GIS Adoption. Obstacles and Challenges

Transcription

1 GIS Adoption in Saudi Arabia: Obstacles and Challenges By Dr. Baqer Al-Ramadan, Chairman, Architectural Engineering Department King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Webpage: html

2 2 GIS Adoption in Saudi Arabia Numerous public and private agencies have adopted GIS in the country Many other agencies are contemplating to do so GIS Adoption is at both: The national and The local levels

3 GIS Adoption at the National Level Ministry i of Municipal i and Rural Affairs (MOMRA) First agency at the national level to use GIS (since 1988) MOMRA s first project was intended for Land Records Management Current MOMRA s GIS Projects: Urban and Regional Planning Information System (URPIS) Cadastral Information System (CIS) 3

4 4 Ministry of Transportation GIS for Bridges Maintenance (started 1996) Ministry of Water & Electricity: Water and Sewer Directorates of the Ministry: Riyadh core area (started 2003) Dammam core area (started 2004) Ministry of Education GIS Project started 2003 Through Department of Geographic Information Objective: build a nation-wide Schools GIS data base

5 5 Ministry of Interior: Ministry-wide GIS Project Implemented by the Ministry s National Information Center General Authority of Tourism & Antiquities: GIS Data base about Points of Attractions & Archeological l Sites nation-wide

6 GIS Adoption 6 at the Local Level Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA): First in the country at the local level to use GIS ADA GIS activities first started in 1986 Digital Base Map of Riyadh Completed in Dammam Municipality: Municipality-wide GIS Project Phase I started 2004 Phase II started is under finalization (Dec 2009) Phase III RFP is under preparation

7 7 Riyadh Municipality Municipality-wide GIS through the Municipality recently established GIS Unit Makkah Municipality i in progress sine 2003 through Municipality GIS Center Royal Commission in Jubail GIS activities started 1994

8 King Faisal Specialist Hospital GIS Project to track spatial pattern of spread of cancer Hasa Irrigation and Drainage Authority (HIDA): Plans for a comprehensive GIS project. First Phase is to build the base map of the agricultural oasis with the help of UN FAO

9 9 Private Sector Saudi Electricity Company On-going Company-wide GIS Project Covering: Eastern ; Central; Western; and Southern Regions ARAMCO e-map Project: An ARAMCO-wide GIS Project in progress since 2001

10 Saudi Telecommunication Company (STC) GIS Project to geo-reference mobile towers

11 Challenges in GIS Adoption 11 in Saudi Arabia Lack of Leadership and Coordination Too many projects in the country with no coordination or cooperation Instrumental for the success of the technology Leads to loss of efforts & resources

12 12 Lack of Data Base maps are either outdated or inexistent Similarly is the case for attribute data Leads to the need to establish from scratch which increases the cost Data input is a major challenge in terms of cost and time and time Constitute about 80% of the total expenditure

13 13 Other Challenges Unawareness of decision makers of the benefits of the technology Impact on securing funds Insufficient study of user needs Lack of procedures for a periodic update of the database Lack of GIS Specialists

14 Recommendations for Proper Adoption of GIS in Saudi Arabia 14 Increase awareness of GIS Standardize data classification and categorization Develop and implement digital data transfer and exchange standards

15 15 Secure human resources in GIS through: specialized GIS curricula in colleges and universities specialized training Establish a GIS National Steering Committee Establish a National GIS Center

16 16 Thanks for Listening