Focus: GS II: International Relations
Why in News?
Experts discussed how the Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (IGIF), which provide a basis for developing, integrating, strengthening, and maximizing geospatial information management in all countries, could help supporting sustainable development and the well-being of society as well as overcoming challenges of the global village like flood, earthquake, pandemic, energy, digital security and so on at the 2nd UN World Geospatial Information Congress
What is UNWGIC?
- In 2018, Deqing, Zhejiang Province, China hosted the inaugural World Geospatial Information Congress of the United Nations.
- The UNWGIC is organised every four years by the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM).
- It is hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Government of India.
- The goals are to improve global cooperation between Member States and pertinent stakeholders in the management and capabilities of geospatial information.
- The theme of UNWGIC 2022 is ‘Geo-Enabling the Global Village: No one should be left behind’.
Objectives of UNWGIC
- The initiative intends to offer reliable and high-quality geospatial data to serve national and international policy goals.
- Additionally, it emphasises global coordination and cooperation in the creation of geospatially connected human data.
- It supports social growth and wellbeing, tackles environmental and climate change issues, and embraces technological advances.
Advantages of geospatial technology:
- Geospatial technology can be used to create intelligent maps and models which help to collect geographically referenced data.
- Decisions based on the value and importance of resources, most of which are limited, can become easy through geospatial technology.
- Intelligent maps and models can be created using geospatial technology.
- It can be used to reveal spatial patterns hidden in large amounts of data that are complex to access collectively through mapping.
