Newsletter e-Government Forum OAS
By Edgar Alveño (Guatemala)
1 .- What is the significance of GIS within the e-Government in Venezuela?
The relevance of the georeferencing of information is often stated by the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela through their speeches to the country. From the National Center of Information Technologies (CNTI), from a national open source GIS conducted in 2007 identified the need for technology support for access to information and training from public institutions. To help address these requirements, we are working with the governing body of cartography in our country, the Geographic Institute of Venezuela Simon Bolivar (IGVSB), in the creation and implementation of a Geospatial Data Infrastructure Venezuela (IDEGeoVen), under the CNTI plan for e-government. The importance of GIS in e-government is that it is a tool for inventory, planning, monitoring and supporting the management control at different levels of government.
2 .- What GIS application cases considered most important in Venezuela?
Already mentioned national conference on open source GIS identified numerous public institutions that are working on applications of GIS from the 80's, among which include, among others, the: a) exploration and production of hydrocarbons and gas distribution (PDVSA), b) forest area (CVG PROFORCA), c) environment (MARNOT), d) hydrological area (HIDROFALCON, HIDROBOLIVAR), e) support to community activities (CORPOVARGAS), f) watershed protection (CORPOELEC) , g) situation rooms in local and regional governments, and h) support for cadastral activities in municipalities or local governments.
3 .- How to face, from the Venezuelan government, the factors limiting the diffusion of GIS?
The factors that limit further spread of GIS in Latin American countries are related mainly to three factors that point out below, together with our line of action to address them: a.
Data Availability: urge the creation of Geospatial Data Infrastructure of Venezuela (IDEGeoVen), where geo-referenced data generating institutions will be made available to any user.
b, cost of proprietary software in GIS: the face to promote the use of free programs in GIS, building on the basis CNTI Decree No. 3.390/2004, which states that the National Administration will implement free software developed with open standards. In many cases the quality of free software is comparable and even superior to that of the proprietary, but also the migration to free software provides users with more items to choose and customize their applications. C.
Training: will be enhanced by the imminent availability of various instruments through the IDEGeoVen to be implemented in the country.
4 .- What is the status of the GIS training in Venezuela and what are the greatest needs?
GIS training in Venezuela has several aspects to consider: a.
No country exists in a specific university degree in GIS. In general in the field of earth sciences addresses the issue of photo interpretation, thematic mapping, tabular statistical data management and there are electives which are used GIS tools;
b. At the graduate level, especially on environmental issues, urban or population, includes the GIS as a subject matter within the set. In other cases, there are graduate programs that handle the issue of information systems, which deal with the issue collaterally GIS
c. Many of the GIS training are carried out through courses made to order for institutions or offered by commercial software vendors or proprietary. Within
IDEGeoVen project is expected to promote the implementation of GIS courses online, using completely free tools. We to be emphasized in this type of action, since they allow to reach more people in less time, through the IGVSB coordinated plans, in cooperation with other ministries, such as Education and Higher Education.
5 .- Can you tell us about the experiences in the use of proprietary GIS software and free in Venezuela?
As I mentioned, the aim CNTI and propped up the development of GIS model with free software and open standards for the government. Since this is a recent effort, many of the systems in use are developed with proprietary software. The Act promotes the use 3.390/2004 free software as a way to increase our technological independence, re-orienting towards the formation of human talent resources behind the acquisition of proprietary software. When considering the migration to free software in GIS, it should be noted that, with recent advances (Web IDE) - this migration is not only a simple data format conversion, but the answer to the most recent technological possibilities for example, Web-publishing the data produced, which implies an investment in time and resources. Another aspect is related to the natural reluctance to abandon what we know, for it is necessary to increase staff awareness on the benefits the use of free tools.
While the impact of GIS has not been reflected yet in implementations of e-government in Venezuela, we expect a massive influx from the implementation of the initial phase of the IDEGeoVen. We believe that the electronic sharing of geographic data among different users, provide benefits related to more efficient use of information, avoiding duplication and making available to citizens and institutions the most current information on standards which enable exchange.
6 .- What, in its opinion, the greatest contributions of GIS to e-government?
They open the possibility of democratizing the geographic information, which is essential when resources are managed, distributed in space, contributing to the adoption of more and better choices for the benefit and welfare of the population.
