The role of ESA in building the Egyptian spatial data infrastructure (ESDI) towards the electronic government (E-gov.)
Hussein, Sohir M.
Within the geoinformation community we hear a lot of expressions and terminologies such as: Geographic Information Systems (GIS), National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), Geospatial Information Infrastructure, standards eg. (ISO, OGC, FGDC) Electronic government (E-GOV), etc. All these terminologies and many others can be viewed as parts of a chain that need to be adequately connected. Standards represent the supporting references that guarantee proper and smooth connections of these terms. In this paper, we will try to define these terms discussing the requirements for each and establishing proper relationship and integration among them. We will discuss briefly the successful implementation of this concept in the State of Qatar through establishing their National GIS Steering Committee as well as the Center for GIS (CGIS). Also we will discuss the major steps required to build the SDI according to the recommendations of the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI) concept. The paper will also address questions and issues regarding the need for building the E-gov program in Egypt together with relevant issues such as data, standards, funding, legislation, tools, HW, SW etc. Naturally, and since the digital mapping component plays a central role in the GIS field, the mandate and the role of the Egyptian Survey Authority (ESA) is of prime importance to these concepts. ESA has acquired throughout the years a wealth of information that is indispensable for building the Spatial Data Infrastructure of Egypt.
Only personal, non-commercial use of this document is allowed.