Survey on Development of Supporting Structures and Capacity for Producing and Using Spatial Data in Africa

 

  1. Name and contact details of respondent:
  • Bryson B. H. Morebodi.

Director,

Department of Surveys and Mapping (DSM),

P/Bag 0037,

1285 Station Road,

Gaborone, Botswana

Phone(00267) 353251/307543

Fax (00267) 352704

E-mail bmorebodi@gov.bw or botdsm@info.bw

  1. What is the name of the program or project in which you are involved?
  • Provision of Professional and Technical services in and information on Land Survey, Cadastre, Cartography, Remote Sensing, Land and Geographic Information Systems.
  • Responsible for a few specific projects undertaken in tandem with the major Departmental tasks:
    • National Atlas
    • Electronic or PC-Atlas
    • Integrated GIS
    • Cadastral Databases
    • Geodetic Databases
    • Topographic Databases
    • Aerial Photography and Satellite Imagery
    • Place or Geographical Names
    • Maps
    • National Aerial Photography and Mapping Program.

 

  1. What are the overall aims of the program / project?
    • Streamline and computerise Cadastral, Engineering and Geodetic Surveying, Topographic and Thematic Mapping production, data capture, analysis, archival and distribution systems
    • Provide base attribute and geo-spatial data and information to a variety of users
    • Provide analogue and digital thematic products for non-technical Departments within Government,
    • Maintain digital up to date information on internal and international boundaries.
    • Creation of an efficient and effective GIS/LIS.
    • Provide optimal digital geographic and attribute information and build competency in its analysis, use and dissemination within an integrated geographic information system environment

 

  1. What is the geographical area within which the program operates?
  • Gaborone but subject contents cover the entire country
  1. Duration of the program:
    1. When was the program initiated?
  • Botswana National Atlas(BNA)-1996
  • National Integrated GIS(IGIS)-1998
  • PC-Atlas-1999
    1. When is the program scheduled to finish?
  • BNA-2000
  • IGIS-2004
  • PC-Atlas-2002
  1. Who are the major role-players1 in spatial data production, distribution and maintenance, as well as the major users, within this geographical area? (Note: please do not limit the answer to digital spatial data only)
  • Government of Botswana
  • Department of Surveys and Mapping
  • Town and Regional Planning
  • Lands, Housing and Local Government
  • Geological Survey and Mining
  • Agriculture and Water Affairs
  • Wildlife, Conservation and Tourism
  • Roads, Buildings, Transport, Meteorology and other, mainly natural resources management, Departments
  • Parastatals
  • Botswana Power Corporation
  • Botswana Tele Communications
  • Water Utilities Corporation
  1. How is spatial data distributed? (Please do not limit your answer to digital spatial data only)
  • Maps and Plans on paper or transparencies
  • Floppies and Magnetic Tape
  • CD-ROM
  • Modem and Networks
  • Intranet and Internet
  1. Co-ordination mechanisms and support:
    1. Is there currently any formal or informal co-ordination of publicly funded programs involving spatial information?

      2. YES

    2. If YES, please describe briefly
  • There is formal co-ordination of all publicly funded programs irrespective of their nature
  • The Government Computer Bureau, an IT Department within the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, has been tasked with the responsibility for the co-ordination of GIS in the country, although this is still to be implemented.
  • Meantime DSM which is by far the major producer and user of spatial information is informally regarded as having a co-ordinating role, especially in major public projects.
  1. Please indicate whether the program on which you are reporting is involved in any of the following:
    1. The collection of metadata 2 YES
    2. Making metadata readily available to (potential) spatial data users YES
    3. The development of spatial data standards3 YES
    4. The creation of basic data sets (i.e. base sets of data that could be used by a broad variety of users, for example, the road network) YES
    5. If the answer to 9.4 is YES, please list these data sets
  • Geodetic Control (horizontal and vertical) Co-ordinates,
  • Contours
  • Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Agricultural and Community plots
  • Game Parks and Reserves,
  • Road Networks
  • Topographic Maps
  • Thematic Maps: Schools, Clinics, Tsetse Fly and malaria prone areas and many other data sets included in an all encompassing National Atlas.
    1. Developing a legal framework for accessing and distributing spatial data YES
  • There exist pieces of legislation which albeit be non-specific on spatial information have relevance and could be improved
    1. Developing pricing policy for spatial data YES
  • There exists within the ambit of the Land Survey Act provision for the pricing of spatial information although this needs upgrade and modernisation.
  1. Liaison:
    1. Is there any formal affiliation of the program / project with any global or (other) regional spatial data infrastructure initiatives? YES
    2. Is there informal networking with other initiatives? NO
    3. If the answer to either 10.1 or 10.2 is YES, please list these initiatives.
  • Botswana through DSM is participating in the GLOBAL MAP
  1. What, if any, are the particular challenges facing the development of NSDI / RSDI development within the region?
  • Major drawback is the lack of appreciation of the importance and uniqueness of the role of a National or Regional Spatial Data Infrastructure by those who have the powers to make decisions,
  • The concept of Geo-Spatial Data Infrastructure is not easily understood by laymen as compared for instance to the Radio/Tele Communication Infrastructure,
  • Leadership, from a professional perspective, has not clearly emerged. Consequently there are bound to be conflicts with respect to development approach and the implementation of the concept.
  1. Any other information or comments?
  • The above projects successively implemented should constitute a pivotal element of Botswana’s NATIONAL SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE.
  1. If there are there any sources of additional information (e.g. web-sites or brochures) please list these or indicate how the information might be obtained.
  • The Department plans to develop an Independent Web_Site once the National Atlas project is fully implemented.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT IN COMPLETING THIS QUESTIONNAIRE!

Please forward the completed questionnaire to the Interim Task Team for SDI Africa, by e-mail, facsimile or post. The contact details for the ITT are as follows:

The Interim Task Team for SDI Africa

C/o Directorate: National Spatial Information Framework

Private Bag X954

Pretoria

0001

South Africa

 

E-mail: nsif@csg.pwv.gov.za

Phone: +27 12 322 5400

Fax: +27 12 322 5418