Project Title:
Towards a Regional Geographic Information Infrastructure (RGII) in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) Region

First Technical Progress Report
1. Introduction

The two year project titled "Towards a Regional Geographic Information Infrastructure (GII) in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) Region" started from March 2002 under ICT R&D Grant with the formal agreement between the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC), International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada and Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP) of UNDP.

2. Overall Context

The mountains and their ecosystem have been constantly gaining the attention of the world community for their contribution towards life support. To enable sustainable decision making in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, there needs to be a realistic assessment of natural resources and socio-economic conditions through the systematic generation of data indicating the present situation and changing status through time. The availability of consistent spatial databases from local, national to regional levels will improve our ability to investigate key issues in the region. However, the region faces with the isolated development of databases due to the lack of a proper framework. As a result information is often dispersed, heterogeneous, and inaccessible and the available information is not sufficiently relevant in term of continuity, reliability and the nature of parameters.

ICIMOD through its Mountain Environment and Natural Resources Information System (MENRIS) program has been focusing on GIS capacity building and networking of the national institutions in the region to promote the development of geographic information, its sharing and effective use of GIS and RS in the region since early 1990. It has been working for the development of a Regional Geographic Information Infrastructure (RGII) in the HKH region to support the use of Geographic Information for sustainable mountain development. The project intends to develop an Internet based system to offer a one-stop experience in the region to increase the availability and accessibility of relevant geographic data and to enhance the exchange of geographic information within the region. The system, once developed, will be a step forward in the use of Internet by ICIMOD for its networking and outreach objectives and the information available will support sound decision making. The researchers, development projects and agencies working for the mountain communities in the region shall immensely benefit from such system and will be an important step towards a Regional Geographic Information Infrastructure (RGII) in the region.

3. Project Objectives

The long term general objective of this project is accomplishing towards a Regional Geographic Information Infrastructure (RGII) thus facilitating the sharing, integration and use of geographic information across a broad base users, giving particular consideration to standardised datasets, data availability and facilitation of exchange of information using the potential of modern information and communication technologies, particularly the Internet.

The specific objectives of the project are:

1. To develop a customized system for serving the GIS database on the Internet using latest Internet mapping technologies
2. To develop a metadata system based on international standards for searching and viewing the metadata through the Internet
3. To publish the GIS database at ICIMOD using the system
4. Extension of the system to partner institutions through capacity building

4. Major Features of the Reporting Period

4.1 Development of a Conceptual Framework to share GIS Resources

Under the project, first of all, a conceptual framework was developed to share GIS resources and provide GIS services exploiting the full potential of the Internet and GIS technology. It has made considerable efforts in developing a comprehensive underlying structure, named as Mountain GIS Portal, based on the latest Internet Mapping technology and web technology. The portal is aimed as a new one-stop experience for the geographic data and resources needs in the region. The main GIS resources have been identified as GIS data, Metadata, Maps, Applications and Training resources.

Country pages of regional member countries (Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh during the Project period) were proposed to be developed to serve the National GIS resources in a common and consistent format. This work will be initiated in collaboration with the national partner institutions. In-country resources will be supported by the national partner institutions in terms of coordinating with other national institutions, collecting and collating data, metadata, applications and information on other GIS related activities within their country. Finally, a complete Mountain GIS Portal will be a network of national GIS Portals serving the region as a whole.

4.2 Consultative Meetings and Forging Partnerships

In relation to this project, visits were made to the respective participating countries, namely Bangladesh and Bhutan, in May 2002 to have consultative meetings with various GIS stakeholders and to get their comments and feedback on the above framework and also to look at the possibility of partner institutions to develop and support the national portals. Meetings were held with 10 institutions in Bangladesh (see Annex 1 for the list of institutions) and the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) was identified as the key institution to participate in the project. The LGED GIS team agreed to initiate to put together the existing information as much as possible to go into the GIS portal system. In Bhutan, a joint consultative meeting with principal GIS stakeholders was held at the National Planning Commission, coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture. There were other separate consultative meetings with other key partners as well (see Annex 1 for list of participants). The visit was very timely, as there was a recent policy decision by the government to create National Agency for GIS Coordination (NAGISC), a unit at the Planning Commission to steer the development of GIS in a coordinated manner in Bhutan. The NAGISC agreed to be the main focal point for the project and initiate to collect together information on metadata, maps, applications, GIS users, manpower, software used and other relevant information on GIS front in Bhutan to go into the GIS portal system. The framework was well received by the institutions and individuals and the need for such an initiative at the national level was felt for a coordinated approach for harmonization of data, technology and applications in view of rapid growth in use of GIS by various institutions in those countries. In Nepal, the Department of Survey was consulted for the initiative as it is the main producer of framework data for the country.

4.3 Training of Partners

The training materials for one week duration in GIS database management and internet mapping technology using ESRI's ARCIMS technology was developed with extensive hands-on exercises. A one week training program on "Sharing Geographic Information Using the Internet Mapping Technology" was organized in Kathmandu from 5 -9 August 2002 for the partner institutions mentioned above (see Annex 2 for the list of participants). The training focused on the concepts of National Geographic Information Infrastructure, Metadata System, Internet Mapping Tools and other aspects of web mapping. The underlying concepts and technology for the Mountain GIS Portal were discussed with the participants. Basically, the training was meant for transferring the knowledge and skills to the respective partner institutions so that they would be able to handle their national geographic information framework part and contribute to the development of Country pages for the Mountain GIS Portal.

5. Progress on the Specific Objectives

Status of the different activities targeted towards achieving the specific objectives are discussed below.

5.1. To develop a customized system for serving the GIS database on the Internet using latest Internet mapping technologies

A portal system has been developed to implement the conceptual framework discussed above in 4.1. The major software packages used to build the system are ArcGIS, ArcIMS and IIS HTTP Server. XML has been the underlying database for metadata and its administration. The system is tied together through a number of XSL, ASP, JavaScript programs and various web pages. The system has already been made on-line as a test and can be accessed at http://www.icimod-gis.net. GIS resources such as training materials, metadata, maps and reports related to GIS applications at ICIMOD are made available through this site.

5.2. To develop a metadata system based on international standards for searching and viewing the metadata through the Internet
Development of Metadata system was a major component in the Portal system development. After carefully going through the different metadata standards and the requirements in the regional context, and also in view of our institutional affiliations with strategic alliances like ESRI, it was decided to follow FGDC 'standard' with extension. Some additional elements were added to gather metadata pertinent to ICIMOD focus and the region requirements. The basic metadata is compliant with the FGDC standard, even with the additional elements. These additional elements include information on mountain specific keywords, data coverage, simplified projection and attribute information, and some attributes for raster data. It should be noted here that, the standards do provide conversion of common and core elements from one to other (see Annex 3 for details).
A customized metadata editor within ArcGIS was developed to include custom elements and to make it simple with basic and relevant information. These metadata are compliant with the FGDC standard, even with the additional elements, because the ArcGIS makes a note in the item's metadata that an extended profile is being used. The system has been integrated with the Mountain GIS Portal and provides the user with the option to search the metadata using the Text Search or Spatial Search Engine (see Annex 4).

5.3. To publish the GIS database at ICIMOD using the system

As an initiation, some of the resources that have been generated and accumulated by ICIMOD itself through its various activities over the years are being made accessible through this framework. Such resources again include databases at different themes and scales, and metadata information. The section on map resources provides through a dynamic interface the maps published in various reports and documents of ICIMOD. It is possible to search the maps based on title, theme, location, source etc. Sharing of knowledge and experiences is equally important as sharing data, and the section on sharing application resource is the place to disseminate the different applications of GIS and RS to address the real problems of the mountain development. Various application projects carried out by ICIMOD and its partners are presented here. Short descriptions on various application projects along with published reports are provided. Under its capacity building activities, nearly 1000 people from over 120 partner institutions have been trained by MENRIS in the use of GIS technologies since its inception in 1990. The training materials developed for these different training courses have been compiled and is served on-line for use as a self-learning kit, or web based training, or reference material for the students.

5.4. Extension of the system to partner institutions through capacity building

The training on "Sharing Geographic Information Using the Internet Mapping Technology" in August 2002 as discussed above in 4.3 was the first step to extend the concepts and the tools to the partner institutions. After participating in the above training, activities are on the way to develop country pages in Bhutan and Bangladesh using the same framework. Another set of training for the partners is planned in the second year of the project to disseminate the technology.

6. Complementary Activities

Besides the activities funded by the project, several activities were carried out during the project period which complemented the project objectives. Apart from working on the development of the system, the project team has been actively participating in international forums to present papers on the concepts of the Mountain GIS Portal, and activities on Regional Geographic Information Infrastructure in the HKH. One paper was presented at the 2002 ESRI Users Conference at San Diego, CA, USA. Two papers were presented on the 23rd Asian Conference on Remote Sensing at Kathmandu, Nepal (see Annex 4 and 5).

It is quite appreciable to note that there has been considerable growth of GIS users and applications in Bhutan. The framework was well received by the institutions and individuals and the need for such an initiative at the national level was felt for a coordinated approach for harmonization of data, technology and applications in view of rapid growth in use of GIS by various institutions. ESRI has provided a generous support of 25 license copies of ArcGIS to NASGISC for distribution among the key GIS stakeholders in Bhutan, but there is training need felt by many institutions in new versions of software. A national level training program on Application of GIS for Resources Management was conducted at the Department of Survey and Land Records, Thimphu, Bhutan, from 3 -11 September by ICIMOD in collaboration with National Agency for GIS Coordination (NAGISC) and LUSS (Ministry of Agriculture). NAGISC is also the focal institution of this project and such joint training activity has helped to further enhance the capacity of the national institutions.

The strategic partnership of ICIMOD with ESRI has greatly facilitated the additional technical support for the project. The core software used to develop the system such as ArcIMS and ArcGIS have been generously provided by ESRI. ICIMOD is also in the process of acquiring ArcIMS from ESRI at educational discounted prices for its partner institutions in Bhutan and Bangladesh. Acquisition of these software will enable the partner institutions to work on sharing national geographic information resources through the country pages, the building blocks of the Mountain GIS Portal.

A lot of resources that fed into the mountain GIS portal has been the outcome of GIS capacity building and application development programme of MENRIS-ICIMOD and supported by United Nations Environment Programme/ Regional Resource Centre - Asia and Pacific (UNEP/RRC-AP) and other donor community. These are on-going activity and this project has enabled the geographic resources to be leveraged through the Internet platform to a wider audience.

7. Major Plans for the Next Phase

A framework and implementing system has already been developed and made on-line through the Internet as per the project target for the first year. The major activities for the second year will be to integrate the data and metadata from the partner institutions. Development of the country pages using the framework will be carried out in close participation from the partner institutions, namely LGED in Bangladesh and NASGISC in Bhutan. ICIMOD being located in Nepal, it works on the Nepal page with inputs from the Survey Department and other agency in terms of integrating the metadata. Also, attempt will be made to expand the network in Tibet autonomous region of China through other funding sources.

The system will be fine tuned with the adoption of new data models such as Geodatabase and ArcSDE for the better and efficient deployment of data through the Internet. A training programme will be conducted for the partner institutions to disseminate the technology and the findings. It is envisaged that these national institutions are the key players in making available the GIS resources at the country level. Further on-the-job training and technical support will provide to the participating countries. Outreach activities will be undertaken about the mountain GIS portal as a platform for "provider" and "user" of geographic information and encourage the network members to share and exchange such information. At the same time, appropriate linkages with similar global initiatives will be perused with international organizations like UNEP, FAO, USGS, NGS and others.

A final publication will be brought out including the concepts, system development and the findings to disseminate the work carried out by the project for a wider audience. Such document will also help in policy advocacy for geographic data sharing in the region and will build the essential elements of regional geographic information infrastructure.

Annex 1

List of Organizations and Individuals in the Consultative Meeting

Bangladesh

Organizations
1. Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Dhaka
2. Department of Water Resources Engineering (BUET), Dhaka
3. Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB)
4. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Bangladesh
5. Ministry of Chittagaon Hill Tracts Development
6. Bangladesh Center for Advanced Studies (BCAS), Dhaka
7. Environmental and GIS Support to Water Sector (EGIS), Dhaka
8. Global Water Partnership, Bangladesh, Dhaka
9. Surface Water Modeling Center, SWMC, Dhaka
10. Department of Geography, Jahangirnagar University (JNU), Sabar

Individuals

1. Md. Tazmilur Rahman, Project Manager Sustainable Rural Energy Project, LGED
2. Munir Siddique, Assistant Engineer, LGED
3. Mr. Kazi Golam Mustafa, Assistant Engineer, LGED
4. Mr. Deepak P. Adhikary, Programme Director, Business Development Services Programme (BDSP), SDC
5. Md. Salim Bhuiyan, Executive Engineer, Flood Forecasting & Warning Centre, BWDB
6. M. Fazlul Bari, Professor, Department of Water Resources Engineering, BUET
7. Md.Abdul Matin, Professor and Head, Department of Water Resources Engineering, BUET
8. Saiful Islam Siddique, Managing Director, International Computer Connections (ICC)
9. Md. Saiful Hossain, Sub-Divisional Engineer FF & WC
10. S. M. Monzurul Huq, Professor, Department of Geography and Environment, JNU
11. Dr. Subash Chandra Das, Professor, Department of Geography & Environment, JNU
12. Mesbah-us-Saleheen, Deopartment of Geography and Environment, JNU
13. Mirza Mafizuddin, Professor, Department of Geography & Environment, JNU
14. Dr. Riaz Khan, Executive Director, EGIS
15. Mir Abdul Matin, Cluster Coordinator, EGIS
16. Md. Hasan Ali, Cluster Coordinator, EGIS
17. Emaduddin Ahmad, Director, SWMC
18. Mohammad Hossain, Management Specialist, SWMC
19. S. M. Mahbubur Rahman, Senior Specialist, SWMC
20. Md. Abdur Rauf Database Manager, SWMC
21. Md. Tarik-ul-Islam, Programme Monitoring Office, UNDP
22. M. Aminul Islam, Sustainable Development Advisor, UNDP
23. Saleh Khan, Technical Specialist, Web Team Office, UNDP
24. Dr. Moinul Islam Sharif, Research Fellow, BCAS
25. Mozaharul Alam, Reseach Fellow, BCAS
26. Mr. Sarder Shafiqul Alam, Research Fellow, BCAS

Bhutan

Participants in the Presentation and Discussions at the NPC

1. Mr. Tshering Phuntsho, Town Planner, Thimphu City Corporation
2. Mr. Dungkar Drukpa, LUSS, PPD, Ministry of Agriculture
3. Mrs. Sangita Pradhan, GIS unit, Bhutan Soil Survey Project (BSSP), Ministry of Agriculture
4. Mr. Austin Hutcheson, GIS unit, Bhutan Soil Survey Project (BSSP), Ministry of Agriculture
5. Dorji Tshering, Head, LIS unit, Department of Survey and Land Records (DSLR), Ministry of Survey and Land Records
6. Mr. Dorji Drukpa, DSLR, MOHA
7. Mr. Echay Kr. Dorjee, GIS unit, WWF Bhutan Program
8. Ms. Deki Wangmo, LUSS, PPD, Ministry of Agriculture
9. Mr. Rinchen Dorji, GIS unit, RNR-RC, Yusipang, Ministry of Agriculture
10. Mr. Lalit Kumar Chhetri, GIS unit, Department of Geology and Mines
11. Mr. M. K. Pradhan, GIS unit, Department of Geology and Mines
12. Mr. Alex Ergo, Danida Advisor, PPD, Health Department
13. Mr. Pelzang Wangchuk, LUSS, PPD, Ministry of Agriculture
14. Mr. K. Tshering, NAGISC
15. Mr. Sonam Dhangay, NAGISC

Individuals and Institutions Separately Visited for Discussions
1. Dasho Sangey Thinley, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture
2. Dr. Pema Tshering, Dy. Secretary, Policy and Planning Division, Ministry of Agriculture
3. Mr. Pelzang Wangchuk, National Project Manager, LUSS, PPD, Ministry of Agriculture
4. Mr. Dungkar Drukpa, GIS Officer, LUSS, PPD, Ministry of Agriculture
5. Mr. Kuenga Tshering, Project Manager, NAGISC, Planning Commission Secretariat
6. Mr. K. Teshering, NAGISC
7. Mr. Sonam Dhangay, NAGISC
8. Mr. Ugyen Tenzin, Deputy Surveyor General, Department of Survey
9. Mr. Dorji Wangda, Director, Department of Geology and Mines
10. Mr. Bharat Tamang, Director Planning, Department of Power

Annex 2

List of Participants in the Training on
"Sharing Geographic Information Using the Internet Mapping Technology"
5-9 August 2002

1. Mr. Dungkar Drukpa, GIS Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Bhutan
2. Mr. K. Tshering, Application Programmer, National Agency for GIS Coordination (NAGISC), Bhutan
3. Mr. Sonam Dhangay, Systems Manager, National Agency for GIS Coordination (NAGISC), Bhutan
4. Md. Shaidul Islam, Assistant Engineer, Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Bangladesh
5. Ms. Fatema Akhtery, GIS Specialist, Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Bangladesh
6. Ms. Sharmin Yusuf, Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Bangladesh
7. Mr. Krishna Raj Adhikary, Department of Survey, Nepal
8. Mr. Umesh Joshi, Department of Survey, Nepal
9. Mr. Sudip Pradhan, Systems Analyst and Programmer, MASIF, ICIMOD
10. Mr. Bhuban Shrestha, GIS Specialist, PARDYP, ICIMOD

Annex 3

Metadata Elements
The following are the metadata elements agreed upon to document and use GIS data:
Metadata = Identification Information + Contact Information + Spatial Domain + Citation + Storage + Attributes Information + Projection Information + { Image related }