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PROCIG - Central American Geographic Informaction Project

"Central American institutions promoting the use of geographical information"

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Main > Introduction > PROCIG - El Salvador
PROCIG - EL SALVADOR

EL SALVADOR

NATIONAL SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE (NSDI)

Background. The idea to implement an NSDI in El Salvador gained force through the participation of the IGN and the Ministry of the Environment in the February 2000 workshop that formed the Permanent Committee on Spatial Data Infrastructures in the Americas (CP-IDEA). In November 2000 the directors of the CNR, MARN and VMVDU called a meeting of high government officials from institutions that produce geographic information to form a committee that would be in charge of creating the NSDI.
In March 2001, the first symposium to establish the NSDI was held. The participating institutions were:
United States Geological Survey (USGS)
National Imaging and Mapping Agency (NIMA)
Agency for International Development (AID)
International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
This event was organized by: the National Registry Center (CNR), Viceministry of Housing, Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, and included the following institutions:
Armed Forces of El Salvador, General Directorate of Statistics and Census (DIGYSTIC), Directorate of Agricultural Economics, SETEFE, National Civil Police, Technical Secretariat of the Presidency, Planning Office of the AMSS, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Geotechnical Research Center, Directorate of Renewable Resources.
Principal themes of the symposium. The most important themes covered included:
a---- Technical Obstacles of the NSDI
Proposal:
  • IGN should define a standard platform for different applications
  • Standardized coding of base cartography
  • Defining a strategy for acquiring base cartography
  • Pricing policies
  • Information access and distribution policies
  • Development of a coding inventory for thematic and base maps
  • Creating an update strategy
  • Permanent training programs
b--- Needs with respect to the legal framework of the NSDI and access policies. Suggestions for the structure of the NSDI committee and strategies for its implementation.
Proposal :
  • Create a an executive decree for ordering and facilitating the exchange of free geographic information, when its use is for the public good. This decree will be submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval.
  • Formalize a spatial data infrastructure committee, composed of all the public institutions working on issues related to this theme.
  • Develop institutional policies for the establishment and exchange of geographic information.
  • Define a national pricing policy for data access and reform current pricing policy for particular geographic information products, as well establish a legal mechanism for the donation of these products to institutions that make up the NSDI committee.
  • Within legal frameworks, it is necessary to promote reform of the intellectual property law to adapt it to the management and use of digital information.

Strategies for sustainability of NSDI activities

Proposal.
  • Assign a general coordinator for the entire project
  • Develop a national work plan
  • Search for funding (Government, International Organizations)
  • Develop process for elaborating an executive decree y later a legislative initiative
  • Designate full-time personnel – publicity campaigns – integration of efforts
  • Search for improved information transfer mechanisms, that improve quality and frequency of exchange
  • Monitoring and evaluation systems for programs and planning
  • Training and technology transfer between institutions
  • Attention to emergencies

What do we want from the NSDI?

  • Organize and take advantage of geographic information resources in the country
  • Involve all the institutions that work in the production of geographic information
With respect to impact, we expect:
  • To contribute to economic, social and political development of the country
  • To improve capacity to respond natural disasters
  • To promote the use and production of geographic information
  • To standardize the information products from each institution

Requirements

  • Resources for developing implementation activities (financial, human)
  • Standardization of databases
  • Training in the application of standards
  • Definition of information exchange and access policies
  • Financing for the generation of data
  • Adequate accessibility to electronic communication and networks

Current Strengths

  • Political will
  • Good coordination at the technical level
  • Updated technological base
  • International support
Existing problems. Clear differences exist as a result of working with different technical specifications, scales, datums, and other elements

CLEARINGHOUSE

What is a clearinghouse? We will respond to this question from different angles. From the institutional point of view, it is the infrastructure to find out who has information. From the technical point of view, it is the combination of telecommunication services for providing access to information.
METADATA. The following institutions are participating in the creation of geographic information metadata:
  • Ministry of the Environment
  • National Registry/IGN
  • Vice-ministry of Housing and Urban Development
  • San Salvador Metropolitan Area Planning Office
  • General Directorate of Agricultural Economics

Hardware, software and training support has been acquired from:

  • United States Geological Survey (USGS), with financing from the Agency for International Development (AID)
  • Panamerican Institute of Geography and History (IPGH)
At present, a map server was donated by USGS and is housed at CNR/IGN. The Internet address is: http://clearinghouse.cnr.gob.sv/metadatos/index.com.

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS)

At present, the 1:250,000 base map is being developed. After field verification, it will be linked to tabular databases. We will look for results in terms of potential for decision-making.

What do we want from GIS? Basically, we are looking for:

  • A tool for manipulating information using digital maps and relational databases in user-friendly environments
  • Reliable information
  • A resource for studies carried out by scientists, professionals and the general public at all levels
What is the impact? Holding these types of digital maps with relational databases, we will provide useful information for improving the capacity to carry out diverse studies (geological, social, etc) on different themes. We will improve the capacity of the authorities to make decisions in the economic, social and political sectors.

1st SYMPOSIUM

NATIONAL SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE OF EL SALVADOR

AGENDA
March 29, 2001
07:30-08:00 - Participant Registration
08:00-08:15 - Welcoming comments from Architect Cesar Augusto Alvarado, Vice-minister of Housing and Urban Development
08:15-08:30 - Inauguration of the NSDI SYMPOSIUM, Vice President of the Republic
08:30-09:30 - The problem and NSDI as a solution, Ing. Diego Pedreros (USGS/EROS Data Center).
09:30-10:00 - The development of the Colombian NSDI, Ing. Dora Inés Rey (IGAC)
10:00-10:15 - Break
10:15-10:45 - Role of IGN in the NSDI initiative in Panama, Ing. Denis Fuentes, Director IGN Tommy Guardia, Panama
10:45-11:05 - Questions
11:05-11:20 - Present status of NSDI in El Salvador, Lic. Felix Garrid Safie, Director, CNR
11:20-11:40 - Modernization of the State through NSDI, Dr. Ana Maria Majano, Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources
11:40-12:00 - Signing of the Initiation Act
12:15-13:15 - Lunch
13:15-14:00 - Concepts and Aspects of the Colombian Infrastructure, Dora Ines Rey (IGAC)
14:00-14:30 - Standards and technical norms, Dr. Glenn Hyman (CIAT)
14:30-15:00 - Implementation of Standards in El Salvador, Architect Blanca Isabel Gómez (IGN)
15:00-15:15 - Questions
15:15-15:30 - Break
15:30-15:45 - Results of the March 1-2, 2001 Honduras NSDI Symposium, Diego Pedreros (USGS/EROS Data Center)
15:45-16:15 - Author’s rights, José Ángel Arriaza (CNR)
16:15-17:00 - Questions and Discussion

 

 
March 30, 2001
08:00-08:30 - Online metadata service and Information Exchange Policies, Eric Van Praag (USGS/EROS Data Center).
08:30-09:00 - Inventory of Spatial Data in El Salvador, Ing. Francisco Delgado (MARN)
09:00-09:45 - Role of Research in NSDI, Kate Lance (CIAT)
09:45-10:00 - Break
10:00-12:30 - Working Group Discussion
  - Group 1: Technical obstacles of NSDI (recommendations for standards)
  - Group 2: Suggestions for the structure of the NSDI Committee y strategies for achieving sustainability of NSDI
  - Group 3: Needs with respect to legal framework for NSDI y access policies (Author’s rights, Role of the private sector)
12:30-13:30 - Lunch
13:30-14:00 - Plenary Group 1
14:00-14:30 - Plenary Group 2
14:30-15:00 - Plenary Group 3
15:00-15:15 - Break
15:15-16:15 - Discussion and Response
16:15-16:30 - Integration of components, Lic. Arturo Cardona (VMVDU)
 
COOPERATING AGENCIES
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
Agustín Codazzi Geographic Institute (IGAC), Colombia
United States Geological Survey (USGS/EROS Data Center)
Tommy Guardia National Geographic Institute, Panamá