Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) has launched a national geographic portal to support the citizens in searching, evaluating and using data from different government institutions.
Challenge
The Government of Namibia, through its institutions, has ownership and access to a broad range of spatial data relevant to other government agencies, private entities and the general public. The challenge has been to make the user groups aware of what data are available — and to provide solutions through which they may identify, access and explore those data.
It has become an increasingly common principle in national legislation that national governments should be responsible for providing and maintaining a national spatial data infrastructure (NSDI) in the same way they are responsible for traditional infrastructure like roads, rail and telecommunication.
Namibia has adopted this principle and placed operational responsibility with NSA. After thoroughly researching available SDI solutions in the market, NSA invited Norplan subsidiary Asplan Viak Internet (Avinet) to bid to implement core NSDI components such as geoportal and a metadata browser.
Scope of work
Norplan, through Avinet (a wholly owned technology subsidiary in the Norplan group), has designed and implemented the technical infrastructure of the Namibian National Spatial Data Infrastructure
Purpose of the work
The primary objectives of the project were to:
- Provide technology for a geoportal and a metadata management solution
- Provide training and competence
- Provide long-term support
The main tasks in the project were:
- Feasibility and inception study
- System development and customisation
- Installation and configuration
- Training and capacity building
- Professional support in establishing an NSDI
In addition, Norplan hosted a delegation from Namibia Statistics Agency to Norway in 2017. The delegation visited the Norwegian Mapping and Cadastre Authority, and the Norwegian Statistics Agency and attended the national conference for geomatics – GeoForum 2017.
Description of services provided
The National Spatial Data Infrastructure for Namibia is available at the following URLs:
- National Metadata Browser – http://geofind.nsa.org.na/
- National Geoportal – http://digitalnamibia.nsa.org.na/
Project illustrations
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NSA training and configuration supported by Norplan
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NSA launches national geographic portal. https://www.namibian.com.na/58297/read/NSA-launches-national-geographic-portal
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Screenshot from NSA map browser application
Project data
| Internal Project Number | 801114 |
|---|---|
| Project Title | Consultancy to develop the National Spatial Data Infrastructure – Namibia Geographic Portal |
| Project Category | Digital Transformation, SDI, Technology, Adaptive |
| Fields of Expertise | Spatial Data, Geomatics, System Development, Standardisation, Training |
| Participating Offices | Arendal, Brussels, Sandvika, Trondheim |
| Deliverables | Inception Report, System (Geoportal and Metadata management solution), Training, Documentation |
| Project Duration | March – August 2017 |
| Project Location | Windhoek – Namibia |
| NORPLAN Contact Person | Mr. Tor Gunnar Øverli, Managing Director Norplan |
| Client | Namibia Statistics Agency |
| Client Contact Person | Mr. Alex Mudabeti, Deputy Director for spatial data and national spatial data infrastructure Namibia, |
| Project Value |