The COVID-19 pandemic has made us realize that “location is everywhere.” We are witnessing a “data movement” — involving both statistical and geospatial information — as everyone is looking at maps and numbers. The geospatial dimension of “development data” is gaining momentum. The “data ecosystem” approach has become a reality, and people are collaborating to share and exchange information. From the data integration standpoint, it is clear that integrating data can yield handsome returns. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an integrated framework, they require integration of data from different areas, such as economy, society and environment, and geospatial can help in managing the entire data spectrum.
A holistic approach to development
The virtualization triggered by the pandemic has uncovered an all-new dimension of the digital economy. With more and more sectors going virtual in some way or the other, the entire concept of digitalization has changed because of virtualization. This development has also highlighted the existing digital divide. However, the baseline has been pushed forward, with people in the developing parts of the world increasing their literacy and capability to use technology and Internet for remote education and working.
“Since SDGs are an integrated framework, they require integration of data from different areas.”
Over the years, the development paradigm has shifted quite clearly. In the 1950s and 1960s the focus was around economic statistics. A decade later, it shifted to social statistics. In the 1990s, the discussions moved to environmental statistics. To start with, development was all about growth, but then came the human and natural dimensions. SDGs take into account these three dimensions. In terms of measurement, we still don’t have all the desired parameters in place, as something like GDP is only an indicator of economic performance and does not measure people’s happiness or the state of the environment. But talks are on to have a more holistic mechanism in place.
A collective effort to achieve goals
The concept of an Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (IGIF) is gaining traction. It is heartening to see that the right approach, communication and methodology exhibited by the geospatial community have worked. Countries like The Netherlands and Sweden are now incorporating IGIF in their larger strategies. The fact that geospatial is not only about maps, and is an inclusive, embracive and cost-efficient tool, is being realized all over the world.
It is important to bring together all the knowledge, expertise and resources to develop a vision for the future — where we want to go and how do we get there. The private sector has an important role to play in this process. If we want to achieve SDGs, it can’t happen with government policies alone; the people need to have a conviction about pursuing those goals. Once that happens, the private sector will automatically come into the picture. In the last two decades, the United Nations has invited several non-governmental stakeholders to the table for discussions, but then, it’s an ongoing process.
