Establishment of National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) for Bangladesh

Objective of NSDI project:

(i) Overall: Major government agencies which deals with geospatial information manage and utilize them appropriately and efficiently in Bangladesh.

(ii) Specific: To develop National Spatial Data infrastructure of Bangladesh for collection, preservation and exchange of spatial data.

Importance:

a)  Concept and merit of NSDI are understood by related organizations.

b) Institutional Framework for the NSDI development and utilization is strengthened.

c)  NSDI common rules are established based on Geographic Information Standards.

d)  NSDI platform is formulated and utilized.

Expected Outcome after Completion of the Project

a. The basic infrastructure for National Spatial Data will be developed.

b. Integration of geodetic datum and standard of geospatial data into international standards

c. Reduction of duplication

d. Fundamental geo-spatial platform

e. Development of geo-spatial database in BCC server

A core database and web-based map sharing service will be constructed as the NSDI platform. Using this platform all member organizations can provide the valuable geo-spatial information and map data easily and safely. without a fear of violating privacy issues and ownership policies

Activities:

We are adopting a new technology to make national platform of Spatial data. The platform will be service oriented and it works as a hub among the stakeholders, researchers, academicians and planners. The main aims of the project are to remove data duplication, reduce redundancy, cost effectiveness and ensure the utilization of geospatial data appropriately and efficiently.

Summary of the Project

With the development of technology, spatial data have become increasingly important. The government sector, non-government organizations and private companies produce spatial data for planning, decision making, risk analysis, site selection, route finding and for many other purposes. The collection and production of spatial data are time consuming and costly. Additionally, the production of spatial data from raw data requires professionals, experts and advanced skills. A number of challenges in this area influence spatial data collection, such as lack of coordination and collaboration, duplicate or parallel activities and spatial data collection within two or several organizations. This type of duplicated effort turns into wastage of both financial and human resources. To overcome different aspects of the current challenges in spatial data handling, establishment of National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) is necessary for Bangladesh.

In our country, large quantity of geo-spatial data is available with various public and private sectors. But, lack of data sharing causes reproduction of similar data and wastage of enormous public money. Considering the reality, now it is the time to bring all data providing organizations under the same umbrella. Since NSDI platform offers geo-spatial data sharing from a single domain, definitely it would save not only public money but also precious time and labor. Therefore, NSDI is a timely approach to expedite the flow of development and economy of the country. Various organizations are engaged in preparing geo-spatial data separately for their own purposes. By establishing NSDI all geo-spatial data will be preserved in a same platform. Geo-spatial data could be used easily by different organizations and stakeholders according to their needs. NSDI will facilitate exchange of geo-spatial data among various organizations.

Considering the importance of geospatial data and its varied applications in the present environment, an International Seminar on “National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) for Bangladesh” was organized on 01 and 02 June 2016 by Survey of Bangladesh and JICA Bangladesh under the supervision of Ministry of Defence. Honorable Prime Minister of Peoples Republic of Bangladesh was present and inaugurated the seminar. Honorable Prime Minister felt the necessity of National Spatial Data Infrastructure for Bangladesh. In her valuable speech, she mentioned that spatial data should be easy access to all stakeholders for infrastructural development. She also assured that her government will work with utmost sincerity for building of National Spatial Data Infrastructure and form a National Committee under Ministry of Defence for formulating short term and long-term policy. The committee will provide necessary guideline for establishment of NSDI to the project implementation committee. Being the National Mapping Agency of the country, Honorable Prime Minister assigned Survey of Bangladesh to work as secretariat of that implementation committee.

According to the instructions of Honorable Prime Minister, Survey of Bangladesh under supervision of Ministry of Defence and with the technical and financial assistance of JICA started the activity of NSDI Pilot Project along with other 14 government organizations from August 2017. The main objective of NSDI Pilot Project was to recommend suitable and best fit NSDI for Bangladesh and select operational procedure, responsibility of participating organization. The activity of Pilot Project was accomplished in 2019. Basing on the recommendations of Pilot Project, revamped of full scale NSDI started immediately.

Visit NSDI Website: http://nsdi.gov.bd/

The government of Bangladesh approved the full scale NSDI Project to be implemented mainly with the technical and financial assistance of JICA in 2020. Survey of Bangladesh is working as coordinating agency with all working group members. Survey of Bangladesh will arrange necessary conference, workshop and seminar for successful implementation of the project. According to the comments/suggestions of Working Group organizations of NSDI Pilot Project, the frame of full scale NSDI is being executed. The data is preserving in Bangladesh Computer Council’s server and network management.

Establishment of National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) for Bangladesh Project was launched on August 2017 with the overall supervision of MOD and technical & financial support of JICA. SOB is coordinating with the working group members to implement the project successfully within stipulated time within 2022. Total 22 Government and trustee organizations participating in full scale NSDI project and working persistently to make this project a success.

Final Goals:

Spatial data is the crucial resources of a country for infrastructural development. NSDI will become the fundamental geospatial platform for all kinds of development activities. Combined with various categories of information such as infrastructure, lifelines public facilities, population, land cover, meteorology, geology and so on, the platform will provide sufficient reference sources to make appropriate and harmonized plan of development. If we want to keep pace with the developed countries to ensure efficient planning, we must have to make an NSDI platform for us and our future generation.