Dr. Zaffar Sadiq Mohamed Ghouse
Hon.FSSSI, FRSI, FIE Aust, Executive Director, Spatial vision   Australia

Topic to be discussed in the event is,

Evolution of Geospatial Ecosystem Beyond SDI

A new geospatial ecosystem beyond traditional SDI is needed in response to a geospatial landscape that has evolved radically since spatial data infrastructures (SDI) were first conceptualized in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This evolution includes changes in technology; the volume and nature of geospatial information being generated; the increased importance of location, from government policy-making to an individual user’s daily living experiences; the rise of large and well-resourced private companies providing geospatially based platforms and services; the skill sets needed to exploit the new opportunities which have opened up; data management and governance, including the importance of protecting privacy and dealing with bias and cybersecurity issues; more advanced analytical tools, such as artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML); a widening digital divide between developed and developing nations; and the roles, relevance and capabilities of different organisations and institutions. SDI concepts are based on the notion of an infrastructure, a platform on which products and services are provided or built, with governments playing a central role in its establishment, operation and maintenance.