The Role of International Digital Geographic Information Exchange Standards and Digital Communications Infrastructure in Land Management

摘要

We focus on two problems which often prevent the efficient management of geographic information in support of land management projects: i) the lack of digital geographic information exchange standards, and, in the case of developing countries, ii) the lack of an adequate national digital communication infrastructure. First, we review developing international digital exchange standards and current efforts aimed at their harmonization. Secondly, we review the current status of communication infrastructure needs and resources with a particular emphasis on developing countries. A brief description of fixed and mobil systems in personal and corporate communications is presented. The state of communications technology is reviewed where the use of fiberoptics, satellite and radio communications in connecting the world is exemplified by the Internet. Statistics of the use of multimedia communications through the Internet is analyzed on a per country and per capita basis. A possible evolution of nationalcommunication infrastructure in developing countries following Mexico's path is discussed pointing at some of the experiences learned when trying to adapt computer technology in support of land management projects.