REPORT ON THE CONTRACT FOR SERVICES OF GIS SPECIALIST

between

Ministry of Housing, Transport & Environment

for the
Government of the Republic of Maldives

and

Dr. Robert Ryerson

GIS Specialist

This report has been prepared by

Dr. Robert Ryerson and Dr. Kevin Lim

Box 1125
Manotick, Ontario K4M 1A9
Canada

September 30, 2009

Table of Contents
Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................... ii
1.

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1

2.

Lessons Learned Review (SDI development) ....................................................................................... 1

3.

Review Existing GIS Assets and Resources ......................................................................................... 1

4.

Development of Technical Standards ................................................................................................. 11

5.

Provide Strategic Advice .................................................................................................................... 12

6.

Conclusions ......................................................................................................................................... 13

Appendix A: Tasks of the Consultant ......................................................................................................... 14

ii

1. Introduction
This report is the penultimate report for the GIS Project done with colleagues in the Maldives. The Tasks
of the Consultant from the contract are outlined in Appendix A.
The reader should note that a number of stand-alone reports have been delivered as the work has been
completed according to the contract. This report brings these together in one place for those who may
wish to see the evolution of the work and see everything in one place.
This report takes each Task and either refers the reader to the appropriate report already delivered or deals
with the issue.

2. Lessons Learned Review (SDI development)

a) In collaboration with the Spatial Planning Unit counterpart review lessons learnt from the
development and implementation of Spatial Development Infrastructure projects elsewhere and
with a focus the innovations and mistakes in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The review
should be at the level of a desktop review and should draw on the Consultants previous project
experience and from the global SDI community (e.g., www.gsdi.org)
The reader is referred to the Report delivered June 20, 2009 titled Comparative Analysis: Geospatial
Lessons for the Maldives delivered June 20, 2009. Our conclusions are given in the following two text
boxes.
None of the island nations is judged to be in the same position as the Maldives, but useful
lessons can be gained from some of these other small island states.

The Republic of the Maldives is unique in terms of geographic information and has the
potential to do things in a manner not done anywhere else - and by so doing become a
leader to small island developing states world-wide.

3. Review Existing GIS Assets and Resources

This section reviews Tasks (b) through (i). Each task is given in italics, while where the response can be
found is outlined below the task description. In some instances there are a few additional comments to
provide additional elaboration.
b) In collaboration with the Spatial Planning Unit counterpart review and evaluate the existing GIS
system including institutional and structural arrangements, system hardware/software, existing
1

databases, data files, images, data cataloguing system, data security, and data organization and
archiving
The response to this task is found in Section 3.3.1 of the Report submitted July 15, 2009 titled Maldives
Geospatial Project Report: Draft Report and Recommendations to Date.
The key findings are that:
In effect, there are no operational and document GIS systems in the country except for a
fifteen year old system operated by the Coast Guard and a simple desk-top system in the
Department of National Planning.

There are various data bases that are tied to maps but these cannot be considered at any
level to be GIS systems. They lack precision in terms of location (often tied only to an
island) and the ability to combine their data with any other information. They are largely
fixed in their content, allow no modeling or examination of what-if scenarios.

The Census and Statistical information appears to be of a consistently high standard and
will be useful in the GIS for examining a number of important social and economic
issues. Again, this information must be better tied to locationsomething well
recognized by the Census and statistical people.

There are two and perhaps more MapInfo systems operating in the country. These are
undocumented and are not supported as would be an operational national system.

While there are no institutional arrangements for dealing with geographic information,
there are other arrangements that deal with the sharing and management of other types
of data across government.
These other arrangements would appear to be adaptable to the GIS activity.

System hardware/software, data bases, data files, and data cataloging system, data security, data
organization and archiving have been reviewed in technical detail in Section 4.3 of the NGIS System
Design Report by Dr. Lim.

A critical shortcoming is the base upon which data are placed. There is no national grid,
although the basis for such a grid was started with Australian aid some years ago. The
implications of this shortcoming are also very important for the Land Information
Management System being developed by the Ministry of Housing, Transport and
Environment, as well as for any GIS application requiring precise location. This lack of
an adequate base was also raised as a concern by senior officials in the Office of the
President.

While there are many data bases, few of them are in any way geospatial and thus
amenable to use and/or analysis within a GIS. Those that are geospatial seem to be tied
to the island as the base of aggregation, and the maps of the islands are usually based on
the decades-old Admiralty charts.

The approaches now in use to develop and collect geospatial data were developed for use
in the country to meet the countrys needs within the budgetary restrictions, information
requirements and technology of the day.
This is a new day with respect to information requirements and technology. With the
availability of funding, new approaches are now possible.

The new Geospatial Data Policy developed by the people assembled for the Data Policy
Workshop (as part of this project) if approved, will go a long way to erasing the bad
memories associated with geospatial data sharing in the past, as well as the question of
national security and security of information at the individual level.

A final issue covered at this stage of the reporting cycle is that of data security. While also dealt with in
the proposed Geospatial Data Policy, security is a major concern of many of those involved in geospatial
data including the Police, Defence Force, and Fisheries, to name three. None of these wants to place their
data on a system that may be accessed by unauthorized people. The question of how data can be protected
on a GIS (e.g. through allowing tiered access through password protection, for example) was explored as
part of the technical assessment.
In summary then there is no existing full GIS system. There are no institutional and structural
arrangements specifically dealing with GIS, although there are effective arrangements that can serve as at
least partial models. There is virtually no GIS system hardware/software, and but limited geospatial
databases and data files, data cataloguing systems, organization and archiving. That is not to say that there
3

are not excellent data bases there are. They can be found in Statistics, the Census, Health and other
areas. However, their link to location tends in most cases to be rudimentary. In the case of the Census,
Statistics, and the Presidents Office it is clear that they are awaiting the development of the national GIS
for with it they will be able to improve the quality of the information and how it is presented.
While data security is a concern, it too has not been dealt with in a coherent fashion.

There are also some very useful images available both reasonably current and
historical. Such data comprises one of the necessary framework-data building-blocks of a
national geospatial data base, but how they are both catalogued and available is not
consistent from one data set to the next.

c) In collaboration with the Spatial Planning Unit counterpart study the existing network system
design arrangements and configurations, including the intranets of participating Agencies and
the broader Government Network of Maldives (GNM)
The more technical aspects are covered by Dr. Lims reports. The initial response is found in Section
3.3.2 of the aforementioned report submitted July 15, 2009 titled Maldives Geospatial Project Report:
Draft Report and Recommendations to Date. Section 4.5 of Dr. Lims System Design Report covers
current state with the Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) of the Government Network of Maldives
(GNM), while 6.3.4 and 6.4.4 of the covers network suitability analysis.
From a strategic and institutional view (including sustainability), we do not believe that
the capabilities exist to effectively use a distributed geospatial analysis or GIS system or
spatial data infrastructure in the country.
The funding available is inadequate to even begin considering a spatial data
infrastructure.

This report and the two presentations we have built for this assignment around 4
megabytes. Most people would agree that such an amount of information is a significant
amount of data to move around on the Internet.
Consider that the imagery alone from one date which comprises one layer in the GIS
is 1,000,000 times larger!

d) In collaboration with the RSEA component coordinator and Spatial Planning Unit counterpart
review and evaluate current data collection and transfer arrangements, and system for data
distribution to authorized users
4

The response is found in Section 3.3.3. of the Report submitted July 15, 2009 titled Maldives Geospatial
Project Report: Draft Report and Recommendations to Date.
The Census, Statistics and some other units of the Government (including the Office
of the President) currently appear to do a fine job collecting information. However,
this information is not always tagged to location and where it is (with the
exception of four islands in the case of the Census), the location tends to be general
i.e. by island.

Mechanisms exist that allow the sharing of information and the overseeing of such
sharing. These provide an indication that sharing of geospatial information can work
and can be managed across Government.

There are efforts in many areas of the world to see information collected more at the
local level consistent with the mantra collect once, closest to source. This
approach has been espoused for geospatial data in a number of countries and has
become part of Government Policy in the Maldives. To do this across widely spread
out islands will require both consistent management and a consistent approach to
ensure that data are collected in the same manner across the country, yielding
information that is both useful and comparable from one end of the country to the
other.
Using the highly visual attributes of a GIS (for example to show interviewers what
certain features look like, and how to record the data) could help in ensuring that the
recording of information with similar nomenclature across the country. Thus a GIS
could help in ensuring that data are collected in a consistent fashion.
There should also be some thought given to how data bases can be updated from a
distance by non-specialists. This issue is now being studied by the Government of
Queensland in Australia and may provide useful instruction.

e) In collaboration with the Spatial Planning Unit counterpart study current data creation and data
conversion activities and future data creation and data conversion priorities proposed usage of
multispectral satellite images for environmental and urban planning purposes
The response is found in Section 3.3.4 of the Report submitted July 15, 2009 titled Maldives Geospatial
Project Report: Draft Report and Recommendations to Date.
5

Two basic facts are important as we discuss data creation: First, there is no national
coordinate grid. Second, there are several sets of nomenclature used to organize data for
each island, and these typically are only for inhabited islands. These are both problems
to be solved.

The major activity in terms of creating new data should focus on three elements:
1. The development of what might be called a temporary base map based on the 2006-present 0.6
meter resolution Digital Globe Imagery. (We understand that this activity is in progress in the
Spatial Planning Unit it involves identifying island boundaries, vegetated areas, etc);
2. The development of what is commonly referred to as a feature code to augment the numerical
identifiers that are currently set out by the Census for inhabited islands only. Other features
should also be linked to and on the base map. These include at a minimum all islands (inhabited
or not), reefs, and lagoons and all should be tied to the temporary base map;
3. There is a requirement for a national system of grid coordinates. While we have heard that one is
underdevelopment, our understanding is that this is not a true coordinate grid based on
scientifically valid geodetic information. When such a grid is developed it will add considerable
value to the geographic information and its use in the country.
Data Conversion
There will be a requirement to convert existing information to fit on one of two sets of base information.
The first is to convert information that is organized by island to one set of feature codes. That is, each
island Inhabited or not), each reef and each lagoon must have a unique identifier that is in turn linked to
the base map. The second is to convert other data to fit the new base map derived from satellite imagery.
There is also a requirement to determine why the digital imagery acquired by the National Remote
Sensing Agency of India is so skewed when compared to the satellite data. Can this problem be
corrected? Are there problems with ground control?
Imagery: Availability, Understanding, and Applications 1
Imagery Availability
There are currently three sets of image data. The aerial photography has all been digitized made to be
displayed on a computer. It is not clear if the 1969 imagery has been ortho-corrected (i.e. corrected to
ensure that the geometry of the image closely represents the true geometry on the ground). The 2004
photography has come from the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) of India these air photos are
digital and are supposed to be ortho-rectified. However, it appears that for some islands the data were not
corrected properly and thus these images cannot be overlaid on the data acquired from other sources the
errors appear to be as great as 100 to 200 meters, rendering change detection (for example) impossible.
1

We put a considerable amount of information into this section in the original report for we believe that it is
important for people to understand what the imagery brings, what can (and cannot) be done with it, and by whom.
This is not a simple science. It requires a mix of expertise most importantly expertise in the disciplines for which
imagery is being interpreted such as fisheries, agriculture, environmental studies, etc.

These inaccuracies also call into question the validity of these other data and perhaps (although less
likely) the accuracy of the satellite data against which they have been measured.
The satellite data were acquired from 2006-present and comprise Digital Globe 0.6 m ortho (1.2M)
panchromatic (i.e. black and white), and 2.4 meter resolution multi-spectral visible (blue green and red
band i.e. approximating what the human eye can discern) and near infrared imagery. Taken together
these four bands are commonly called multi-spectral or, more specifically VNIR (Visible Near Infrared)
data. These data may be used together (displayed in various ways on a computer monitor) or may be used
separately, as the requirement dictates. Further information on their uses is provided below.
It should be noted that the satellite imagery has been acquired on the condition that the data ONLY BE
USED FOR GOVERNMENT PURPOSES. Following this rule is very important. To do otherwise may
jeopardize completion of the acquisition of data and may prevent the country from being able to obtain
such imagery in the future. For this reason all users are typically required to sign formal legal agreements
concerning use of data and its distribution for use beyond the government.
Understanding Imagery

There are a number of misconceptions and issues that must be understood with respect
to the use of satellite imagery. In essence, imagery is generally not well understood as to
its limitations and how it can, and more importantly, cannot be used.

One of the conclusions of this aspect of the work is that all those sent to do higher
education in planning, environmental studies, biology, and the like should all take at least
one course in image interpretation/remote sensing, and, ideally, GIS.

Applications

The imagery currently available is static. They cannot be used for assessing conditions
for any time other than the time at which they were obtained. While this may be a limit
to some, imagery can provide a valuable historical record.

We have been asked to comment on the applications of multi-spectral imagery. The range of applications
is limited only by the imagination of the users and what questions they wish to ask of the imagery, how
they ask the questions and, to a certain extent, what other information they have at hand. In some cases
one might suggest that a full answer to an important question can be given what was the extent of the
beach on the date of imagery? Given the imagery type, an answer should be given with accuracy in terms
7

of width of about + 1.2 meters. While such an answer may satisfy a non-specialist, it will not provide the
complete answer to the coastal specialist. The coastal specialist will also want to know whether this
measure was acquired at high tide or low tide or in between. Thus one must know the precise time that
the image was obtained and the point in the tidal cycle to provide meaningful information. Our detailed
analysis (in Appendix A) suggests that this is not easily done with the imagery. Then, of course one will
want to compare that result to the result from imagery of some time in the past or future. Here
specialized knowledge of image geometry, corrections, and what is called rubber sheeting to stretch one
image to properly fit over another for comparison purposes between two or more dates.

While there are many potential uses of multi-spectral satellite data, the uses are far
more limited than may at first be expected. Why this is so is explained in the text.

f)

In collaboration with the RSEA component coordinator and Spatial Planning Unit counterpart
review and evaluate the current human resource capacity of the Spatial Planning Unit and key
agencies

This is covered in Section 3.3.5 of the July 15 report.

The basic understanding and education necessary to pursue an advanced degree in the technical
areas of GIS can be found in the Spatial Planning Unit. The type of advanced program that should
be followed is offered by a very few educational institutions world-wide. Those whose programs we
have reviewed and which may be suitable include the following (and there may well be others):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

University of New Brunswick (Geomatics Engineering);

Laval University (Geomatique);
University of California at Santa Barbara (Geography/Engineering);
ITC, the Netherlands
Melbourne University (Geomatics Engineering);
Curtin University (Spatial Sciences which is in the School of Mining);

Others with PhD programs in GIS include universities like Penn State and George Mason in the
USA, but these have more of an applications focus, while some other universities have programs
more focused on geodesy, GPS or land information (such as University of New South Wales,
Calgary, and others). Another option may be one of the universities that offer GIS courses over the
Internet with but limited time on campus. Given the wide range and changing nature of university
programs, we will be willing to advise and assess any program brought to our attention by the
client.

We believe that the sort of advanced program that should be followed is offered by relatively few
academic programs world-wide. We believe that the program will have to:
Provide a strong and varied technical background across geomatics or geospatial;
Cover off issues involved in the management of national-level programs;
8

 Feature strong links with the major players in the industry (especially those likely to be supplying the
GIS systems with which the Planning Department is to be involved including cadastral and
environmental GIS;
Do work with and clearly understand standards;
Provide the right focus. The focus of the program will have to be carefully evaluated. For example,
while the University of Calgary offers one of the best programs in the world in geomatics engineering,
the focus tends to be on GPS and related technologies and would not be suitable;
Have faculty members involved in actually helping to plan national or provincial level programs. There
are programs in Asia (and elsewhere) that may prepare technical level individuals, but in most cases
those teaching and advising the programs students are not doing consulting to national and
international programs as are the faculty members at University of New Brunswick, and Laval, for
example.
Be linked into both a national and international research network to access a broader range of advisors
and research opportunities.
Other departments have some staff with either training (such as a diploma in geomatics from Malaysia in
the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture) or apparently significant experience in using a GIS (Coast
Guard). Still other projects have some direct experience with using the technology but that experience has
been gained through a consultant who actually did the work.

While there is a base upon which one can build, that base is both narrow and shallow.
An approach will have to be developed to both build the breadth and increase the depth as soon
as possible for the program to achieve sustainability during the period of funding.

g) In collaboration with the RSEA component coordinator and Spatial Planning Unit counterpart
consult with Spatial Planning Unit and key agencies about the Goals and Objectives of a
National GIS system (NGIS)
This has come out of the Strategic Planning Workshop. The material was reported in two reports: A
Vision for Geospatial/GIS in the Maldives: Results from a Workshop produced on July 13, 2009 and
Draft National Strategic GIS Framework dated July 27, 2009.
h) In collaboration with Spatial Planning Unit counterpart identify Spatial Planning Unit and key
agency staff resourcing, training and capacity needs
This has been detailed in Section 3.3.7 of the July 15th Report. The following diagram describes the
hierarchy of use and understanding of a GIS.

GIS Hierarchy and Understanding of Use

4. Writes
Standards &
Meta Data

3. Understands
Standards &
Accuracy
Assessment
2. Familiar
with Data
Input

1. User
2. Increasing
Awareness

2
1. Lack of
Awareness

1
1. Knows Display
2. Knows Overlay
3. Knows Modeling

10

i)

In collaboration with the RSEA component coordinator and Spatial Planning Unit counterpart
consult with the Spatial Planning Unit about their system decision making needs, and key
agencies about system end user needs

The four key participating agencies as defined by the Terms of Reference were consulted by Dr. Lim on
several occasions to review and assess system decision making needs and high-level user requirements
and are documented in Section 5.1 of the System Design Report submitted on September 9, 2009. The
meetings that took place and participants involved are documented in Appendix B of that same report.
Based on user workflows, software requirements, specifically relating to licensing, were mapped back to
the key participating agencies and presented to the agencies for approval and acceptance.

4. Development of Technical Standards

j)

In collaboration with the Spatial Planning Unit counterpart propose a design for the NGIS that:
(i) integrates all major statistical data currently available (including geographical,
environmental, social and economic data), (ii) mitigates legacy data from past GIS projects, and
(iii) will allow for the integration of future data creation and data conversion activities

All technical details relating to the system design of the NGIS are found in the System Design Report
submitted on September 9, 2009. Major data of importance to each key participating agency are
documented in Section 4.3 of this report. As a general principle, all legacy data from past GIS projects
will be migrated to the new NGIS. The migration will require in some cases data conversion and
transformation to be suitable for use with the proposed NGIS and general timelines for these data
conversion and transformation activities are documented in the Implementation Plan submitted on
September 17, 2009. The NGIS is designed to store and manage all existing data inventoried and is
scalable to accommodate future data requirements (e.g., creation of new datasets or migration of data
from other line agencies).

k) In consultation and collaboration with Spatial Planning Unit counterpart assess internet
bandwidth availability and propose customized applications (such as an Intranet-Web-Portal)
and programming requirements for authorized access to NGIS data
The current network configurations for the key participating agencies and the Male MAN of the GNM
are documented in Section 4.5 of the System Design Report. Based on high-level user requirements,
bandwidth requirements were calculated using a Capacity Planning Tool and the suitability of existing
network configurations assessed, and documented in Section 6.3.4 and 6.4.4 of the System Design
Report. A list of candidate customized GIS applications, which included Intranet- and web-based
applications, was gathered from the key participating agencies during the various meetings held. The list
of candidate applications is documented is Section 5.2 of the System Design Report. With respect to
authorized access to NGIS data, a web platform and firewall configuration is recommended in Section
6.2.4 of the System Design Report.

11

l)

In collaboration Spatial Planning Unit counterpart prepare detailed hardware/ software upgrade
and procurement specifications consistent with World Bank IT and other Goods and Equipment
requirements

The PMU was consulted on August 5, 2009 to identify what procurement specifications were considered
consistent with World Bank IT and other Goods and Equipment requirements. It was agreed by the PMU,
the SPS, and Dr. Lim that the key hardware and software specifications would be provided for use in
procurement, but not specific details such as number of audio ports or colour of ports. The specifications
documented in Appendix A of the Implementation Plan submitted on September 17, 2009 are in line and
consistent with the requirements set by the PMU and are therefore deemed to be in compliance with any
external agency (e.g., World Bank IT) requirements.

m) In collaboration Spatial Planning Unit counterpart prepare detailed cost estimate for all
hardware/ software items proposed in the design, including maintenance, updates and support

The detailed cost estimate for the proposed NGIS is documented in Section 4.3 of the Implementation
Plan submitted on September 17, 2009. The cost estimate is broken down by year and grouped by
technical or training budget. Costs associated with all hardware, software, including maintenance,
updates, and support and reflected in the detailed cost estimate.

5. Provide Strategic Advice

n) Advice Spatial Planning Unit on possible strategies for development of a spatial referencing
system consist with meta data management and procedures
While on-site, Dr. Lim had daily meetings with the SPS and provided advice regarding the development
of spatial referencing and strategies for data management and migration. Previous work relating to the
digitization of base data using the Quickbird imagery was discussed with Dr. Lim. Furthermore, Dr. Lim
participated in various other meetings with other line agencies that focused on establishing standards for
data management (e.g., cadastral work and islands feature coding). Strategic advice provided during Dr.
Lim on-site visit and reflected in the System Design Report and Implementation Plan.

o) Advice Spatial Planning Unit to formulate (a) data standards (b) institutional sharing policies (c)
copyright issues (d) pricing policy and in any other important areas
This has been developed in the report titled The Development of a Geospatial Data Policy for the
Government of the Maldives submitted July 16, 2009.
p) Advice Spatial Planning Unit on future Terms of Reference for permanent Government staff and
Consultant staffing

12

Current staff conditions relating to GIS are documented in Section 4.1 of the System Design Report
submitted on September 9, 2009. Based on the planned activities required to support the NGIS
implementation, the GIS staffing requirements for the SPS were discussed by Dr. Lim and the Manager of
the SPS and documented in Section 3.1 Staffing in the Implementation Plan submitted on September
17, 2009. Furthermore, a description of the GIS Technician role was provided to the Manager of the SPS
via e-mail on September 2, 2009 to support a staffing opportunity.
q) Advice Spatial Planning Unit on possible strategies for: (i) development and conversion of data,
including but not limited to the utilization of multispectral satellite images, high/ course
resolution satellite data, etc, for environmental monitoring and urban planning purposes, and
(ii) field data collection for georeference survey and monitoring using GPS, smart sensors etc.
Part of this was developed in Section 3.3.4 of the July 1th report and part has been developed by Dr. Lim.
Strategic advice was provided by Dr. Lim on a daily basis during his on-site visit to the Maldives relating
to data development and conversion and field data collection. These strategies are inherently reflected in
the system design and approach to implementation as documented by the System Design Report and
Implementation Plan, respectively.

r) Advice Spatial Planning Unit on possible strategies and hardware software necessary to provide
public access through the Internet of selected portions of the NGIS data.
Access to selected portions of the NGIS data by the public will be via customized web-based GIS
applications. The list of candidate customized web-based GIS applications and short descriptions are
documented in Section 5.2 of the System Design Report submitted on September 9, 2009. The necessary
hardware to support these types of applications is reflected in the system design of the NGIS, with
Section 6.4 of the System Design Report being the relevant section.

6. Conclusions
We have provided a number of reports referred to in the preceding text, as well as a series of
recommendations in a report submitted on June 27, 2009. All reports and materials were delivered on
time and, in general, we received prompt feedback from the client. In all, the reports summarized and/or
referred to run to several hundred pages and involve many hundreds of hours work by both our consulting
team and, more importantly, the many users and potential users of the GIS in the Maldives. We believe
that in total the reports and materials produced respond to each and every one of the required tasks as well
as some that were not specified but that arose during the course of the study.
We have received many positive comments from the user and potential user community in the Maldives
and tremendous interest on the part of the media culminating in four television interviews. The strength
of this report is both a function of the talent of our consulting team as well as of the interest and
dedication of those with whom we had the pleasure of working during this assignment. With the interest
and dedication shown we expect that the reports produced will lead to a successful GIS implementation in
the Maldives.

13

Appendix A: Tasks of the Consultant

The tasks to be undertaken by the consultant under this outline Terms of Reference include, but are not
necessarily limited to, the following:
Lessons Learn Review (SDI development)
a) In collaboration with the Spatial Planning Unit counterpart review lessons learnt from the
development and implementation of Spatial Development Infrastructure projects elsewhere and
with a focus the innovations and mistakes in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The review
should be at the level of a desktop review and should draw on the Consultants previous project
experience and from the global SDI community (e.g., www.gsdi.org).
Review Existing GIS Assets and Resources
b) In collaboration with the Spatial Planning Unit counterpart review and evaluate the existing GIS
system including institutional and structural arrangements, system hardware/software, existing
databases, data files, images, data cataloguing system, data security, and data organization and
archiving;
c) In collaboration with the Spatial Planning Unit counterpart study the existing network system
design arrangements and configurations, including the intranets of participating Agencies and the
broader Government Network of Maldives (GNM);
d) In collaboration with the RSEA component coordinator and Spatial Planning Unit counterpart
review and evaluate current data collection and transfer arrangements, and system for data
distribution to authorized users;
e) In collaboration with the Spatial Planning Unit counterpart study current data creation and data
conversion activities and future data creation and data conversion priorities proposed usage of
multispectral satellite images for environmental and urban planning purposes;
f) In collaboration with the RSEA component coordinator and Spatial Planning Unit counterpart
review and evaluate the current human resource capacity of the Spatial Planning Unit and key
agencies;
g) In collaboration with the RSEA component coordinator and Spatial Planning Unit counterpart
consult with Spatial Planning Unit and key agencies about the Goals and Objectives of a National
GIS system (NGIS);
h) In collaboration with Spatial Planning Unit counterpart identify Spatial Planning Unit and key
agency staff resourcing, training and capacity needs;

14

i)

In collaboration with the RSEA component coordinator and Spatial Planning Unit counterpart
consult with the Spatial Planning Unit about their system decision making needs, and key
agencies about system end user needs;

Development of Technical Standards

j)

In collaboration with the Spatial Planning Unit counterpart propose a design for the NGIS that: (i)
integrates all major statistical data currently available (including geographical, environmental,
social and economic data), (ii) mitigates legacy data from past GIS projects, and (iii) will allow
for the integration of future data creation and data conversion activities;

k) In consultation and collaboration with Spatial Planning Unit counterpart assess internet
bandwidth availability and propose customized applications (such as an Intranet-Web-Portal) and
programming requirements for authorized access to NGIS data;
l)

In collaboration Spatial Planning Unit counterpart prepare detailed hardware/ software upgrade
and procurement specifications consistent with World Bank IT and other Goods and Equipment
requirements;

m) In collaboration Spatial Planning Unit counterpart prepare detailed cost estimate for all hardware/
software items proposed in the design, including maintenance, updates and support;
Provide Strategic Advice
n) Advice Spatial Planning Unit on possible strategies for development of a spatial referencing
system consist with meta data management and procedures;
o) Advice Spatial Planning Unit to formulate (a) data standards (b) institutional sharing policies (c)
copyright issues (d) pricing policy and in any other important areas;
p) Advice Spatial Planning Unit on future Terms of Reference for permanent Government staff and
Consultant staffing;
q) Advice Spatial Planning Unit on possible strategies for: (i) development and conversion of data,
including but not limited to the utilization of multispectral satellite images, high/ course
resolution satellite data, etc, for environmental monitoring and urban planning purposes, and (ii)
field data collection for georeference survey and monitoring using GPS, smart sensors etc.
r) Advice Spatial Planning Unit on possible strategies and hardware software necessary to provide
public access through the Internet of selected portions of the NGIS data.
8. REPORTING
The consultant is expected to work closely with the Spatial Planning Unit counterpart and will report
directly to Section Head, Spatial Planning Unit or his designate during the assignment.
9. FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED BY THE CLIENT
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The Spatial Planning Unit will provide the Consultant with 1 (one) full time counterpart for the duration
of the Services. Office space and office facilities will be provided at the Spatial Planning Unit. Local
transport, if required, will be provided by the client. Personal incidentals, local accommodation, travel
from home country, insurances etc shall be inclusive of the consultants fee.
All reports will be submitted in English (with an executive summary) in 2 (two) hard copy and soft copy
on 1 (one) CD. All reports will be submitted in Draft and upon review by the Client, the Consultant will
revise the Draft Report as agreed. Once revised, this will become the Final Report.
The deliverables and indicative time schedule is as follows:
a) Inception Report: the inception report shall be submitted no later than 7 calendar weeks after the
commencement of the assignment and shall include details of consultation with the relevant Spatial
Planning Unit and key agencies The Consultant will tabulate results and provide a detailed written
assessment of the information gathered. The inception report shall also identify any constraints the
consultant foresees with delivering the services and propose actions to be implemented to overcome
the constraints identified.
b) Draft National Strategic GIS Framework: The Draft National Strategic GIS Framework Report shall
be submitted no later than 12 calendar weeks after the commencement of the assignment. The
National Strategic GIS Framework Report will propose the overarching Goals and Objectives of a
national GIS system and base data, describe the current GIS system, structural, operational
arrangements and capacity, and propose directional strategies describing future priorities and
directions of the NGIS to achieve the Goals and Objectives.
c) Draft System Design Report and Implementation Plan: The Draft System design Report and
implementation Plan shall be submitted no later than 18 calendar weeks after commencement of the
assignment.

The Draft systems Design Report will be a technical report proposing: (i) institutional and
structural arrangements for implementation, data entry and transfer system protocols for key
agencies, system software/hardware configuration, and upgrade, equipment procurement list for
Spatial Planning Unit and key agencies taking into account the existing GIS system and network
system design, a centralized data cataloguing, organization and archiving system, data security, a
system for data distribution to authorized users, quality control procedures and Metadata
documentation requirements, and any other necessary critical components needed to implement a
successful NGIS, and (ii) software that addresses decision making needs of the Spatial Planning
Unit, and user needs of the key agencies. In the first instance, these needs will focus propose
decision making software with tools that will assist Spatial Planning Unit and key agencies in the
development of a Regional Strategic Environmental Assessment.

Draft Implementation Plan will describes the actions which are required to be undertaken to
deliver the National Strategic GIS Framework over a period of five (5) years including: (i) the
implementation of the core hardware/software elements of the system design complete with
detailed hardware/software upgrade and procurement specifications, customized applications,
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programming requirements, and data installations and configurations, (ii) staff resources, capacity
and other operational planning requirements, proposed principal implementation responsibilities
of Spatial Planning Unit and key agencies, a schedule of tasks, in a logical sequence, with start
and end dates, targets, expected outputs, milestones, and (iii) cost breakdown on an annual basis
for a period of five (5) years for the implementation of the NGIS. The Implementation Plan will
consider planned data creation and data conversion activities, and give priority to data creation
and data conversion requirements for the development of a Regional Strategic Environmental
Assessment. The Implementation Plan will also prioritize staff training and capacity building that
will assist with the development of a Regional Strategic Environmental Assessment.
d) Clients comments on the draft reports shall be considered and taken into account prior to finalizing
submitting the Final Reports. All reports shall be finalized and submitted no later than 20 calendar
weeks from the commencement of the assignment.

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