Best practices in the use of GIS

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Best practices in the use of GIS census mapping
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Overview

• Ensuring Commitment for a long-term digital
  census mapping program
• Conducting a comprehensive needs assessment
• Tailor-made methodology of integration
• A Permanent unit for Cartography/GIS within the
  NSO
• Partnership and cooperation
• Capacity Building for sustaining the census
  mapping program

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Ensuring Commitment for a long-term digital
census mapping program

• Defined long-term funding plan including cost
  recovery and data pricing strategies
• Inclusion of accurate estimates for maintenance
  and associated costs
• Frequent milestones and delivery of output
  products to encourage adherence to pre-set time
  frames
• Use of clear protocols, for example with GPS for
  the collection and processing of data
• Adherence to geographic standards

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Conducting a comprehensive needs assessment

• Completion of a user needs assessment and a
  priori definition of output products, with a
  clear implementation schedule
• What are the costs for Upgrades of hardware
  or/and existing software?
• Is a LAN configuration needed?
• What are the staff training needs/ Is the
  existing workforce adequate?
• What is the ease and difficulty as far as
  installation of hardware/software as well as
  maintenance?
• What infrastructure documentation, manuals,
  Help-line, and vendor support (patches etc.)?

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Conducting a comprehensive needs assessment
(cont.)

• Initial cost
• Upgrades
• LAN configuration
• Training needs/Workforce
• Ease of installation
• Maintenance
• Documentation and manuals
• Help-line and vendor support
• Means of making patches for support

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Conducting a comprehensive needs assessment
(cont.)

• Conduct an inventory of the census data
  requirements and sources of relational
  information.
• Widespread availability of digital data on the
  Internet, many GIS projects do not ensure
  efficient data collection, input, and
  integration.
• Check for data that are already in digital
  format.
• Examine the requirements for census data
  conversion (scan paper maps. input data from
  statistical yearbooks etc.)

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Tailor-made methodology of integration

• Use of data integration methodologies
  Well-established quality control /quality
  assurance procedures
• Constructing a logical spatial analysis flow
  chart that details the project steps will make
  the success of the census more likely
• What types of collection (enumeration process),
  processing (pre post enumeration) and analyses
  (data dissemination) is needed and what will be
  performed?
• Tailor-made methodology of the spatial analysis
  methodology
• The spatial analysis flow diagram should include
• An outline of the procedures required for the
  collection of data and integration of
  possible existing data
• A logical sequence of census mapping procedures
  to be performed
• A list of all the existing data needed data
  required for each step

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A Permanent unit for Cartography/GIS within the
NSO

• The decision to invest in geospatial technology
  is need-based and problem-driven
• Cannot be technology-driven or as an independent
  add-on
• Technology is treated as an integral part of the
  overall management strategy
• Detailed strategic, operational and managerial
  planning based on a realistic assessment of costs
  and effort involved, with clear goals and
  objectives defined for geospatial operations

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Partnership and cooperation

• Solid development of cooperative agreements with
  other interested parties
• Fostering of spatial data infrastructure
  arrangements to expand partnerships and
  cooperation
• Facilitation of data sharing through detailed
  documentation and metadata across user networks

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Capacity Building for sustaining the census
mapping program

• A champion or key person(s) to promote geospatial
  development within the organization, and
  high-level management support
• In terms of human resources, ability to provide
  training and support for relevant employees and
  management
• Staffing needs met, including the ability to
  retain skilled staff and hire contractors where
  appropriate
• Well-defined written contracts with vendors,
  consultants, partners and clients within and
  outside the government

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• Thank You