Support for Saudi Hydrographic Data Project
OceanWise, UK, has combined with Caris BV, The Netherlands, to support the General Commission for Survey (GCS), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The support is helping KSA to further develop its capability and capacity as it embarks on a programme to produce electronic navigation charts (ENCs) of its national waters, as well as supporting wider uses of hydrographic data, as part of the Kingdom’s National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI).
The work involved running two courses on hydrographic and oceanographic data management, database design and Marine SDI. The 5-day practitioner course involved theoretical and practical elements whilst the 2-day shorter briefing was delivered to senior managers. In each course, students from the Hydrographic and IT departments and the National Geographic Information Centre (GIC) gathered to learn more about the four ‘pillars’ of SDI, namely Policy and Governance (People), Technical Standards, Information Systems (ICT) and Geographic Content (Data and Metadata). Break-out and exercise sessions provided practical solutions on best practice, data interoperability, and cultural and organisational change.
In developing a more inclusive approach to the use and benefits of hydrographic data, GCS can move from a theoretical understanding of MSDI to one of practical implementation. This shift of emphasis will support the needs of the wider maritime and marine community, in terms of environmental protection and economic development, and is expected to result in operational efficiencies and support the development of advanced navigational products and services.
It is now understood and appreciated that hydrography is more than the provision of charts and nautical publications. By working in concert with other geospatial data and information providers and communities to deliver greater support to socio-economic development and the ‘blue economy’, the value of hydrography to the wider community will be realised.
