UN World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC)

Context

The PM has inaugurated the second United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC) in Hyderabad.

• The geospatial technology has been driving inclusion and progress in national development projects like SVAMITVA, PM Gati Shakti master plan, JAM Trinity, etc.
  
  
  

What is UNWGIC?

• The first United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress was held in Deqing, Zhejiang Province, China in 2018.
• The United Nation Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) organizes the UNWGIC every four years.
• It is hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Government of India.
• The objectives are enhancing international collaboration among the Member States and relevant stakeholders in Geospatial information management and capacities.

Theme

• The theme of UNWGIC 2022 is ‘Geo-Enabling the Global Village: No one should be left behind’.

Objectives of UNWGIC 

• The move aims to provide high-quality and trustworthy geospatial data to support global and national policy agendas.
• It also stresses international cooperation and coordination in the development of human data linked to geography.
• It promotes societal development and well-being, addresses environmental and climate challenges, and embraces digital transformation and technological advancement.

Why collaborate on 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.