Open Data For Sustainable Development
Geospatial World|August 2016

Open data is an absolute precursor to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, believes Barbara Ryan, Director, Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Secretariat in Geneva.

Open Data For Sustainable Development

How will geospatial data be useful in achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

The work in the area of sustainable development is largely being managed by statistical agencies and census bureaus within governments. They are quite familiar with demographic information and population data, but may not know a lot about earth observation. When you think about those 17 sustainable development goals — and whether it is access to clean air or clean water, improving health and all the statistics associated with that — then there are really important environmental datasets that ought to be included in the equation. So, we feel very strongly that earth observation and geospatial information can be an enabler or facilitator for the implementation of the SDGs. But we have a big challenge and an education exercise to undertake to make sure that those statistical organizations are relying on earth observations also.

Do you see the need to create a global, regional or national framework to streamline the availability and accessibility of data across nations to achieve the SDGs?

There is a need for that. I would say there are frameworks that exist. The Group on Earth Observations is working at the global, regional and at the national levels to make sure that all entities across that entire spectrum that are collecting and using earth observation data are working together. So we have a nice global framework for GEO. But specifically for the sustainable development goals, we are working with another global framework which is being managed by the UN-GGIM [the Global Geographic Information Management System]. So together there are international frameworks that just need to be leveraged. These frameworks are already there but they need to be fully developed and better employed and supported.

This story is from the August 2016 edition of Geospatial World.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the August 2016 edition of Geospatial World.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM GEOSPATIAL WORLDView All
The Internet Of Things Is Now Becoming Internet Of Everything
Geospatial World

The Internet Of Things Is Now Becoming Internet Of Everything

Data will only be useful if it is understandable and it will only be understandable and meaningful if it contains the right information, believes Marc Melviez, CEO, Luciad.

time-read
5 mins  |
March 2017
How An Indian Startup Trumped US
Geospatial World

How An Indian Startup Trumped US

As Donald Trump became the 45th president of the United of States of America defeating Hillary Clinton, his campaign not only defined expectations and conventions at every turn, but also proved all predictions wrong. All but one!

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2017
Future With AR & VR
Geospatial World

Future With AR & VR

Augmented reality is connecting a world of data for people who may not be familiar with GIS . 3D and AR/VR are the next big thing in the GIS industry.

time-read
5 mins  |
March 2017
Ai Is Nothreat to Jobs It Only Makes Our Life Better
Geospatial World

Ai Is Nothreat to Jobs It Only Makes Our Life Better

When we see the machines helping mankind without writing explicit software but through learning, just like we humans have learnt – it is totally path-breaking.

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2017
Geospatial World

Luciad's Smart City

Solution Makes Real Time Data Visualization Easy

time-read
2 mins  |
September-October 2017
Geospatial World

Satellite Imagery+Crop Insurance=Small Holder Farmer's Gain

Satellite intelligence is enriching new insurance products aimed at helping India's smallholders to withstand climate shocks

time-read
5 mins  |
September-October 2017
He Rocked the Mapping World
Geospatial World

He Rocked the Mapping World

THE HARDER THE STRUGGLE, THE more glorious the triumph. But not many people have the courage to persevere in the face of failures.

time-read
5 mins  |
January 2017
Rolling in the Deep
Geospatial World

Rolling in the Deep

WHEN IT COMES TO choosing a career path, India has a long tradition of following the family practise. It is pretty common to see a doctor’s son taking up medicine or a chartered accountant’s daughter joining her father’s firm. So, when the son of the Dean of the city’s medical college and the grandson of the state’s most prominent physician decided to break the family tradition, quite a few eyebrows were raised.

time-read
5 mins  |
January/February 2017
How Mr. GPS Changed the World
Geospatial World

How Mr. GPS Changed the World

HE IS NOT A BUSINESSMAN. HE IS NOT A DREAMER.

time-read
5 mins  |
January/February 2017
Mapping A Sustainable Future
Geospatial World

Mapping A Sustainable Future

How open data is helping Nepal to commercialize agriculture.

time-read
5 mins  |
August 2016