United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC)

14-Oct-2022: Importance of Integrated Geospatial Information Framework for supporting sustainable development goals discussed at UNWGIC

Experts discussed how the Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (IGIF), which provide a basis for developing, integrating, strengthening, and maximizing geospatial information management in all countries, could help supporting sustainable development and the well-being of society as well as overcoming challenges of the global village like flood, earthquake, pandemic, energy, digital security and so on at the 2nd UN World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC 2022).

Stefan Schweinfest, Director, Statistics Division, United Nations, highlighted the need for participation from the government, private sector, data producer, and data user, as well as social and environmental perspectives from developed and underdeveloped countries for successful implementation of the framework, at a plenary session of UNWGIC.

“There are three main components of the IGIF- overarching strategies, implementation guide, and country level action plan, to strengthen geospatial information management to deliver sustainable social, economic and environmental development for a better future,” Deirdre Dalpiaz Bishop, Chief, Geography Division, US Census Bureau, USA pointed out.

“We are more physically and digitally connected than ever, and there is a need to collaborate for improved geospatial data, innovation, education and communication, and engagement from all countries for implementing IGIF in tackling global challenges, as a major disaster in one country impacts adjacent countries,” she added.

Albert Momo, Vice President and Executive Director, Trimble, an industrial technology company, emphasised the role of geospatial technology in digital transformation. “It can alter sensing, modeling, analytics as also the work of geospatial professionals, agriculture planning, heavy civil construction, building design, construction and operation, transportation and logistics, water and wastewater utilities, electricity utilities, field services, and government. Our goal is to enable a sustainable future for better world," he elaborated.

Sydney Simelane, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Eswatini, underlined the need for availability of geospatial information to implement climate change mitigation and adaption, especially in small countries like Eswatini. “We also need legal frameworks for safeguarding the availability and usage of geospatial information and institutional frameworks to ensure data standards, interoperability, and accessibility. All policies, strategies, and action plans for tackling climate and other environmental changes are in vain without geospatial information because these occurrences take place somewhere,” Sydney pointed out.

During the 2nd UNWGIC, a report on “Indian experience in alignment with IGIF was unveiled by Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh. Based on this experience India is also bidding for the chairmanship of the newly constituted Working Group on IGIF under the UNGGIM-AP (Asia pacific).

The five-day conference is being hosted by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) and convened by the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management. With the theme of ‘Geo-Enabling the Global Village: No one should be left behind,’ the Second UNWGIC 2022 reflects on the importance of integrated geospatial information infrastructure and knowledge services to support the implementation and monitoring of sustainable development goals.

13-Oct-2022: Experts discuss significance of geospatial information for supporting sustainable development

Experts discussed how enabling people with geospatial information is crucial for supporting sustainable development and the wellbeing of society, as well as for dealing with environmental and climate challenges through digital transformation and technological development at the Second United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC).

David Henderson, Chief Geospatial Officer, Ordinance Survey of the United Kingdom, elaborated on how geospatial technologies are being used in modelling the impact of surface temperature and heat at a plenary session of UNWGIC.

“We are using these technologies to help quantify, qualify, and express the implication of changes in our environment, identifying them through 3 kinds of impacts--- populations as well as infrastructure at risk and visualizing green space," he added.

Ingrid Vanden Berghe, Administrator General, National Geographic Institute, the Belgian national mapping agency, highlighted the significance of looking at sustainable development from the perspective of space which she said “brings a very interesting insight.”

Taking about GPS as a navigation tool, Syed Akbaruddin Dean, Kautilya School of Public Policy, said, “GPS has helped in reducing fuel use 15-21%. We all use it without realizing what our individual pursuits are doing for the world.

“This is just one geospatial application which all of us use, oblivious to the bigger picture that we are contributing to. There is no single other technology in the world that helps in improving fuel efficiency as much,” the former Ambassador pointed out.

“For a developing country like Ethiopia, it is very important to equip human resources with the necessary skill-set because at the end of the day, at the bottom of the innovation and tech, there are people operating,” said Bethlehem Dessie, CEO, Anyone Can Code (ACC), Ethiopia’s first Artificial Intelligence and robotics lab.

She further pointed out that it is very important to start early, start with kids and the universities, and create a synergy between government and non-government institutions as also private institutions also.

11-Oct-2022: PM addresses United Nations World Geospatial International Congress

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the United Nations World Geospatial International Congress, via video message, today.

Welcoming International Delegates, the Prime Minister said, “the people of India are happy to host you on this historic occasion as we build our future together.” Expressing his happiness at the conference happening in Hyderabad, the Prime Minister said that the city is known for its culture and cuisine, its hospitality and hi-tech vision.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the theme of the conference, 'Geo-enabling the Global Village: No one should be left behind' can be seen in the steps India has taken over the last few years. “We have been working on a vision of Antyodaya which means empowering the last person at the last mile, in a mission mode” he said. 450 million unbanked people, a population greater than that of USA, were brought under banking net and 135 million people, about twice the population of France, were given insurance, the Prime Minister elaborated. Sanitation facilities were taken to 110 million families and tap water connections to over 60 million families, he added, underlining that “India is ensuring no one is left behind.”

Technology and talent are the two pillars that are key to India’s development journey. Technology brings transformation, the Prime Minister said, citing the example of JAM trinity which has delivered welfare benefits to 800 million people seamlessly and of the tech platform that powered the world’s largest vaccination drive. “In India, technology is not an agent of exclusion. It is an agent of inclusion,” Shri Modi said.

The Prime Minister highlighted the role of geospatial technology in driving inclusion and progress. The role of technology in schemes like SVAMITVA and housing, and the outcomes in terms of property ownership and women empowerment, have a direct impact on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals on poverty and gender equality, the Prime Minister emphasized. The PM GatiShakti Master Plan is being powered by geo-spatial technology, as is the Digital Ocean platform, he added. India has already set an example in sharing the benefits of geo-spatial technology, the Prime Minister stated, citing the example of the South Asia Satellite for facilitating communication in India’s neighbourhood.

“India is a young nation with great innovative spirit,” the Prime Minister said, highlighting the role of talent as the second pillar in India’s journey. India is one of the top startup hubs in the world, he added, with the number of unicorn startups having almost doubled since 2021- a testimony to India’s young talent.

One of the most important freedoms is the freedom to innovate, the Prime Minister said, and this has been ensured for the geospatial sector. Collection, generation and digitization of geospatial data have now been democratized, he added. Such reforms have been accompanied with a boost to the drone sector and opening up of the space sector for private participation, along with 5G taking off in India.

According to Prime Minister Modi, the COVID-19 pandemic should have been a wake-up call for the call in taking everyone along. There is a need for an institutional approach by the international community to help each other during a crisis, he emphasized. “Global organisations like the United Nations can lead the way in taking resources to the last mile in every region,” he highlighted. Hand-holding and technology transfer are also crucial in fighting climate change, the Prime Minister added, suggesting that best practices may be shared for saving our planet.

The Prime Minister underscored the endless possibilities that geo-spatial technology offers. These include sustainable urban development, managing and mitigating disasters, tracking the impact of climate change, forest management, water management, stopping desertification and food security. He expressed his wish that this conference becomes a platform to discuss developments in such important areas.

In conclusion, the Prime Minister expressed his optimism at the occasion. “With the stakeholders of the global geo-spatial industry coming together, with the policy makers and academic world interacting with each other, I am confident that this conference will help steer the global village into a new future,” he added.

17-Aug-2021: Global Geospatial Information Community sensitized about UNWGIC to be organized in India

The Global Geospatial Information Community was sensitized about the second United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC) to be organized by India in October next year, and their inputs are taken for designing the content of the event at a curtain-raiser held on 16 August 2021. The curtain raiser event was organized on the margins of the Eleventh Session of the United Nation Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) to be held during the end of August 2021. “We are excited to host UNWGIC next year and looking forward to welcome all in Hyderabad next year for the event which would show a glimpse of India’s evolving geospatial ecosystem,” said Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India while inaugurating the event.

He spoke about the liberalized geospatial policy of India and its impact on strengthening the geospatial ecosystem. “We need to make the sector open to all stakeholders, reach benefits to urban as well as rural areas, and make geospatial information accessible to all. We are empowering our rural population through the “SVAMITA” scheme, through which a digital certificate of landholding is being given to rural landowners. As our Prime Minister says, our motto is “Sabka Sath sabka Vikas,” i.e., “No one should be left behind”, the core philosophy of the United Nations (UN) to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for which India is committed too.

“Youth will be the torch-bearers of utilizing Geospatial information to achieve various SDGs,” opined the youngest panelist Ms. Mahika Shrivastava, a 12th Grade Student.

The United Nation Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) organizes the United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC) every four years with the objectives of enhancing international collaboration among the Member States and relevant stakeholders in Geospatial information management and capacities. The first UNWGIC was organized by China in October 2018. The UNGGIM has entrusted the responsibility of organizing the second UNWGIC to India during October 2022. India will organize the event as a part of the "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (Celebration of 75 years of Indian Independence)".

Mr. Stefan Schweinfest, Director, UN Statistics Division, endorsed the core theme of Second UNWGIC ‘Geo-enabling the Global Village’. Ms. Rosamond Carter Bing, Co-Chair of UN-GGIM, expressed her agreement saying that the theme will help in focusing on the empowering role of Geospatial information to common citizens. While inviting the global geospatial community to the 2nd UNWGIC, Mr. Naveen Tomar, Surveyor General of India, suggested four sessions for the same viz. Geodesy, High-resolution mapping for land administration, Advances in Surveying and Mapping. The eminent panelists from Latin America, Arab States, Australia, United States of America, The Netherlands, and Singapore, while expressing their suggestions for possible sessions during 2nd UNWGIC, emphasized on discussing strategy for implementing Integrated Geoinformation Framework (IGIF) of UN-GGIM and bringing out the societal value of geospatial information, especially for the disadvantaged sections and youth.