gisplanet 2005, estoril, 31 de maio a 2 de junho gis planet 2005 ladies and gentlemen, for the...

GISPLANET 2005, Estoril , 31 de Maio a 2 de Junho

GIS PLANET 2005

Ladies and gentlemen,

For the second time GIS PLANET takes place, again in Portugal as in its first edition, and gathers a outstanding group of experts, companies and institutions from all around the world in order to discuss the most recent developments and future trends of Geographic Information and related technologies.

The organizers of GIS PLANET 2005 should be proud and I want to congratulate them for their effort!

Behind GIS PLANET it is the small but dynamic group of the Portuguese Geographic Information Users Association – USIG – that since its creation in 1990 has done a very consistence work at national level, organizing every two years the national GIS users meeting – ESIG – and also internationally promoting the Portuguese knowledge and the global development of Geographic Information Science and Systems.

Secretary of State for Territorial Ordnance and Secretary of State for Territorial Ordnance and CitiesCities


In 1998, when the first edition of GIS PLANET took place, more than 1500 people joined in Lisbon to discuss how to “Rediscover the world through GIS”. It was very interesting how Professor Michael Goodchild compare the level of importance of GIS with the impact of Portuguese discoveries during the XV century, to conclude that in fact location could be the key issue for the development of modern society and GIS the appropriate tool for integrating and exploring it.

Today, 7 years after, a lot has change, especially on the technological side, but still you are here to Be Spatial.

A small country like Portugal has a lot to offer. The human resources are highly skilled and qualified, our education, science and technological systems are modern, the use of technologies is widely spread within public administration at all levels, and we were pioneers in the use of Geographic Information. GIS PLANET organisers are a good example of the commitment; effort and entrepreneurship that we need to overcome the multi-complex challenges of modern society.



GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION


Geographic Information is undoubtedly the integration building block of modern knowledge that supports decision-making. Be it in a private or at a professional utilization, most of our choices and activities have explicit or implicit geographic references. Geography relates with all of our daily activities and with us.

In fact we all need to be Spatial! We do need a Spatial thinking!

Nowadays information about location underpins a wide range of government and private activities – from environmental and spatial planning, emergency services response and disaster management, infrastructures, health services and education to routing, geo-marketing, games and leisure activities, just to mention and highlight some of the most significant examples.



Nevertheless, the production, maintenance, dissemination, exploration and exploitation of Geographic Information generally require a considerable lump sum of investment that must be well supported and justified, especially in the present context of public expenditure. That is why project’s sustainability is an important topic that has to be addressed and taken under consideration: It’s easy to start, but … ! There are more than enough examples of good ideas and good projects, with enthusiastic kick-offs that do not continue as they were suppose to.

This does not means that we should wait. No! A lot as to be done, pushing forward the use of Geographic Information.



MINISTRY FOR ENVIRONMENT, SPATIAL PLANNING AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT


The Minister for Environment, Spatial Planning and Regional Development, and myself, are well aware of the Geographic Information importance to decision-making, inside and outside of government.

Portugal was one of the first countries to develop a vision for the use and sharing of Geographic Information. In 1990 the SNIG was created and in 1995 it was published on the Internet, becoming the first SDI on the web.

Today we face several challenges in this sector and the Portuguese Geographic Institute (IGP), here present at the Exhibition and with a rich programme of parallel sessions, is well prepared for them.

However we need to definitely overcome the lack of some structural information components. Portugal is one of the few European countries that still have to finish its cadastre coverage and to create an information system to support it.



This is one of the critical areas that the present government is assuming as priority.

Only with cadastre it is possible to have a sound base for territorial knowledge and to implement equal and successful development strategies.

Another important challenge that is being overtaken is the lack of collaboration among different public and/or private entities. The territory is just one and only with a strong institutional co-operation framework is possible to empower the financial resources available, especially within the Public Administration.

The Co-ordination Council for Cartography, chaired by IGP and integrating the Portuguese major Geographic Information official producers and users, is crucial in this process as the appropriate forum for discussion among public bodies and for renewing of the legislation framework. That is what has been done during the last few years and that is what has to be done in the future.

Applied research is another axis that we want to pursue. New challenges must be faced with new solutions and research activity is necessary to identify new ways of producing Geographic Information components, new ways of using it and, even more important, new areas for its use, broadening its frontiers.



One more remark to stress that Lisbon Strategy and an effective e-government policy must be supported by a robust interoperable group of information systems containing necessarily Geographic Information. Several measures are being taken at political level and in the European context we have some good examples like the PSI directive, INSPIRE, GMES and GALILEO.

At technical and scientific level we need to discuss ideas, projects, results and experiences at an international level. Today, modern society global network based model requires an effort that, from time to time, provides a meeting place to capitalize all the knowledge. GIS PLANET 2005 is an excellent example of that needed effort. That is why all of us are here to share experiences at to find solutions at a worldwide level.



CLOSING


Finally, I just want to wish you all a very productive and successful work in the context of this group of events that started yesterday.

36 Conference Sessions, 9 Workshops and 8 Special Events are impressive figures.

For sure the results from your work will be important for a better and sustainable future.Be Spatial and Be Special !!

and, of course, enjoy yourselves in this beautiful location of Estoril.


gisplanet 2005, estoril, 31 de maio a 2 de junho gis planet 2005 ladies and gentlemen, for the...

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