly participating in the execution of regional initiatives such as the SIRGAS, the PC-IDEA and the GeoSUR Program. To strengthen the PAIGH as the natural Pan American regional forum for the advancement of geographic information in its Member States, among other actions it also promotes and backs the modernization programs of the geographic institutes responsible for national cartography including the scheduled development of fundamental spatial databases and their interoperability, human resource training and certification of international rules and standards. All these processes are essential to the development of the Spatial Data Infrastructure of the Americas. For more information: < 11

12 Organigrama IPGH 12

13 2. The Geocentric Reference System for the Americas (SIRGAS, in Spanish) The SIRGAS was created at the International Conference to Define a Geocentric Reference System for South America held in 1993 in Asuncion (Paraguay) in order to undertake the task mentioned in the name of the conference, which ultimately led to the acronym (in Spanish) that identified the initiative and that was backed by the majority of the countries of South America. Later, the last two letters went from standing for South America (in Spanish) to standing for the Americas (in Spanish) with the incorporation in 2000 of Mexico and the countries of Central America and the Caribbean and at the recommendation of the United Nations at its Seventh Cartographic Conference for the Americas (New York, U.S.A., January 22-26, 2001), stipulating the adoption of the SIRGAS as the official reference system for all the countries of the Americas. The SIRGAS is sponsored by the PAIGH, where it is part of a Working Group in the Commission on Cartography and by the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), where it is part of Commission I (Reference Frames). It operates with material and human resources contributed by more than 50 entities and with grants from the sponsoring institutions. Institutionally, it is governed by a statute which is complied with by the Executive Committee. Said Committee is replaced every four years. With the assistance of its Scientific Council, the Committee complies with its mission to execute the policies defined by the main body of the organization, that is to say, the Directing Council, which consists of a representative from each member country (to date, nineteen) and one from each sponsoring agency. Its tasks focus on three working groups: I) Reference System, II) SIRGAS in the National Sphere, and III) Vertical Datum. The guiding vision of the SIRGAS is to consolidate, in all its member states, a geodetic vanguard at an international scientific level, based on collective efforts that guarantee the availability of the most accurate georeference base possible in any part of the region and at any point in time. Its mission, which arises from said vision, is to create and make available for Latin America and the Caribbean, geodetic data and products that contribute to understanding the complex and changing relationship between humans and nature. Its current main goal is to define, bring to fruition and maintain a three - dimensional geocentric reference system for the Americas (including a vertical reference system linked to the Earth s gravity field) that provides: i) the basic layer in the generation, management and application of spatial data (SDIs) and derivative products and ii) the basis to measure, monitor, model and understand the geodynamic and climate change processes that affect the region. By means of its working groups, the SIRGAS continuously conducts a variety of activities including: i) the creation of a continentally and globally accurate and consistent vertical reference system linked to the Earth s gravity field, which requires an analysis of the level and gravity nets of all Latin-American countries, together with tide gage and ocean satellite altimetry observations; ii) assistance with the establishment of national reference frames linked to the SIRGAS in those countries which have still not done so (to date, Guyana, Guatemala and Honduras) and in order to implement advanced positioning techniques (such as real-time positioning); iii) continually updating conventions and models used to make the products the SIRGAS places at the disposal of the community; iv) studies aimed at better understanding global change, such as the production of maps of atmospheric variables and monitoring sea levels by means of GNSS-based tide gauges; v) providing permanent technical assistance to a large 13

14 community close to the SIRGAS and the Organization of American States, through the PAIGH, to resolve border differences. These are all long-term activities and are conducted with the backing of the PAIGH and the IAG, on an ongoing basis, under the coordination of the Directing Council and with the participation, in the Working Groups, of scientists and technicians not only from the 19 Latin American and Caribbean countries that constitute it but also from transcontinental agencies, especially the Deutches Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut (DGFI). For more information: < Figure 2 Geocentric Reference System for the Americas (SIRGAS) Organization Chart 14

15 3. The Permanent Committee on Geospatial Data Infrastructure for the Americas (PC-IDEA) The creation of the Permanent Committee on Geospatial Data Infrastructure for the Americas (PC-IDEA) was in response to the need to comply with Resolutions 3 and 4 of the United Nations Sixth Regional Cartographic Conference for the Americas (UNRCC-A) which refer to the need to establish a permanent SDI committee for the Americas, national SDIs and to count on the involvement of all the member states in the Committee. The Permanent Committee was established by means of a provisional agreement signed by 21 countries of the Americas on February 29, 2000 in Bogota, Colombia. On that occasion an agreement was reached that the Committee would encourage the participation of all the countries of the Americas in developing the Regional Spatial Data Infrastructure. The PC-IDEA currently has 24 member states from South, Central and North America, as well as the Caribbean. In addition to the members of the Committee, PC-IDEA has a Directing Council that consists of a President, Vice- President, an Executive Secretary and four representatives (to the extent possible, of the four sub-regions of the Americas mentioned above). The Permanent Committee operates under the guidance of the UNRCC-A and submits its recommendations and corresponding report of activities to it. The general objective of the PC-IDEA is to maximize the economic, social and environmental benefits of using geospatial information, thanks to the knowledge and exchange of experiences and technologies from different countries, based on common standards, which allow for the establishment of Geospatial Data Infrastructure for the Americas. This objective and the corresponding goals are aligned with the principles of Agenda 21 of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, the 2002 Johannesburg Summit 2002 and the resolution regarding global management of geographic information agreed to at the 2009 Asia and Pacific Regional Conference. At the Ninth UNRCC-A, the new officers were elected and the resolutions guiding the activities undertaken by the PC-IDEA for this period were approved, such as:: The preparation of a work plan The creation of working groups to implement the plan The establishment of mechanisms to build spatial data infrastructures A new study on the status of cartography, by country and region The creation of a forum to exchange recommended practices in spatial data infrastructure The organization of an event to discuss disaster risk management and spatial data infrastructure and Assisting with spatial data infrastructure in the developing countries of the Americas, particularly the Caribbean 15

16 During the 5th meeting of the Directing Council of the PC-IDEA held in May 2010 in New York, the Working Group for Planning was created (GTplan, in Spanish), which has the task of evaluating and going into the details of the recommendations of the Ninth UNRCC-A. Below are the more relevant objectives for August 2013, which resulted from the activities included in the work plan created by the GTplan: Implement a training observatory to allow access to current courses and channel existing demand, as well as to conclude the training plan for the Americas Define the core standards for the Americas Draft the PC-IDEA SDI Manual, including guidelines to assess the social and economic impact of SDI Conduct a study of the institutional models of national geographic institutes and the agencies responsible for national SDIs, in order to identify their strengths and weaknesses Design the new website, with the capacity to implement the discussion forum mentioned in the resolutions of the Ninth UNRCC-A, including the SDI Observatory for the Americas In order to provide support to the Work Plan prepared by the GTplan, one of the main products of the PC-IDEA for 2011, a diagnosis was made of the subjects that are relevant to SDI in the member states, including capacity building, technical rules and specifications, good practices, innovations in national geographic institutes and an evaluation of the development of SDI. A survey shall be conducted in 2013, at a reduced scale, to monitor the progress of SDI in the countries that are a part of the Permanent Committee. So as to comply with the Fifth Resolution of the Ninth UNRCC-A, a symposium entitled Using SDI to Manage Natural Disaster Risks was held during the Second Latin American Geospatial Forum (LAGF 2012), in August 2012 in Rio de Janeiro. The main objective of this event was to offer an opportunity to exchange concepts and experiences in the drawing up, development and progress of the components of SDI to manage natural disaster risks, emphasizing the use of geospatial information. Recommendations arose from this event which will be available shortly and will be added to other existing initiatives in the Americas regarding this issue, in order to trigger more effective actions on the subject. It is important to mention that the PC-IDEA work plan will be linked to the resolutions of the Tenth UNRCC-A, which will be held in August 2013 in New York. For more information: < 16

17 4. The CAF/PAIGH Geospatial Network for Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF/PAIGH-GeoSUR Program) CAF s experience as a development bank has shown that planning investments in physical infrastructure projects for local economic development and for the integration of Latin America and the Caribbean requires adequate access to properly constituted, georeferenced and standardized spatial information. The information has to be readily and easily available to planners and decision makers so as to foster its correct use and incorporation at each stage of the planning processes of investment projects. In order to service this identified need, in 2000 the CAF developed the Condor Program, its first IT tool aimed at identifying and preventing the main environmental and social impacts associated with large infrastructure projects in the Andean region. 17

18 In 2007, as a natural evolution to that line of action, an initiative was created to develop the GeoSUR Program. The Program, lead by the CAF and the Pan American Institute of Geography and History (PAIGH) places geographic information from Latin America and the Caribbean, which is useful to plan and analyze development activities, at the disposal of the public. Web services developed or sponsored by GeoSUR provide access to official maps, aerial photos and geographic data prepared by geographic information creators in the fields of topography, hydrology, population, human settlements, environment and infrastructure, among others. GeoSUR provides geographic services on a Web platform that lets users obtain, locate, consult, manipulate and analyze spatial information on Latin-American countries. Access to services is free of charge and does not require installing special software. GeoSUR services have been developed with the assistance of several specialized agencies including the U.S. Geological Survey, The National Geographic Institute of Spain and the Agustín Coddazi Geographic Institute in Colombia, in addition to the aid of several other geographic institutes in the region. Currently, among the Program s achievements are the development of the first regional geographic portal for Latin America and the Caribbean and the start up of a topographic processing service that is the first of its type in the world because of its geographic reach and high resolution. More than sixty regional and national institutions participate in the Program. At present, more than 140 map services from 35 participating institutions are available for searches in the GeoSUR portal, together with more than 11 descriptive bibliographic records on existing spatial data. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has embraced the model implemented by the GeoSUR Program and believes it can be replicated in other regions of the world. It facilitated resources to prepare a report assessing the achievements of the Program, 6 as part of the Eye on Earth Summit in Abu Dhabi in December GeoSUR is considering extending its scope between by incorporating currently underrepresented sectors such as health, education and academia. During said period new spatial data will be added to the regional geoservices and improvements will be made to include issues related to territorial ordering, adaptation to climate change and monitoring of forests. For more information: < 6 < 18

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20 III. COMMON SDI ELEMENTS IN THE PAIGH, SIRGAS, PC-IDEA AND GEOSUR WORK PLANS 1. The Interrelationship of the Action Plans for SDI Related Initiatives from the PAIGH s Perspective From the standpoint of the PAIGH and especially the components of its action plan entitled the PAIGH Pan American Agenda (Ecuador, 2009), the Institute prioritizes the development of regional spatial data infrastructure and its elements since they are associated with the essential goals of the Agenda from a continental, multidisciplinary and regional integration vision, thematically focusing on climate change, territorial ordering and disasterrelated actions. Within this context and in a two - way relationship, the PAIGH and its specialized Commissions are interested in backing the progress of the SIRGAS, PC-IDEA and GeoSUR because they allow it to consolidate its natural role as coordinator of regional initiatives and capacity - builder at the Pan American level. The PAIGH has not only been directly involved in the conception, launching and development of these three initiatives but, in the case of SDI, it has backed more than 60 related projects with a total investment of more than US$1.5 million, making it the main party interested in avoiding duplication, identifying projects that add value to efforts and carrying out a program that is consistent with the action plans of the SIRGAS, PC-IDEA and GeoSUR, respecting the special features of each initiative. In the case of SIRGAS, its very existence, backed since the beginning by the PAIGH (together with the IAG), corresponds to an activity that is directly related to the development of SDI in the region. It is essential as it provides the geodetic framework that is indispensable for georeferencing spatial data, which is a multinational initiative. The current SIRGAS work program, which focuses on developing and maintaining a precision vertical reference system, that is consistent at the continental and global scale, as well as maintaining the continental geocentric reference frame, are key for the quality of spatial data. From the point of view of capacity building, the SIRGAS has been persistent with its work plans, especially as regards its training activities and work method, which prioritizes densification and maintenance of geodetic data. Since 1995 the PAIGH has backed 18 projects connected to the SIRGAS, with a direct contribution from the Institute valued at US$112,648 and a total worth of US$276,348, including compensation. Insofar as the GeoSUR Program is concerned, developed as a collaborative effort by the CAF and the PAIGH, the Geospatial Network for Latin America and the Caribbean s work plans contribute directly to the implementation of the Agenda of the Institute. It facilitates access and application of fundamental spatial databases available in the region and helps with capacity - building in the institutes responsible for national cartography in terms of training their human resources and aiding their functional and technological modernization. In the implementation process structural SDI issues have come to the fore, such as the application of international standards and the consolidation of geospatial metadata catalogues. In this context, and as part of the action plans, a closer relationship with SIRGAS could be established to take advantage of its condition as provider for the regional geodetic control network. 20

21 As for the PC-IDEA, aside from the fact that the PAIGH made a financial contribution towards its establishment because it believed it was important to set up a technical committee to develop SDI in the region, with the PC-IDEA work plan (February 2012 version) it deems the proposed collaboration to be even more significant not only because the efforts of both organizations complement each other but, above all, because of the economies of scale that would be achieved by avoiding existing duplications in human resources, activities and results. Many projects that have already been executed and those that are under way in the region would stand to benefit if the PC-IDEA Program is achieved, unless we wish to go back to square one on subjects such as standards, analyses of institutional frameworks and specific applications. Take, for example, the fact that in 2010 the ISO and the PAIGH published a first edition of the ISO TC/211 Standards Guide (Guía de Normas ISO TC/211, in Spanish) available through the PAIGH at no cost and with no restrictions regarding use. Currently, the Group to Harmonize Rules and Standards, which came about from the R31Geo collaboration, is in the process of preparing the second edition, which will be ready in When the PC-IDEA Rules and Specifications Working Group proposes to have a set of standards and technical specifications applicable to the region on the whole, regardless of the specifics of each nation we are assuming it does not mean it will start from square one, rather that it will embrace the work carried out by the other organizations so as to ensure the goal of having PC-IDEA specifications ready for 03/30/13 is not only feasible but that the proposed specifications are also consistent with ISO international standards and the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). Building data infrastructure in the region is a dynamic process that is constantly evolving and is not controlled from above. It is the result of practices, concepts and projects undertaken by academia, consultants, the industry, national stakeholders and specialized institutes. 2. The Interrelationship of the Action Plans for SDI Related Initiatives from the SIRGAS Perspective The institutional framework of the SIRGAS is based on two complimentary paradigms: that established by the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) for its Global Geodetic Observing System and that defined by the PAIGH in its Pan American Agenda. The first refers to the international scientific and technological vanguard in the field of geodesy, whereas the second emphasizes the use of geodetic knowledge and technologies to improve territorial ordering in the region, mitigate the effect of disasters and deal with global climate change processes. Within that context, SIRGAS conceptualizes itself as a bridge which, when travelled in one direction way, fosters the participation of the region on the international geodetic front and, when travelled in the opposite direction, ensures that cutting - edge scientific knowledge is translated into concrete solutions for the geodetic-based problems of the region. 21

22 Ever since the SIRGAS was established as a Pan American initiative in 1993, the PAIGH has given it its uninterrupted backing. It has done so in two complimentary and equally relevant manners: by means of regular grants, which SIRGAS has applied almost exclusively to facilitating scientific and academic exchanges that have benefitted many institutions in almost all the countries of Latin America and, most recently, the Caribbean; and by means of providing ongoing intellectual support when championing SIRGAS vis a vis the geographic institutes and other government agencies of the Pan American community. This support has proven key to turning SIRGAS into the main forum of debate and chief communicator of the progress achieved by geodesy in Latin America and the Caribbean (with annual meetings, schools and workshops which, on average, assemble 200 participants). The SIRGAS is the principal coordinator of the geodetic activities carried out by the geographic institutes and other government agencies in the region. The following brief digression will provide the conceptual background into the type of relationship the SIRGAS envisions with the sister initiatives of the PC-IDEA and GeoSUR. It is hard to refrain from the temptation to use the imagery of layers piled on top of each other if we were to describe a logo to identify SDI. Yet said image, which so clearly synthesizes the fundamental concept of SDI, makes no mention of how to align the layers so they can be placed on top of each other. It is often said that this can be achieved through georeferencing but, although that condition is necessary, it is not enough to guarantee alignment of the layers. It is also essential that georeferencing of layers be done with regard to a single reference frame, which is the fundamental layer of SDI. The reference frame for Latin America and the Caribbean is provided by SIRGAS. Whereas the mission of the PC-IDEA is to promote the development of SDI in the Americas and that of GeoSUR is to facilitate access to and management of geospatial information, SIRGAS is to coordinate the efforts of more than fifty institutions in 20 countries to provide products, data, knowledge and services to georeference SDI in the Americas. The main product SIRGAS offers is a reference frame capable of supporting all the demands of SDI (from low precision georeferencing for mapping purposes, to the millimetric positioning required to study global change). With over 200 Continuously Operating GNSS stations, SIRGAS provides data that facilitate georeferencing, including real-time applications. SIRGAS fosters the permanent modernization of the communities that generate and use geospatial information by means of activities that range from the production of standards and technical specifications to training courses. In addition, the SIRGAS analysis centers produce maps describing tectonic activity, atmospheric variability or variations in sea level, all of which are necessary to understanding global change. As mentioned above, SIRGAS views itself as a provider of useful or indispensable input and knowledge so the PC-IDEA and the GeoSUR can achieve their mandates. Likewise, SIRGAS needs the PC-IDEA and the GeoSUR so a consensus can be reached to use the SIRGAS (or, equivalently, the national reference frames linked to the SIRGAS) as the sole reference frame for SDI in the Americas. This would encompasses everything from drafting technical recommendations, standards and specifications all the way to the coordination of a clear message of support to the SIRGAS as the sole reference system to guarantee the best use of SDI in the Americas. 22

23 3. The Interrelationship of the Action Plans for SDI Related Initiatives from the PC-IDEA s Perspective As a result of the review of the institutional frameworks of the four regional initiatives mentioned in Chapter II of this document, the vision of the PC-IDEA is that they all contribute to the development of the Geospatial Data Infrastructure for the Americas and the national processes to implement their SDIs from their specific spheres of action. All the programs and initiatives involved in the creation of the joint work plan are linked to one or more components of a SDI (in bold below). There are some very clearly defined parts (that complement each other, which is very important) and certain subject matters where we must encourage collaborative efforts to achieve synergies based on individual contributions. Bearing in mind the current mission, objectives and activities mentioned in Chapter II, it is evident that the PAIGH is closely linked to the development of the fundamental data of the countries in the region, aiding with the consolidation of fundamental geospatial databases, consulting on the modernization programs of national geographic institutes regarding these matters, fostering research and promoting cooperation among specialized institutions. The PAIGH also focuses on interoperational objectives, advancing and certifying standards and pushing for training of human resources. GeoSUR provides the distribution platform to facilitate access to and use of regional geospatial information by means of geographic services to obtain, locate, consult, manipulate and analyze information on Latin American countries, currently extending its sphere of action to Central America and the Caribbean. In this, GeoSUR could even cover all the countries of the continent, collecting sets of relevant data from the portals of Canada and the United States. SIRGAS also makes a significant contribution to the development of the fundamental data of the region in its objective of crystallizing and maintaining the three - dimensional geocentric reference system of the Americas to provide the fundamental layer of SDI of the continent. The current objectives and activities of the PC-IDEA are focused on encouraging and strengthening SDI, in terms of their legal framework, policies and plans, capacity building and standards by informing about good practices, publishing technical documents, implementing Web platforms (SDI Observatory and Training Observatory) and implementing a manual on SDI for the Americas. Another relevant line of work is that of monitoring and following - up on the member states in terms of the progress achieved on each of the aforementioned SDI components. In light of the above, it is the opinion of the PC-IDEA that the joint work plan should bolster the roles and functions that each of the four regional organizations, or initiatives, are currently undertaking: the PAIGH and SIRGAS, in conjunction with the national geographic institutes, focusing on having a standardized geospatial database for the entire region, with a sole reference system, satisfying quality and interoperability objectives; GeoSUR, promoting the 23

24 geoportal of the Americas, expanding its network of services and the diversity of layers of information on the countries in the region thanks to streamlined coordination (backed by the PAIGH and the PC-IDEA) with all the nations in the region; and PC-IDEA, supporting and following - up on national processes related to all the components of SDI, promoting the exchange of information amongst countries and fostering their use in national, regional, and global decision - making, within the context of its connection to the UN. The issues that these four regional organizations, or initiatives, have in common, in the view of the PC-IDEA, and that require coordinated, integrated and complementary work plans are related to interoperability (rules, standards and technical specifications) and capacitybuilding/human resource training. The PC-IDEA suggests that current work plans be thoroughly reviewed and that a new proposal be made to optimize the contributions of each one, maximize the use of resources and get better results for the benefit of all the countries of the Americas. 4. The Interrelationship of the Action Plans for SDI Related Initiatives from the GeoSUR s Perspective The GeoSUR Program clearly complements the initiatives of the SIRGAS, PC-IDEA and the PAIGH mentioned earlier in the corresponding action plans. As a regional development bank, the CAF wishes to build upon that complimentary nature and contribute to establishing the bases of a wide-ranging regional data infrastructure. There are unquestionable synergies between the GeoSUR and PC-IDEA, especially in fields of common interest such as training, making inventories of spatial information and implementing standards and protocols, as well as establishing the best connection between national SDIs and regional SDIs. The PC-IDEA can bolster the actions of GeoSUR by ensuring there is good coordination with Latin American and Caribbean national and sub - national SDIs. GeoSUR, in turn, gives the PC-IDEA a practical mechanism to test and implement regional standards and protocols in geoservices and other spatial applications. Both initiatives can advance the development of practical applications focused on decision makers and the public that reinforce the notion of SDI as a key factor and a source of reliable information for development in our region. Together with the SIRGAS, GeoSUR has the ability to encourage the use of the continental reference system as a basic component of the implementation of tools and geoservices by the institutions that participate in GeoSUR. There is also the possibility of assessing the appropriateness of incorporating basic information provided by SIRGAS in fields such as geodesy, climate and tectonic activity at the regional level into the GeoSUR platform and associated national geoservices. Together with the PAIGH, as the coordinating institution of the GeoSUR, joint actions have been undertaken with the CAF since 2007, when GeoSUR was first launched in Brasilia. The PAIGH has backed the participation of the geographic institutes of the region in this initiative and has been 24

25 instrumental in its conceptualization, planning and start up. This working relationship will be consolidated and championed in the new GeoSUR Program Action Plan, which will be established during the first quarter of As can be gathered from this information, the GeoSUR has clear connections and complements the sphere of action of the PAIGH, SIRGAS and PC-IDEA, all of which merit closer interrelationship and coordination. The GeoSUR also has close cooperation ties with regional and global initiatives that can further the global insertion of a Latin American and Caribbean regional SDI. Below is a list of some of the institutions and initiatives with which it has been working: The Andean Community of Nations (CAN, in Spanish), in the framework of the Amazon Regional Environmental Information Platform (PIRAA, in Spanish) The Eye on Earth platform of the European Environment Agency The Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE) The Global Network of Networks, one of the special initiatives of the Eye on Earth initiative backed by the UNEP The Initiative for the Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA, in Spanish) bolstered by the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR, in Spanish) The Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Association (GSDI) Lastly, we should highlight the role the CAF can play in pushing for the consolidation of SDI at the regional, national and local level. In its role as development bank, owned by a significant number of countries in the region, the CAF not only act as a project financier but it can also play an important part as institutional intermediary and spatial information user. The CAF can help the PAIGH, SIRGAS, PC-IDEA and GeoSUR to orchestrate practical, high - impact actions that have a favorable bearing on decision - making processes and promote the early integration of geospatial issues into development projects. 25

26 IV JOINT ACTION PLAN The Action Plan that the participating agencies are proposing to jointly carry out in this effort must translate into a significant boost to the development of SDI initiatives in the region and an important contribution to access and use of the existing geospatial information in the Americas. The Plan is a starting point and work plan to cooperate on targets that are common to the agencies and can extend its scope as new initiatives and forms of collaboration are identified. In practice, it is a matter of initially ensuring that the PAIGH Pan Americana Agenda, the SIRGAS Work Plan, the PC-IDEA Work Plan and the GeoSUR Action Plan coincide as much as possible. In order to determine the elements of the Plan it is important to summarize the proposals of the previous chapter, which contain the existing visions of each participating agency. Chart 1 lists the elements proposed by the agencies for the development of the Action Plan. Chart 1 Essential Competencies that Characterize the Pillar Initiatives of SDI and Potential Areas of Contribution to Joint Work Agency and Instrument PAIGH Pan American Agenda SIRGAS Annual Work Plan PC-IDEA Four - Year Work Plan GeoSUR Three-Year Work Plan Potential Areas of Contribution Cooperation among institutions and key SDI initiatives Consolidation of fundamental data bases Capacity- building Spatial data and interoperability standards Technical publications Continental geocentric reference system that is key for SDI Capacity - building by training human resources Technical publications Development of the legal framework, policies and plans that are key for SDI Human resource training and dissemination of good practices Monitoring of progress achieved by countries in every component of SDI Coordination with national and - sub national SDI in the region Consolidation of a Geoportal to facilitate access to and use of regional geospatial information Assist with capacity -building to ensure technological innovation in SDI (CAF) Aid with the creation of homogenized and standardized base and thematic maps at the regional scale (Central America and South America) 26