TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION KEY TO ACHIEVING THE

2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Knowledge Partners

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

CONTENTS
Preface05
Transforming our World with Geospatial Information
06
Introduction07
Capitalizing On Data Revolution08
Geospatial data to measure & monitor SDGs09
Need of the hour-quality geospatial data in space & time14
Enabling frameworks for SDG's monitoring21
Integrating statistical & geospatial information25
Training & capacity development26
Conclusion30
Prospects and Challenges for Application of High Resolution
Earth Observation Data in Sectors Supporting SDG Agenda
Country Profiles & Intelligence

32

33

ETHIOPIA

43

INDIA

56

INDONESIA

68

MEXICO

79

NIGERIA

91

PHILIPPINES

101

SPAIN

113

UAE

124

ARGENTINA

131

AUSTRALIA

137

BRAZIL

144

CANADA

151

CHILE

157

COLOMBIA

163

COSTARICA

169

GHANA

175

ITALY

181

KENYA

187

LIBERIA

193

MALAYSIA

199

MOZAMBIQUE

205

NEW ZEALAND

211

TANZANIA

217

THAILAND

Glossary224

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

PREFACE
Reaching the furthest behind first with geospatial information
In September 2015, when the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
to transform our world by 2030, it was termed as a grand plan of action for people, planet and
prosperity. With an integrated and indivisible global agenda, the Goals opened up a new coherent
way of thought and action on issues as diverse as poverty, education and climate change to achieve
sustainable development in its three dimensions economic, social and environmental.
Learning from the mistakes of MDG implementation, the SDG Agenda laid out meticulous road
map to implement, measure and monitor the progress through 230 indicators under the 17 Goals,
recognizing earth observation and geospatial data as a prerequisite underpinning the success of
the Agenda. This has opened up an immense opportunity and a challenge at the same time to the
global geospatial community.
The current study Geospatial Information, Key to Achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development - commissioned by DigitalGlobe and produced by Geospatial Media &
Communications, makes an overarching assessment of the significance of earth observation
and geospatial data in supporting a wide range of indicators and targets of the Agenda 2030.
While presenting some of the existing geospatial frameworks available globally, the study points
out critical gap areas that need immediate attention to ensure the full potential of geospatial
data is realized. The study gives a historic perspective from sustainable development standpoint
and makes a keen assessment of the prospective sustainable development sectors in identified
countries.
Progressive businesses like DigitalGlobe have been supporting bold societal ambition, partnering
with multiple stakeholders in supporting disaster mitigation and relief efforts, fostering
development, and reaching out to remote communities, while balancing its commercial interests
simultaneously.
The present study will act as a benchmark study for DigitalGlobe in formulating its business
development strategies in furthering its vision of seeing a better world by reaching the furthest
behind first with geospatial information.
Team Market Intelligence & Business Consulting
Geospatial Media & Communications

TRANSFORMING

OUR

WORLD

TRANSFORMING
OUR WORLD
WITH GEOSPATIAL
INFORMATION

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

I. INTRODUCTION
The world today is experiencing a deluge of data. Every time one uses that
weather app on their smartphone, every time one checks-in to his/her office
using a biometrics device, every time a bar-coded product is moved across an
assembly line or every time a satellite orbits imaging or communicating with
earth, data is created. Increasingly, this data is being pored over, structured,
analyzed and inferred for patterns and insights before a decision is made.
However, this is not a uniform scenario across the world. Developed economies
are grappling with an abundance of data while there are parts of globe where
data scarcity prevails. This is the paradox of data revolution. The paradox
however is symptomatic of a broader disparity. Those countries/societies
experiencing data scarcity are also those that tend to be the most vulnerable,
particularly with respect to poverty, gender inequality, conflict and extremism,
disasters and climate change. At the same time, the world is on the threshold
of immense opportunity an opportunity of development and bridging the divide
that exists among the countries. The United Nations Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) initiated in 2000 have consolidated several disparate sustainable
development initiatives into a common framework and set concrete goals.
Consequently, significant progress has been made in a number of areas, though
the progress remains uneven, particularly in the least developed and developing
countries. Also, many of the MDGs were never fully realized, in particular those
related to maternal, newborn, child and reproductive health.
To continue the development strides and to fulfill the vision of MDGs, the United
Nations announced the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in September
2015 - an ambitious, integrated, indivisible and transformational global agenda
to reach the furthest behind first. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and
the 169 associated targets with 230 indicators promise to achieve sustainable
development in its three dimensions economic, social and environmental
making the agenda a new coherent way of thinking about how issues as
diverse as poverty, education and climate change fit together as an indivisible
whole. While the agenda itself is global, it takes different national realities into
consideration and guides and permits governments to incorporate these Goals
and targets into their national planning processes and strategies as per their

The 17
Sustainable
Development
Goals and the
169 associated
targets with
230 indicators
promise to achieve
sustainable
development in its
three dimensions
economic, social
and environmental

priorities.

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

II. CAPITALIZING ON DATA

REVOLUTION

The 2030 Agenda, while defining its goals and

A key lesson from MDG implementation is that a

importance of adequate data for the follow-up

lack of reliable data can undermine governments

and review of the progress made in implementing

ability to set goals, optimize investment decisions

those goals and targets. The basic objective of the

and measure progress. The SDG Agenda will

2030 Agenda that no one is to be left behind

continue the development work set under MDG

will require quality, accessible, timely and reliable

Agenda adding the challenges of ensuring

disaggregated data to help with the measurement

more equitable development and environmental

of the progress. However, the Agenda acknowledged

sustainability. Crucial to their success will be good

that baseline data for several of the targets and

governance, informed by strong statistical systems

indicators remain unavailable, indicating that

that can measure and incentivize progress across all

the data paradox is indeed a reality, and calls for

the goals.

increased support for strengthening data collection

targets as aspirational and global, recognized this

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

and capacity development in Member States, to

develop national and global baselines where they do

III. GEOSPATIAL DATA TO

MEASURE & MONTIOR SDGs

not yet exist.

While recognizing that each country could use
Today, data have become bigger, faster, more current

different visions, approaches, models and tools

and detailed than ever before. Advances in sensor

available for achieving SDGs based on the national

technologies, communications and IT are leading to

circumstances and priorities, the UN acknowledged

this exponential increase, adding to the volume and

the significance and the need for leveraging a

types of data, creating unprecedented possibilities

wide range of data, including earth observation

for informing and transforming the society (Figure1).

and geospatial data4 to measure and monitor the

National statistical systems have seen rapid

progress of SDG targets. The national statistical

advances over the past ten years; with improved

offices and census bureaus are wrested with the

use of national strategies for the development of

responsibility of measuring and monitoring the

statistics, and more regular census and survey-

targets and indicators. The Agenda underscored

based data collection. The next step is to capitalize

the need to develop capacities of national statistical

on the data revolution and turn it into a revolution for

offices and data systems, especially in developing

sustainable development.

and least developed countries, to ensure access to

timely, reliable and disaggregated data. However,

With the right tools, policies and investments, we

while these organizations are familiar with

can move towards better quality, high frequency

demographic information and population data,

data on sustainable development in all countries.

it is often observed that they are unaware of the

The adoption of Agenda 2030 indeed presents an

significance and utility of geospatial data to monitor

opportunity to build on the momentum of data

the progress of the Goals and targets.

revolution, expanding data-input categories with

new technology innovations, and demonstrating the

The Agenda committed itself to conducting regular

central role of in sustainable development.

and inclusive reviews of progress at sub-national,

Figure 1: The Growth of Data: Trends in Data Availability, Data Openness and Mobile Phone Use3

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

Goal
Goal 2: End hunger,
achieve food security
and improved nutrition
and promote sustainable
agriculture

Target

EO Application

2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food

production systems and implement
resilient agricultural practices that
increase productivity and production...
2.3 Adopt measures to ensure the
proper functioning of food commodity
markets and their derivatives, and
facilitate timely access to market
information, including on food reserves,
in order to help limit extreme food price
volatility.

Global earth observations allow crop

monitoring and provide early insights on
anomalies in crop condition aiding food
supply and production forecasts (Figure 2)
facilitating monitoring as prescribed by
indicators under this target.
The Agricultural Market Information
System (AMIS) provides monthly crop
health estimates through its Market
Monitor6 supporting the indicators
under this target.

Table 1: Targets under Goal 2 and EO application

national, regional and global levels. It encourages

For achieving Goal 2.4 (Table 1), the indicator

nations to identify and create most suitable

framework5 mandates countries to periodically

mechanisms to build on existing follow-up and

monitor and estimate the proportion of agricultural

review mechanisms at these levels. The Inter-

land under resilient practices. Until recently, in

Agency and Expert Group (IAEG) on SDG Indicators

many developing and least developed countries,

developed a list of indicators for the monitoring of

monitoring and evaluation was commonly done by

the Goals and targets at the global level.

manual surveys, which were expensive, logistically

Courtesy: GEOGLAM
Figure 2: Crop conditions as in June 2016 over the main growing areas for wheat, maize, rice, and soybean are based on a combination of national and regional crop analyst inputs along with earth observation data. Crops that are in other than favourable conditions
are displayed on the map with their crop symbol

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TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

Figure 3: Earth Observation and geospatial information resources for SDG monitoring.
Courtesy: Group on Earth Observations (GEO)

11

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

challenging and extremely time

consuming. Also, these estimates
were not very accurate and
not reliable in countries where
statistical infrastructures are weak.
Comprehensive and accurate
location-based information drawn
from high-resolution satellite- and
aerial-earth observation data could
be used, to support such measuring
and monitoring outcomes. The

When combined
with demographic
and statistical
data, EO data and
analyses can enable
nations monitor
change over a period
of time in a standard
format and make
decisions and midterm corrections.

The crop monitor reports provide

global crop condition assessments
in support of the Agricultural Market
Information System (AMIS) market
monitoring activities (Figure 2). Both
GEOGLAM and AMIS were endorsed
by G20 countries and were tasked
to coordinate satellite monitoring
observation systems to enhance crop
production projects and weather
forecasting data. These report
supprot Targets 2.4 & 2.3 effectively.

Group on Earth Observations

(GEO)s Global Agricultural Monitoring (GEOGLAM)

Collected at local, national and global levels, and

initiative is worth citing here. It sends out periodic

supported by IT tools and other best available

crop monitor reports, strengthens the international

technologies, earth observation data have the potential

communitys capacity to produce and disseminate

to play a critical and insightful role in monitoring

relevant, timely and accurate forecasts of agricultural

the targets, tracking the progress and helping

production at national, regional and global scales

countries make mid-term corrections to several of

using earth observations, including satellite and

the Sustainable Development Goals (Figure 3). When

ground-based observations .

combined with demographic and statistical data, these

Figure 4: Forest cover image for Brazil-2000-2010.

Courtesy: GlobeLand 30

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TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

data and analyses can enable nations monitor change

management and support several targets under Goal

over a period of time in a standard format and make

2, Goal 3, Goal 11, Goal 13 and Goal 15 (Figure 4).

decisions.
The Rio+20 outcome document The Future
Another example is the effective use of EO data to

We Want8 , which renewed the commitment of

observe land use and land cover changes. Apart from

heads of State and government to sustainable

providing a general view of land cover, such data can

development, specifically recognizes the importance

be used to predict the onset of drought, flooded areas

of reliable geospatial information in the areas

and can best serve as a pre-planning as well as a

of national disaster risk reduction strategies and

monitoring and evaluation. Consider the example

plans (including comprehensive hazard and risk

of GlobeLand 30, a global land cover dataset at 30m

assessments), and for sustainable development,

resolution for the years 2000 and 2010, developed by

policymaking, programming and project operations9.

the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping

The efforts of United Nations Platform for Space-

and GeoInformation (NASG). The datasets, drawn

based Information for Disaster Management and

from Landsat 4, 5 and 7, MODIS, and Chinese HJ

Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) is promoting

scenes, are organized by ten major land cover classes

the use of earth observation to monitor and

and provide essential high-resolution land cover

track the efforts put in by countries towards the

and change information freely available for climate

sustainable development goal of climate action

change studies, environment monitoring, resource

(SDG13). In the area of disaster risk reduction and

Water
and Sanitation
6 Clean

Target 6.3 By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, illuminating dumping and
minimizing the least hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated
waste water and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.

POPULATION DENSITY OVERLAID ON UNTREATED WASTEWATER

LEAKING TO THE ENVIRONMENT, ETHIOPIA SUB NATIONAL

Integrating data from Earth observations and geospatial information with national surveys to monitor the impact of
untreated wastewater on the population. The map on the left shows the extent of leakage of wastewater, excreta and
grey water, with areas in red denoting extensive pollution. The map on the right integrates all data and shows where
there is high impact i.e. high leakage in densely populated areas.
Courtesy: Group on Earth Observations (GEO)

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Courtesy: UN-GGIM

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

Figure 5: Extending national fundamental data themes to the 17 SDGs and targets by menas of the global indicator framework

emergency response, UN-SPIDER contributes

(Figure 5). However, the opportunity brings with it

to the charter laid down in COP21 , the historic

substantial expectation to deliver!12

10

2015 Paris Climate Conference, taking note of the

launch of the Climate Risk Early Warning Systems

This is not an easy task as very little is understood

(CREWS). CREWS is expected to contribute to one

regarding the role of geography in sustainable

of the seven targets of the Sendai Framework for

development processes at the inter-governmental

Disaster Risk Reduction and focuses on increasing

level, including how geospatial information can be

the availability of and access to multi-hazard early

applied to sustainable development, and how policies

warning systems.

can be implemented to bring geospatial and statistical

11

data together in a coherent and integrated manner.

Geospatial professionals, for many years, both

A few common threads could however be identified

individually and collectively, have articulated and

in line with the SDG Goals and targets that could

stressed the role, need and value of geospatial

potentially be useful in many developing countries.

information, technology and services to the

The subsequent sections will discuss a few of these.

governments and decision makers. But now is the

moment in time where they can, and must, elevate
and demonstrate our geospatial value proposition.
The global geospatial community, particularly through
national geospatial information agencies, has a unique

IV. NEED OF THE HOUR

QUALITY GEOSPATIAL DATA
IN SPACE & TIME

the global development agenda in a more holistic and

A. New Data to Address Data Scarcity

& Data Gaps

sustainable manner, specifically in measuring and

The 2030 Agenda specifically stresses the need for

monitoring the targets and indicators of the SDGs

new data acquisition and integration approaches to

opportunity to integrate geospatial information into

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TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

improve the availability, quality,

timeliness and disaggregation
of data to support the
implementation of the new
development agenda at all
levels. This would also include
data that is potentially available
but needs to be repurposed for
new needs.
The IEAG highlights new data

One solution to address

the data gaps is to adopt
open data policies that
facilitate broad and open
access to existing data.
Open data policies need
to be supported with
mechanisms for easy
access and easy discovery
of data

spatial resolution but in

their temporal resolution.
For example, a few of the
indicators require more
current data, while the data
available at this point to
measure these indicators is
3-4 years out of date. So, data
production needs to become
more agile and adaptable in
data uses. This however is a

collection and monitoring

challenge for the professional

technologies that are

community and requires

becoming rapidly available. These technologies

partnerships with other organizations and

have the capability to dramatically advance

private sector, who often have a more responsive

national statistical offices and the international

ability to bring, particularly EO data, to the

communitys ability to monitor the impacts of

discussion rather than some of the traditional

development programs, in addition to informing

means.

the way they are designed and implemented.

High-resolution satellite imagery, mobile devices,

One solution to address the data gaps is to

biometric data, and crowdsourced citizen reporting

adopt open data policies that facilitate broad

will change official data collection processes

and open access to existing data. Open data

and the design of the programs they monitor.

policies need to be supported with mechanisms

For example, the cost of high-resolution image

for easy access and easy discovery of data. This

acquisition is falling while the availability of

is because a major part of the data gap in many

imagery and capacity for automated processing are

developing countries is in fact a discovery gap.

increasing. The increasing use of drones and the

Bridging providers and their data with facilitating

feasibility of conducting surveys on digital mobile

mechanisms to increase discovery and usage is

platforms greatly reduces the time and cost of data

the key. This makes standardization and metadata

collection, while improving accuracy, simplifying

availability very important to ensure high-quality

collection of GIS and image data, streamlining

data. Another priority is to promote the integration

integration with other data/information streams.

of space-based data with in situ data. Many

countries are operating in situ data collection

As the geospatial community works through

systems that are not up to todays requirements.

the SDGs and the associated 169 targets and

Efforts to develop complementariness between

230 indicators, the community is realizing

available in situ data and remote data must be

that amongst the existing datasets, there are

made, including developing adapted modeling

a number of data gaps and some of them

approaches. This again requires institutional

considerable data gaps, not so much in their

strengthening.

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TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

Geospatial data and SDG11, the study of South Korean UIS13

The following study analyses the existing urban data

multiple sources is provided in an easily accessible,

repositories in South Korea vis--vis SDG 11 indictors

interoperable, and combinable manner.

and evaluates the gaps in the data systems.

South Korea developed four systems - the Korea
SDG 11 (Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and

Planning Support System (KOPSS), Urban Planning

sustainable) is quite crosscutting, and can potentially

Information System (UPIS), U-City project, and

strengthen other SDGs as well. An urban information

Spatial Big Data System (SBDS) - and together they

system (UIS) serves as a data provider, analytic

are collecting information, providing analytics and

engine, and information-sharing platform for the

solutions for regional planning, urban policies, and big

measurement and monitoring of the SDGs.

data activities. Junyoung Choi et al14 evaluated these

organizations with respect to the above parameters.

However, the success of a national UIS in the context

The study showed that SDG 11 indicators need to

of SDGs depends on four factors - whether the UIS

be measured in the geographical units of nodes/

is able to provide data at the geographical units (and

links, administrative or statistical boundaries, user-

not statistical or administrative units) necessary to

defined aggregation units, points, radii, and parcels as

measure the SDG indicators; whether the data is

described in Table2. The analysis showed that certain

open and discoverable; whether the UIS can support

indicators are measurable through spatial analyses

spatial analysis functions; and whether data from

while others are statistically measurable.

Table 2
The objects of measurement and geographic units for SDG 11 indicators

16

SDG 11 indicators

Objects of measurement

Geographic
unit

Measurement

11.1. Number of street intersections

per square kilometre.

Street density, street safety, and

public space in cities.

Node/Link

SA

11.2. Existence and implementation

of a national urban and human
settlement policy framework.

Governments commitment to
sustainable urban development
and safe and sustainable human
development.

Sta

11.3. Percentage of cities with more

than 100,000 inhabitants that are
implementing risk reduction and
resilience strategies informed by
accepted international frameworks.

Disaster and climate

preparedness of the city, to be
updated in accordance with the
new Hyogo framework.

Sta

11.4. Presence of urban building

codes stipulating either the use of
local materials and/or new energy
efficient technologies or with
incentives for the same.

Sustainable local production and

consumption of raw materials and
low-carbon development.

Sta

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

SDG 11 indicators

Objects of measurement

Geographic
unit

Measurement

11.5. City biodiversity index

(Singapore index): Green space and
biodiversity are crucial for a healthy
urban environment.

Protection of endemic species as

well as the environmental health
of the city.

SA

11.6. Percentage of consumption

of food and raw materials within
urban areas that are produced and
delivered in/from rural areas within
the country.

Linkages between rural and urban

areas, and the health of their codependency vis-a-vis the national
economy.

Sta

Indicator 6 cross-reference: Losses from natural disasters caused by

climate and non-climate related events (in US$ and in lives lost)

Point

Sta/SA

Indicator 66: Percentage of the urban population living in slums or

informal settlements

SA

Indicator 67: Percentage of people within 0.5 km of public transit running

at least every 20 min.

Radius

SA

Indicator 68: Ratio of the land consumption rate to population growth rate
at comparable scales.

SA

Indicator 69: Mean urban air pollution level for particulate matter (PM10
and PM2.5).

A/Point

SA

Indicator 70: Area of public and green space as a proportion of total city
space.

Parcel,
statistical
boundary

Sta

Indicator 71: Percentage of urban solid waste regularly collected and well
managed.

Sta

A: Administrative boundary, D: Defined aggregation unit

Sta: Statistically measurable, SA: Spatial analysis

With respect to data openness and availability of spatial analysis functions for SDG 11
indicators, the analysis rated Korean UIS as below:

SDG 11
indicators

Data openness

11.1

Availability of spatial analysis functions

KOPSS

UPIS

U-City

SBDS

Limited open data

11.2

Not available

11.3

Not available

11.4

Open data

11.5

Limited open data

11.6

Not available

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TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

SDG 11
indicators

Data openness

Availability of spatial analysis functions

KOPSS

UPIS

U-City

SBDS

Limited open data

66

Permitted open data

67

Open data

68

Available data

69

Open data

70

Open data

71

Limited open data

O: Available, X: Not Available

18

With respect to geospatial standards, the study

monitoring SDG 11 indicators to some extent.

revealed that the standards adopted by the UIS

Geospatial data of the evaluated systems support

are mostly concerned with geospatial services,

various geographic units of data collection

while the standards related to geospatial data

and analysis, a key requirement for SDG

construction are few. Also, Korean standards

measurements. Some of the systems are also

of geospatial data construction and quality

equipped with functions capable of analyzing SDG

management remain abstract-level standards and

11 indicators, and they provide open geospatial

have limits when applied to the development of

data and comply with standards for geospatial

geospatial information systems.

services.

In terms of spatial analysis functions, KOPSS and

A detailed examination and analysis of the

UPIS can be used to measure the indicators, while

information systems existing at national and local

U-City has advantages in terms of measuring

levels on the above parameters is crucial to assess

environment-related indicators but disadvantages

the current state of data availability and reliability.

in terms of statistical measurements. The SBDS

This will facilitate a thorough understanding of

is weak for statistical and environment-related

the gap areas that need to be addressed by the

measurements. The evaluation showed that

administration to meet the specific SDG indicators

Korean UIS are applicable to measuring and

related to the information system.

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

B. Open Geospatial Data, a

conduit to SDG success
In the context of heightened
significance of data and its
availability for measuring and
monitoring SDG progress, the
discussion around open data gains
a lot of attention. It is common
knowledge that organizations,
especially those in the government
sector, produce variety of
geospatial data periodically to
perform their tasks, amassing
huge repositories of archived

A Danish investment
of US$125 million
in spatial data
infrastructure
between 2012 and
2016 brought returns
of an estimated
US$33 million net
benefit per annum for
the public sector and
US$ 66 million net
benefit per annum for
the private sector

data over a period of time, often

geospatial data is not only related

to increasing democracy and
transparency in governance, but is
also a means to promote economic
and social opportunities. Studies
found that central investment in
core open-access spatial data
brings significant financial returns.
For example, a Danish investment
of US$125 million in spatial data
infrastructure between 2012
and 2016 brought returns of an
estimated US$33 million net benefit
per annum for the public sector
and US$ 66 million net benefit per

locking them up and restricting/limiting its re-use

annum for the private sector16. A similar Finnish

and redistribution. The Open Data Handbook

study showed that business growth is 15 percent

defines open data as data that can be freely used,

higher in countries where public-sector geographic

re-used and redistributed by anyone - subject only,

data is freely available17.

at most, to the requirement to attribute and share

alike15. Geospatial data has a cost attached to it and

While it is impossible to predict precisely how

expanding the scope of its usability (re-usability)

and where the value is created, the argument

by opening them up as per this definition only

for opening up data gains more meaning and

increases the RoI on the data, while benefiting the

relevance in the context where geospatial data is

society in more ways than originally imagined.

either sparse or not readily discoverable. GEO has

long played an important role in promoting open

As government data is public data by law, the

argument of open data enthusiasts is to make

14

data open and make them available for other

12

departments/organizations (public and private)

sources and patterns in large data volumes. Open

Scenes in Millions

2
Daily Average = 53 scenes best year of sales (2001)
Daily Average = 5,700 scenes web-enabled data delivered

1.
1.
0
4. 8
1.
0
7. 8
1.
10 08
.1
.0
1. 8
1.
0
4. 9
1.
0
7. 9
1.
10 09
.1
.0
1. 9
1.
1
4. 0
1.
1
7. 0
1.
10 10
.1
.1
1. 0
1.
1
4. 1
1.
1
7. 1
1.
10 11
.1
.1
1. 1
1.
1
4. 2
1.
1
7. 2
1.
10 12
.1
.1
1. 2
1.
1
4. 3
1.
13

creating new knowledge from combined data

Free data policy

October 1, 2008

07

services, improving innovation and empowerment,

1.

services, improving efficiency and effectiveness of

Exceeded 11 million scenes to date

10
.

democratic control, facilitating new products and

11,898,738 Landsat
Scenes distributed as of
June 10, 2013

Courtesy: GEO

data is creating value, increasing transparency and

User shift to multi-year scenes at same location

10

and individuals. Successful examples point to a

large number of areas where open government

Data delivered to 186 countries

Figure 6: Increasing downloads of free Landsat Data.

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TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

data access to unleash the

power of earth observations.
In fact, one of the first
accomplishments of GEO was
the acceptance of a set of highlevel data sharing principles
as a foundation for setting up
Group on Earth Observation
System of Systems (GEOSS).
The 10-Year Implementation
Plan and the 2016-2025
Strategic Plan of GEO
emphasize on the full and open
exchange of data, metadata
and products shared within
GEOSS, recognizing relevant

Data needs to be
complemented by
innovative approaches
to data dissemination
and usage. Re-purposing
available data, evolving
solution-orientated
approaches to harness
existing data and
measuring progress on the
SDGs and to strengthen
the cross-sectoral and
multi-scalar analysis of
data for SDG monitoring
are quite important.

C. Harnessing Data for

SDG Monitoring:
While data instruments form the
bedrock of an effective national
monitoring system, experts
opine that data/open data is only
a starting point. It is an enabler
but not sufficient for SDG
implementation and monitoring.
Data needs to be complemented
by innovative approaches to
data dissemination and usage.
Re-purposing available data,
evolving solution-orientated
approaches to harness existing
data and measuring progress on

international instruments and national

the SDGs and to strengthen the cross-sectoral and

policies and legislation.

multi-scalar analysis of data for SDG monitoring are

quite important.

About 36 years into the launch and successful

operation, the United States Geological Survey

Decision makers on SDG implementation are

(USGS) opened its Landsat archive in 2008.

normally far away from data on the value chain and

The availability of free and open data resulted

are more interested in information or knowledge.

in explosive data distribution growth and an

Stakeholders need to create tools, services and

expansion in data application. As per a USGS

solutions that enable the transition from data to

analysis released in 2013, the daily average scene

information & knowledge and also tools that provide

downloads jumped from 53 in 2001 to more than

access to knowledge. This will help decision makers

5700 in 2013, an exponential jump in data access

make evidence-based analyses and decisions and

(Figure 6).

also customize the solutions to their need.

Several weeks of heavy rain triggered landslides and flooding in Madagascar, causing a loss of life and displacing 36,000 people.
WorldView-3 captured this image of flooding in Antananarivo, Madagascar on February 9, 2015.

20

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

One approach to achive this

is to create an environment
of innovation and creativity.
Innovation in creating data, in
visualization and in using data
is most needed in the context
of SDG monitoring. Data has no
value until it is used, and the
more data is used, the more
value they create. Activities
to improve data literacy will
act to increase the demand
for and use of data. Monetary

UN-GGIM and GEO are

working closely with the
Inter-Agency and Expert
Group on SDG Indicators
in providing expertise and
advice and the statistical
community on how
geospatial information,
earth observations and
other new data sources
can reliably contribute to
the indicators

incentives, increasing awareness

spot disease outbreaks, failures

in supply chains, or the need to
bolster technical staff in near
real time. The information can
be used at future visits to the
doctor or to remind patients
about follow-up visits or
medical interventions18.
Further, a clear dialoge and
clear collaboration between
data providers, solution
providers and data users
in co-designing the tools is

of researchers about the importance of sustainable

required to enhance the value and utility of open

development issues, and promoting knowledge

data to monitor the targeted SDGs.

sharing across the stakeholders and experimental

approaches are a few suggestions. It is important
not to view efforts to spur innovation as costs/
expenditure, but rather as long-term investments in

V. ENABLING FRAMEWORKS
FOR SDG MONITORING

producing credible data and increasing the efficiency

of data production, and utilization over time.

A. Global Geospatial Frameworks

Several frameworks already exist at global level

Another way to improve data collection and

either facilitating data access and/or providing

use for sustainable development is to create

advisories to nations in creating frameworks

active linkages between service delivery and

and infrastructure for facilitating geospatial

data collection and processing. For example, in

information. The United Nations initiative on

remote villages of developing countries, everyday,

Global Geospatial Information Management

community health workers help patients fight

(UN-GGIM) is playing a leading role in setting the

diseases (such as malaria), get them to clinics for

agenda for the development of global geospatial

check-ups, to receive immunizations, to obtain

information and to promote its use to address

diagnoses, and to access emergency aid for their

key global challenges. UN-GGIMs Committee of

infants and young children. But the data from such

Experts provides a platform for the development of

visits is usually not collected, and even if it is put

effective strategies to build and strengthen national

on paper, is never used again. If community health

capacities in geospatial information, as well as

workers are supported by smartphone applications,

disseminating best practices and experiences

which they can use to log patient data at each

of national, regional and international bodies on

visit, that data can go directly onto public-health

geospatial information related to legal instruments,

dashboards, which health managers can use to

management models and technical standards19.

21

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

GEO, a voluntary partnership of governments

Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) are

and organizations, envisions a future wherein

developing and facilitating access to geospatial

decisions and actions for the benefit of humankind

information and knowledge. As part of the Working

are informed by coordinated, comprehensive and

Group on Geospatial Information, UN-GGIM and

sustained earth observations and information .

GEO among others, have been working closely with

With 102 governments, European Commission

the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on Sustainable

and 95 participating organisations, GEO is

Development Goal Indicators (IAEG-SDGs) in

20

committed to create a Global Earth

Observation System

of

Systems (GEOSS)
and promote
the use of earth
observation
resources
across

providing expertise and advice to IAEG-SDGs

and the larger statistical community
on how geospatial information,
earth observations and
other new data sources
can reliably and
consistently support
the indicators.

multiple

The Working

societal

Group also

benefit

reviews options

areas and

and provides

make those

guidance to

resources

the IAEG-SDGs,

available
for informed
decision-making.
GEO is working at
the global level, at the
regional level and at the
national level to make sure all
entities across that spectrum that are

on the role of
national statistical
offices (NSOs) in
considering geospatial
information and earth
observations, as well as other
Big Data, as a means to contribute
to and validate datasets as part of official

collecting and using earth observations are working

statistics for SDG indicators; Reviews the agreed

together.

indicators and metadata through a geographic

location lens and identify existing geospatial

Several other global and regional frameworks -

data gaps, methodological and measurements

including The Committee on Earth Observation

issues; Consider how geospatial information

Satellites (CEOS), Global Spatial Data

can contribute to the indicators and metadata;

Infrastructure (GSDI), The UN Platform for Space-

Communicates and visualises the geographic

based Information for Disaster Management and

dimensions and context of the indicators where

Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER), European

appropriate; provides national and regional level

Environment Agency and International Centre for

experiences and best practices in geospatial data

22

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

production to measure, leaving no one behind;

evolve strategies suitable to monitor the indicators

Propose strategies for undertaking methodological

under various SDGs. While this is an easy

work on specific areas for improving disaggregation

consideration in developed countries in terms of

by geographic location concepts for national and

modifying the existing spatial data infrastructures

sub-national reporting, including to the HLG and to

or the equivalent mechanisms, it is important

the Statistical Commission .

to evolve suitable and customized mechanisms

21

in developing countries, small island states and

GEOs initiative GI-18 envisions the organization

least developed countries. This is certainly within

and realization of the potential of earth

UN-GGIMs mandate and it is working to strengthen

observations to advance the 2030 Agenda along

the existing national frameworks worldwide and

with the participating organizations. The initiative

make them relevant to meet the needs of the SDGs.

aims to enable countries and organizations

to leverage earth observations to support the

Considering that the availability of core geospatial

implementation, planning, monitoring, reporting

data is a pre-requisite for calculating the SDG

and evaluation of the SDGs and their normative

indicators, there is also a need to build a consensus

societal benefits. The initiative also serves

on the need to integrate the NSDIs into the national

to advance GEOs strategic engagement with

governments development plans. An NSDI strategy

entities at national to international levels . GEO

that is anchored in sustainable development, as an

will launch 4-6 pilot projects 2016 in specific

overarching theme, would provide an information

countries in a collaboration mode to highlight the

approach to national policy and implementation.

use of earth observations as a proof of concept in

It would also bring the analysis and evidence-

measuring and monitoring the SDG targets and

base to the process, and thereby a consistent

indicators.

monitoring and reporting framework, that would

22

benefit all areas of government. Based on existing

B. National Geospatial Frameworks

national-scale costing studies and expert opinion,

To complement this top-down approach, a

it is estimated that on average, IDA countries

bottom-up approach at the national level is

should budget at least US$ 3,000,000 to build

recommended to evolve mechanisms to effectively

geospatial data infrastructures and should plan

use geospatial information for monitoring the

for a re-occurring operating budgets of between

indicators of Agenda 2030. Several institutional

US$ 600,000 and US$ 850,000 per year23. These

and architectural arrangements unique to

costs include data management, technology, data

individual countries are already in place. In

policy support, and a limited amount of annual data

countries, these arrangements are officially within

analysis and assume that the country has no current

national statistics offices (which are mandated

spatial data infrastructure.

with monitoring the progress of SDGs) and in many

countries, located in other government agencies.

As geospatial community understands, core data

Regardless of where the structures are within

layers are fundamental features that serve as a

the government, there is an imminent need to

reference, or the common denominator, for all GIS

harmonize their processes, build capacities and

data layers. They are required for calculating all

23

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

other spatial data SDG indicators.

Once these core datasets are
developed and shared between
data users through the facilitating
mechanism like NSDI, several
users working on SDG indicators
can avoid duplicating the efforts
of core data development. This
exercise not only fulfills the SDG
indicator requirements, but also is
a critical component for multiple
governance programs including
e-governance map platforms

On average, IDA
countries should
budget at least
US$ 3,000,000 to
build geospatial
data infrastructures
and should plan
for a re-occurring
operating budgets
of between
US$ 600,000 and
US$ 850,000
per year

expectations is the need of the

hour. GEOS initiative to expand
its partnership with UN-GGIM
to build processes, mechanisms
and capacity will benefit the
SDG community integrate earth
observations with geospatial and
statistical information to improve
the measuring, monitoring and
achievement of the SDGs.
GEO could use its convening power
to bring together the groups that

and strategic development plans.

can achieve the identification of all

It would also benefit to task

relevant Essential Variables (EVs)

the NSDIs to work closely with and support the

for both the current and a future updated monitoring

national statistical offices in evolving SDG targets

framework and the integration of socioeconomic

and indicators at the national level and also in

and environmental data. As GEO has sufficient

measuring and monitoring the progress of SDGs.

involvement of S&T communities to support the

implementation of the SDGs, an important task for

C. Collaborating Frameworks

GEO is to establish a working relationship with the

IAEG-SDG to participate in the review of the current

While several global, regional and national

monitoring framework. It is also important that GEO

frameworks government, not-for-profit,

organizes its Work Programme more visibly around

multilateral and private - are individually

the SDGs, and have more GEO Initiatives and GEO

and specifically tasked with promoting the

Community Activities directly related to the SDGs.

use of geospatial information for sustainable

development, an increasing need is felt for them to

Specifically for space-based information generated

fully develop and employ, join forces and support

from EO, global navigation satellite systems and

each other. Now is the time for better coordination

satellite telecommunications, the United Nations

of these initiatives so that data and information

Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) has the

are translated into the development and provision

unique mandate to promote international cooperation.

of adapted solutions, both to measure and

To celebrate 50 years of UNISPACE conferences,

monitor the progress and to equip governments

UNOOSA and the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of

with planning tools they need to successfully

Outer Space (COPUOS) are developing a new global

implement the SDGs. This does not necessarily

framework to collaborate and support nations in

imply that an over-arching structure is required

reaching their SDG targets. There is a lot of work in

but instead, close inter-agency collaboration to

progress at various levels and there is an imminent

properly integrate end-user requirements and

need to evolve more such partnerships for creating

24

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

Statistics

Expert Group on the Integration of Statistical and

Geospatial Information (UN EG-ISGI) paved way
for Member Countries accepting that integrating

SD4SD
Sustainable Data
for
Sustainable Developmnet

Earth Observation

Geospatial Information

Informed by Science, technology and policy

Figure 7: Key areas of data contribution to the global
indicator framework. Courtesy: UN-GGIM

statistical and geospatial information is critical

for local, sub-national, national, regional, and
global decision making processes; measuring
and monitoring the targets and global indicator
framework for the SDGs; Supporting data
sharing between institutions and enhancing
the interoperability of geospatial and statistical
information; Unlocking new insights and data
relationships that would not have been possible
by analysing socio-economic, environmental or

common frameworks that directly and indirectly

geospatial data in isolation of each other; Promoting

contribute to the success of SDGs.

investment and capability building in geospatial

and statistical information and building institutional

VI. INTEGRATING STATISTICAL &

GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION

collaboration between geospatial and statistical

While, all the above-mentioned efforts/initiatives

The challenge however is to understand how best to

have played and/or continue to play a key role in

achieve this integration in an effective and consistent

developing the geospatial data and inputs for the

way. The Expert Group considers the best way to

indicator framework, effective linkages need to

achieve consistent integration is through having a

be developed from the ground up. At the national

common method of geospatially enabling statistical

level, planning and monitoring of the SDGs are the

and administrative data and integrating this with

responsibility of statistics agencies. More often than

geospatial information through an internationally

not, statistical data of a country are not integrated

agreed framework (Figure 8). This is expected to

communities24.

with geospatial data, which is essential for SDG

monitoring (Figure 7). However, developing these
linkages is an urgent need for every country and is
central for SDG Agenda.
The third session of the Committee of Experts of

Accessible
& Usable
Interoperable
data & metadata standards
Common geographies for dissemination
of statistics

UN-GGIM, held in July 2013, acknowledged the

importance of integrating geospatial information
with statistics and agreed to develop a statistical
geospatial framework as a global high level
framework for the integration of statistical and
geospatial information. The setting up of the UN

Geo-coded unit record data in a data

management environment
Use of fundamental geospatial infrastructure
and geo-coding

Figure 8: Global Statistical Geospatial Framework26

Courtsey: UN-GGIM

25

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

Australian Application of SSF

F)
(S
S

Use international statistical and geospatial metadata standards- further development required

Common geographies for dissemination

of statistics

Australian Statistical Geography Standard-ASGS

St
at
ist
ica

lS

pa
tia
l

Fr
am

ew
or
k

Interoperable data &

metadata standards

Geo-coded unit record data in a data management

environment

Statistical data management & Geo-codes are

location coordinate and ASGS Mesh Block

Use of fundamental geospatial infrastructure

and geo-coding

Foundation Spatial Data & NAMF-National Address Management FWork

Courtesy: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

Policies, standards and guidelines support the release,

access, analysis and visualisation of geo-statistics

Accessible
& Usable

Figure 9: Australian Application of Statistical Spatial Framework29

enable new, better and more integrated information

and National Mapping and Cadastral Authorities

for analysis and decision-making process and

(NMCA). Over the past few years, GISCO has

enable comparisons within and between countries.

facilitated geo-referencing of official registers and

The UN EG-ISGI is tasked with developing such a

administrative data used for statistics to allow better

framework . This will serve as a tool and a platform

linkage and integration of statistics and geographic

to communicate and understand the geospatial

information and evaluated big data and linked data

capability requirements for statistical information.

for statistical production27.

While several countries are just opening up to

Responding to the need, the Australian Bureau

the idea and the need to integrate geospatial and

of Statistics (ABS) developed a Statistical Spatial

statistical information, a few countries have been

Framework (SSF)28. The general Statistical Spatial

working evolving mechanisms for integration

Framework developed by the ABS consists of five

25

for the past few years, while

others have established and
well-defined systems. The
Geographic Information System
of the Commission (GISCO)
promotes the use of geographical
information and GIS within the
European Statistical System (ESS)
and the European Commission.
GISCO chairs the working group
on the integration of statistical
and geospatial information,
which includes representatives of
National Statistical Institutes (NSI)

26

elements that are considered

The best way to

achieve consistent
integration is
through having a
common method
of geospatially
enabling statistical
and administrative
data and integrating
this with geospatial
information through
an internationally
agreed framework

essential to integrating geospatial

and socioeconomic information.
The Statistical Spatial Framework
for Australia details the Australian
implementation of this general
Framework as shown in Figure 9.

VII. TRAINING &

CAPACITY
DEVELOPMENT
The monitoring of MDGs taught the
world that data are an indispensable

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

Table 3: Goal 17's emphasis on developing capacities and partnerships

Goal & Target

Indicators

Data Monitoring and accountability:

17.18.1 Proportion of sustainable development

indicators produced at the national level with full
disaggregation when relevant to the target, in
accordance with the Fundamental Principles of Official
Statistics.

17.18 By 2020, enhance capacity building to developing

countries, including for least developed countries and
small island developing States, to increase significantly
the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data
disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity,
migratory status, disability, geographic location and other
characteristics relevant in national contexts

17.18.2 Number of countries that have national

statistical legislation that complies with the
Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics.

Multi-stakeholder partnerships
17.16 Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable
Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder
partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge,
expertise, technology and financial resources, to support
the achievements of the SDGs in all countries, in particular
developing countries.
17.17 Encourage and promote effective public, publicprivate and civil society partnerships, building on the
experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

17.16.1 Number of countries reporting progress

in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness
monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of
the SDGs.
17.17.1 Amount of United States dollars committed to
public-private and civil society partnerships.

element of Sustainable Development Agenda.

technologies and capabilities from data-rich

Despite improvement, critical data, especially

countries to data-poor countries. The UN-GGIM

geospatial data, for development policymaking

along with the whole UN system is conscious about

are still inadequate. Understanding that quality,

capacity development. GEOs GI-18 is strongly

accessible, timely and reliable disaggregated data

focusing on developing training and capacity

will be needed for the success of SDG Agenda,

building programs directly related to the use of EO

the United Nations agreed to intensify efforts to

for the monitoring of SDGs. The implementation

strengthen statistical capacities in developing

plan of GI-18 includes a number of tangible goals

countries and least developed countries. Goal 17

to be achieved by 2020. The global nature of GEO

explicitly discusses the need to build capacities

allows for actions that lead to capacity building on a

and strengthen the means of implementation and

global scale.

revitalize the global partnership for sustainable

development as shown in Table 330.

The UN-SPIDER allocates financial and human

resources to capacity building and institutional

Experts feel that the biggest challenge for the

strengthening in a wide range of thematic areas,

2030 Agenda is around capacity development and

including the use of space-based technology

knowledge transfer and how they can take enabling

and applications for disaster management,

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TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

Mangroves

Mangroves link many of the SDGs

Figure 10: This example of mangroves shows that restoring ecosystems could negatively impact food security or increase inequality or
help to reach targets under SDG 14. Modified from Jules-Plag and Plag (2016).

environmental monitoring, climate change, and

interdependency of the SDGs. Many of the individual

global health. UNOOSA assists the COPUOS, which

SDGs depend on actions focusing on other SDGs, and

has 83 Member States, to coordinate its actions

capacity building needs to take this into account. For

in support of the 2030 Agenda. These actions aim

example, restoring ecosystems under several Targets

to further bring the benefits of space technology

of SDG 15 may be in conflict with SDG1 and SDG2.

and applications to nations implementing the

The example of mangroves cited in Figure 10 shows

2030 Agenda. UNISPACE+50 is actually prioritizing

that they are connected to several SDGs.

building the capacities of nations in accessing and

using space-based technology and applications

Significant technology innovation and intellectual

for better planning and monitoring of SDGs at the

capacities developed within the private sector often

national, regional and global levels.

either do not percolate or see delayed adoption by

government entities leading sustainable development

While a lot of training and capacity building efforts

activities. Considering that geospatial and earth

are going on globally, challenges remain to make

observation industry is taking-off rapidly in private

sure that they are just not one-off

space with cost-effective innovations

events but are sustainable and

that true capacity is getting built
in countries. To be able to ensure
this, GEO is downscaling what it
is doing globally to the regional
level. The AmeriGEOSS, AfriGEOSS
and HimalayanGEOSS initiatives
bring respective governments and
participating organizations together
to integrate their capacity building
efforts and training opportunities.
An important aspect of the SDGs
that is often overlooked is the

28

in sensor technologies, small

To make progress on
action climate change
(SDG 13), the UNEP
Global Adaptation
Gap Report says the
world will need to
invest up to $500
billion annually by
2050, even if the
target of no more
than 2C global
temperature rise is
achieved.

satellites and drones supported

by advancements in IT and data
analytics, it is prudent to make private
industry an equal stakeholder and
partner in capacity development, in
policy making and in implementing
projects pertaining to SDGs. For
example, the Global Partnership
for Sustainable Development Data
supports data-driven decision-making
by initiating more open, new and
usable data. It also helps to develop
and build support for international

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

principles tying together the data, including sharing and

private funding, are clearly needed to bridge the

leveraging current, privately held data.

funding gaps.

What enables countries develop capacities are

With respect to satellite-based EO imagery, one

resources and it is common knowledge that

estimate puts the investment required at US$

resources are quite finite. The Addis Ababa Agenda

150,000,000 for start-up costs and US$ 5,000,000

provided a broad framework for the international

in annual costs covering all 77 IDA countries. One

community to finance sustainable development.

of the cost-effective ways suggested to achieve

Financing the SDGs will require at least $1.5 trillion

higher resolution imagery acquisition for the 77 IDA

extra annually over what was required for the

countries is to create a new non-profit organization

MDGs ($120 billion annually). To make progress on

charged with operating a satellite network and

action climate change (SDG 13), the UNEP Global

making available imagery at no cost to IDA recipient

Adaptation Gap Report says the world will need to

countries. Such a model would have estimated

invest up to $500 billion annually by 2050, even if the

start-up costs of approximately US$ 150 million and

target of no more than 2C global temperature rise is

operating costs of approximately US$ 5 million per

achieved. Therefore, innovative approaches, including

year. The goal would be to provide a minimum of five-

29

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

meter resolution imagery with up to five bands at a

In this background, the success of Agenda 2030

frequency of 5-10 images per year. Within this model,

hinges heavily on the vision, motivation and

countries and global monitoring agencies would use

commitment of the decision-making fraternity. It

both free 30-metre resolution data (from Landsat,

also depends on a close interaction between those

MODIS etc.) and have the option of purchasing even

who are in positions to make policies in support of

higher resolution commercial imagery for specific

the Agenda 2030 and decisions on actions for the

priority areas .

implementation of the SDGs with those who provide

31

the knowledge about progress towards the SDG

VIII. CONCLUSION

targets and the impacts of policies and actions.

Data, especially geospatial data, is the basis for

facilitate a co-design of the research agenda and a

evidence-based decision-making, monitoring and

co-creation of the knowledge for the implementation

accountability. The geospatial community recognizes

and monitoring of the SDGs. To achieve this, it is

that location and geography are significantly linked

important to sensitize and encourage local political

to many, if not all, elements of SDGs. The task before

centers and senior administrators to own and lead

the world geospatial community now is to push

the geospatial efforts in their respective countries.

the geospatial value proposition envelope to the

Without their involvement much of the data and

governments and decision-makers at every level.

information derived will remain in the ivory tower of

Methodologies and infrastructure are needed to

space research.
The first progress report on Sustainable Development
Goals released recently acknowledged that several

In the final analysis, the success of the Agenda

national statistical systems across the globe face

2030 will require capacity-building efforts, while

serious challenges with respect to availability of good

simultaneously exploring new and cost-effective

quality, disaggregated data. As a result, accurate and

technologies for data collection and mechanisms

timely information about certain aspects of peoples

to integrate geospatial and statistical data.

lives are unknown, numerous groups and individuals

Partnerships with civil society, the private sector and

remain invisible, and many development challenges

academia will play a defining role in the success of

are still poorly understood.

the Agenda.

30

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

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14 http://opengeospatialdata.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40965-016-0005-0
15 http://opendatahandbook.org/guide/en/what-is-open-data/
16 http://www.eurogeographics.org/sites/default/files/BasicData_UK_web_2012%2010%2008.pdf
17 http://www.etla.fi/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/dp1260.pdf
18 https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/sdgs-data-collection-by-jeffrey-d-sachs-et-al-2015-09#1bYbDorCdEmSthue.99
19 http://ggim.un.org/about.html
20 https://www.earthobservations.org/wigeo.php
21 http://unstats.un.org/sdgs/files/Working-Group-ToR--GeoSpatial.pdf
22 https://www.earthobservations.org/activity.php?id=52
23 file:///Users/bhanurekha/Desktop/DG-EO/Chapter%201/ref/Data-for-Development-Full-Report-SDSN.pdf
24 http://ggim.un.org/docs/meetings/3rd%20UN-EG-ISGI/Proposal-for-a-global-statistical-geospatial-framework.pdf
25 http://ggim.un.org/docs/meetings/3rd%20UN-EG-ISGI/Proposal-for-a-global-statistical-geospatial-framework.pdf
26 http://ggim.un.org/docs/meetings/3rd%20UN-EG-ISGI/Proposal-for-a-global-statistical-geospatial-framework.pdf
27 http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/gisco/gisco-activities/integrating-statistics-geospatial-information/merging-statistics-and-geospatial-information
28 http://www.nss.gov.au/nss/home.nsf/pages/Statistical%20Spatial%20Framework%20Overview
29 http://www.nss.gov.au/nss/home.nsf/pages/Statistical%20Spatial%20Framework%20Overview
30 Adopted from http://unstats.un.org/unsd/statcom/47th-session/documents/2016-2-SDGs-Rev1-E.pdf
31 http://unsdsn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Data-for-Development-Full-Report.pdf

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