IHB File N° S1/5051-TA-005-3
CIRCULAR LETTER 04/2015
13 January 2015
SHARED GUIDING PRINCPLES FOR GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
References:
A. IHO CL56/2014 dated 12 August - Report on the 4th Session of the UN Committee of Experts
on Global Geospatial Information Management
B. IHO CL 02/2015 dated 6 January - GEOSS Data Management Principles
Dear Hydrographer,
1. As mentioned in the IHB report on the 4th session of the United Nations Committee of Experts
on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM), the Committee of Experts has been
developing “shared statement of principles on the management of geospatial information” (reference
A). The objectives are to “clarify the distinctive social obligations inherent in the professional
practices of the geospatial information management community, and to enhance the trust placed by
the public on geospatial information” and, to that effect, to “provide a set of values to guide the
choices and actions of geospatial organisations within Member States”1.
2. Based on the outcome of the 4th session of UN-GGIM, a working group on the development of
a statement of shared principles, composed of representatives from Australia, France, Mexico, New
Zealand and the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), has prepared the attached draft for global
consultation.
3. The Directing Committee supports the general thrust of the proposed principles, noting that
they are in line with the relevant IHO resolutions and recommendations. However, we consider that
further refinement of the draft would be welcome to ensure that the principles are easier to understand
in order to be implemented. We also note that the UN-GGIM initiative is related to the parallel
development by the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) of “Data Management Principles” that was
reported under Reference B, and that further coordination between the two activities would be
beneficial to all stakeholders.
4. The Secretariat of the UN-GGIM has set a deadline for comments on the draft shared
statement of principles of 28 February 2015. Member States are invited to submit their comments, if
any, either directly to the UN-GGIM Secretariat (point of contact: Ms Cecille Blake at
[email protected]) before 28 February, or through the IHB (
[email protected]) not later than 20 February.
Member States may also consider liaising with their national representation at UN-GGIM.
1
Extracts from document E/C.20/2014/10/Add.1 submitted to the 4th UN-GGIM session (see:
http://ggim.un.org/ggim_committee.html).
5. The IHO Working Group on Marine Spatial Data Infrastructures is also invited to review and
comment on the draft as appropriate.
6. It is foreseen that a revised draft of the shared statement of principles will be circulated for
final review and subsequently submitted for adoption by the UN-GGIM at its 5th session from 5 to 7
August 2015.
On behalf of the Directing Committee
Yours sincerely,
Robert WARD
President
Enclosure:
A Statement of Shared Guiding Principles for Geospatial Information Management – draft dated 15
December 2014 (in English only).
Distribution:
- IHO Member States
- Chair and Vice-Chair of the IHO MSDIWG (by e-mail)
-2-
A Statement of Shared Guiding Principles
for Geospatial Information Management
Draft
Preamble
The United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management acknowledges:
(a) High quality geospatial information is critical for evidence-based analysis and informed policy decision-
making in support of sustainable development, economic growth, poverty eradication, peace and security, disaster
risk reduction, and addressing the adverse impact of climate change;
(b) The opportunity to use geospatial information to foster mutual knowledge and cooperation among the
Member States and peoples of an increasingly connected world, demanding openness and transparency;
(c) The essential trust of the public in the reliability of authoritative geospatial information is essential and
depends on recognition of and adherence to fundamental values and principles that are the basis of any society. In
this context, professional independence and accountability of geospatial organizations are crucial;
(d) The need for precepts, values and beliefs that clarify the distinctive social responsibilities of geospatial
information authorities, encourage and support stakeholders at all levels to make the right choices that foster public
trust and inspire confidence in geospatial information, and to attract partners and investment;
(e) In order to be effective, guiding principles have to be enshrined in the institutional frameworks that govern
geospatial information organizations and understood at all political levels and by all stakeholders in national
agencies.
Shared Guiding Principles
of a strong, successful and relevant geospatial information organization:
Innovation
1. Geospatial advocacy:
is reinforced by steadfast advocates promoting applications of geospatial information that support sustainable
development, economic growth, poverty eradication, peace and security, disaster risk reduction, and addressing the
adverse impact of climate change.
2. Collaboration and coordination:
encourage national, regional and global collaborations fundamental to the facilitation of improvements in the
development, management and use of geospatial data as well as the integration of statistical data and other
information in order to supply services meeting user needs.
3. Continuous development and recognition of work:
commit to policies and practices that ensure the continuous development, professional competence and ethical
practices of geospatial information practitioners.
4. Agility and adaptiveness:
address and take advantage of institutional, technological and other advancements in support of the development
and delivery of products and services.
5. Open data access:
adopt access policies that maximize the use of geospatial information, and promote efficiency and effectiveness of
decision making.
Governance
6. Use of and adherence to geospatial standards:
embrace the development of, adherence to, and use of nationally and internationally recognized geospatial
standards. Utilization of standards will facilitate the effective and efficient creation, sharing, exchange and use of
15 December, 2014 Page 1
Draft
geospatial data, the open transfer of data among organizations, platforms and applications, and encourage
innovation, reduce transaction costs, increase transparency, allow international compatibility and cooperation within
the marketplace.
7. Ownership and accountability:
facilitate trust amongst geospatial data creators and providers, have a clear understanding and use of geospatial data
through the publication of metadata, including ownership information and technical specifications (i.e. in particular
currency, data models, quality and accuracy definitions). This will support informed and fit-for-purpose use and
interpretation of geospatial data. Data creators and providers are responsible for compliance to the specifications of
geospatial data sets made available for consumption and use.
8. Transparency:
identify sources and the processes that are used to create and provide official geospatial data.
9. Respect and confidentiality:
exhibit high levels of regard and consideration to their stakeholders in the execution of their daily operations.
Particular care is to be exercised to protect the confidentiality of geospatial information that may adversely impact
an individual, community and/or Member States. Personal data is to be especially respected and protected.
10. Standards of service:
employ geospatial information management best practices and solutions, and pursue excellence in the delivery of
geospatial data and services. Appropriate access, fairness (value for money) and equity are to be accorded to all
stakeholders.
11. Institutional framework:
encourage and create inclusive and participatory legal, policy and administrative frameworks to manage data
ownership, data quality, intellectual property and confidentiality issues.
12. Expertise: value national expertise in geospatial information and knowledge, in order to, where
appropriate, comment on and validate the accuracy of geospatial datasets covering the national territory, seeking
their overall consistency, in order to advise on matters of application, interpretation or use of geospatial information.
13. International Cooperation and Harmonization: engage in bilateral and multilateral cooperation in
geospatial information management to foster effective an efficient geospatial management systems in all Member
States. Harmonization of national geospatial data and services at regional and global levels is encouraged in order to
meet the needs of supranational users.
Compliance
14. Sovereignty of Member States:
avail authoritative geospatial data, that is, official and accurate data, to support public policies and administrative
procedures, is an essential requirement of Member States’ autonomy, sovereignty and economic development.
These data should be considered and treated as a base infrastructure for each country, to be created and maintained
as other base infrastructures.
15. Adherence to law:
observe laws, regulations and administrative practices of the Member States, within which they operate, as well as
international laws and conventions, and their stakeholders made aware of those laws and conventions which govern
and are related to their operations. The intellectual property of geospatial data creators are to be protected and
geospatial data received from non-primary sources must be acknowledged.
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