Decision Support Systems and the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure

1. Decision Support Systems and the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Working Group Report Presented by Mary-Ellen Feeney GSDI-6, Budapest, Hungary, September 2002

2. Working Group Members • John Kelmelis, U.S. Geological Survey • Mary-Ellen Feeney,University of Melbourne, Australia • Santiago Borerro-Mutis,Instituto Geographico Agustin Codazzi, Colombia • Dereck Clark,Directorate of Surveys and Mapping, South Africa • Thomas Gunther,U.S. Geological Survey • Ian Masser,International Institute for Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation, the Netherlands • Uta Wehn de Montalvo,the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research • Nancy Aguirre,Instituto Geographico Agustin Codazzi, Colombia

3. Questions • What must be done to ensure global accessibility to information for decision making in near real time? • What are the contributions of various organizations to achieve that vision? ? ? • What is the contribution GSDI can make among these other players? • How can we align the various players so there is a minimal duplication of effort and all required activities are accomplished? ?

4. Methodology • Literature Review • Identify: • Requirements for a distributed DSS • GSDI Goals • Opportunities to meet GSDI Goals • Compare: • Requirements, Goals, and Opportunities • Operational approach: • Teleconferences and e-mail • Request • Feedback on directions

5. Findings Goal of GSDI: Distributed DSS Requirements: Opportunities: Comparison:

6. Findings: Goal of GSDI • Articulate the operational environment needed to achieve Global SDI compatibility • Help build globally compatible SDI capacity around the world • Educate decision-makers on the benefits of GSDI inside and outside their borders • Assure that different SDI related policies can be facilitated by the GSDI • Advance the GSDI mission until a global SDI is achieved.

7. Findings: Distributed DSS Requirements 1. Problem Environment 2. Technical Environment 3. People Environment Must Address Three Major Environments: 1. Problem Environment 2. Technical Environment 3. People Environment For Each… …….who should do what?

8. 1. Problem Environment Application Areas Management Science Knowledge of biophysical and socioeconomic systems Fields Locations Disciplines of problems to be addressed

9. 1. Problem Environment Scientific organizations – Academia, Government Agencies, NGO’s (not for profit and for profit) Science Knowledge of biophysical and socioeconomic systems • GSDI Role: • Through its experience identify crucial processes that should be understood and report that to other institutions. • Through its network encourage training.

10. 1. Problem Environment • GSDI Role: • Develop classification of types of problems to help people search for the solutions they need. • Stimulate government policies to ensure access to information. Stakeholders – communities, land management organizations, resource managers, disaster managers... coordinating bodies (G.I. for Sustainable Development, etc.) Management of problems to be addressed

11. 1. Problem Environment Application Stakeholders including scientists, economists, sociologists, politicians, citizens Application Areas Fields Locations Disciplines • GSDI Role: • Help prioritize areas of concentration so the greatest benefit could be achieved from the effort

12. 2. Technical Environment Data Type, content, structure, format, Metadata, etc. (language, DBMS, availability, volume…) Data Models Tools Telecommunications, access, networks Interface Usability, adaptability, user interfaces ModelsBiophysical and socioeconomic processes, metadata, metamodels … GIS, statistics, mathematics, data Tools mining, visualization, artificial intelligence, OLAP, warehousing etc. Telecommunications, access, networks Graphical User Interfaces, visual Interface programming languages, HTML, XML, GML, web based technology Usability, adaptability, user interfaces

13. 2. Technical Environment Global Map (framework), UNGIWG, National Mapping Organizations, ISO….. Data Type, content, format, metadata, language, availability, volume etc. • GSDI Role: • Work closely with standards organizations • Increase dissemination of the Cookbook • Promote and assist in implementing standards • Promote example case studies

14. 2. Technical Environment Scientific Organizations – see “The Problem Environment – Science” Models Biophysical Socioeconomic metadata and meta models • GSDI Role: • Develop awareness of the value and application of interoperable models and the means of finding and using existing models • Work with standards organizations to help develop model interoperability standards.

15. 2. Technical Environment Scientific Organizations – see “The Problem Environment – Science” Tools GIS, statistics, maths, AI, OLAP visualization, warehousing etc. • GSDI Role: • Coordinate with standards setting organizations (OGIS etc.) and private industry • Identify need for tools in developing countries • Assist in specifying discovery and access systems

16. 2. Technical Environment Private Industry, National Governments Access Networks Tele- communications • GSDI Role: • Encourage telecommunications sector to become involved in GSDI, NSDIs and related activities. • Identify potential opportunities for their participation • Describe needs in the literature and directly to the sector.

17. 2. Technical Environment Private Industry, academia, government agencies Interface Graphical user interfaces, visual programming languages, HTML, XML, GML, web based technology etc. • GSDI Role: • Coordinate with standards setting organizations, private industry and users to recommend needs.

18. 2. Technical Environment Private Industry, academia, government agencies Usability, adaptability, user interfaces • GSDI Role: • Develop needs through contact with members and users, • Make Recommendations to appropriate organizations.

19. Data Decision Makers Access Usability Decision Processes Who Use of Technology Knowledge Exchange Needs Application of results……. Incentives… Accountability 3. People Environment Stakeholders Skills and Training Decision perspective Policies

20. Data Access Usability Knowledge Exchange Accountability 3. People Environment Policies Government, industry and other bodies must set the policies • GSDI Role: • Work with other organizations (GDIN, GISD, OGC, etc.) to identify needs and recommend standards.

21. Use of Technology Application of results……. 3. People Environment Academic institutions, government agencies, World Bank, etc. Skills and Training • GSDI Role: • Identify needs, • Help develop course materials, • Provide venue for training, • Identify and exchange best practices, • Help develop capacity.

22. Who Needs Incentives… 3. People Environment Other related groups (Global Map, GISD, …), Centre for Science and Policy Stakeholders • GSDI Role: • Help identify target user needs, • Encourage involvement (national, community, etc.), • Help provide venue for communication, • Help identify needs for telecommunications opportunities..

23. Decision Makers Decision Processes 3. People Environment Decision perspective Centre for Science and Policy, Selected Field projects, GISD • GSDI Role: • Help identify best practices and, through GSDI, encourage their use. • Training, workshops, etc.

24. Next Steps • Receive input/suggestions from GSDI • Incorporate input and finalise draft document • Submit for formal review • Present to GSDI and publish