36 GIS IN ACTION Remote Communities Prevail with GIS Small Island SDI Is a Huge Success Highlights „ GIS managers feel a sense of community even on small islands in the middle of the ocean. „ The islands use ArcGIS as the backbone for spatial data sharing. „ Benefits are derived from land being carefully mapped and documented with GIS. GIS for spatial data infrastructure (SDI) is used throughout the world to instill cooperation and collaboration in sharing spatial data to better address social, economic, and environmental issues. It seems logical that large countries like the United States have invested in SDI, such as the Geospatial One-Stop, and national unions, such as the European Union, have come together to share data and resources via the Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe (INSPIRE). Does SDI make sense for smaller countries and communities? Arguably, even smaller nations benefit from land being carefully mapped, public works and utilities documented, environments and biodiversity protected, and resources assessed and strategic planning completed. Thanks to special funding through the joint United Kingdom Foreign Office/Department for International Development Environment Programme, a group of UK overseas territories and the member states of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States are able to rely on GIS for SDI, using the solution for data quality and control, information sharing, and delivering finished products for use between governmental agencies and private organizations. Calling themselves “tiny SDI,” these small islands use ArcGIS as the backbone for spatial data sharing. Most islands were using Esri GIS software products in some form or fashion before SDI was implemented. As Alan Mills, principal with Alan Mills Consulting, Ltd., and one of the thinkers behind using SDI to help manage smaller islands, explains it, “We realized there was synergy in sharing the same add-on applications developed with GIS across the islands. Along with the backup support from other islands doing the same functions, the GIS managers on these remote places would feel a sense of community and have a place to go when they needed help. This is important when you live on a small island in the middle of This map shows endemic tree ferns, trees, and threatening weeds on St. Helen’s Diana’s Peak (as of 2007). the ocean three days’ boat ride from the nearest airport, and you have to be the expert in GPS, databases, cartography, digitizing, and changing the ink in the plotter. Many of these projects produce baby steps in making SDI, but these smaller islands should not be excluded from making best use of GIS for their own special purposes.” Ascension Island Discovers Data Sharing One island that has many unique needs housed in a small space is UK overseas territory Ascension A few thousand of the half million wide-awake (sooty) terns on Ascension Island (photo credit: Alan Mills). Island, situated in the sea halfway between Africa and Brazil. Only 34 square miles in area (approximately 88 square kilometers), the island is inhabited by about 1,000 people. Because the island is a relatively recent volcanic emergence close to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, there is little natural vegetation except for a few species of ferns and spurge, a plant that exudes a bitter milky juice. The island Digital maps for use in GIS applications  Vector maps of municipalities, postcodes and cities now available Maps for Asia  Gapless, overlap-free coverage of more than 240 countries  Ready to use in all standard GIS and CRM applications For more information, please call +49 (0) 7251 9295200. Download free map samples at www.gfk-geomarketing.com/maps. GfK GeoMarketing