DPKO Engineering SectionDPKO Engineering Section Page: Page: 11

Geographic Information SystemGeographic Information Systemfor the UN Peacekeeping Operationsfor the UN Peacekeeping Operations

29 29 March 2000March 2000

Kyoung-Soo EomKyoung-Soo EomLCS/FALD/DPKOLCS/FALD/DPKO

eom@un.org

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AgendaAgenda

• ObservationObservation

• DiscussionDiscussion

• RecommendationsRecommendations

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ObservationObservation

• Knowledge of the Missions’terrain is extremely important during Knowledge of the Missions’terrain is extremely important during

all phases of UN Peacekeeping Operations,all phases of UN Peacekeeping Operations,

- Planning- Planning

- Budgeting - Budgeting

- Execution- Execution

- Liquidation- Liquidation• The reasons why it ...The reasons why it ...

- is definitely required to deploy the peacekeeper in - is definitely required to deploy the peacekeeper in SOMEWHERESOMEWHERE..

- is a - is a BASICBASIC information for developing a information for developing a PLANPLAN & & DECISIONDECISION..

(people, (people, TERRAINTERRAIN feature and weather condition) feature and weather condition)

- continually undergo change on the earth’s surface.- continually undergo change on the earth’s surface.

(DB must be continuously revised and updated)(DB must be continuously revised and updated)

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DiscussionDiscussion

• Only paper maps are available under supply items.Only paper maps are available under supply items.• There was very little detailed digital terrain database available forThere was very little detailed digital terrain database available for

the area of peacekeeping operations.the area of peacekeeping operations.• This lack of digital terrain data hampered the operations and This lack of digital terrain data hampered the operations and

contributed to some maps being unreliable.contributed to some maps being unreliable.• None of Geographic Information or Terrain Analysis Team in neitherNone of Geographic Information or Terrain Analysis Team in neither

DPKO and the field Missions.DPKO and the field Missions.

- No containers to gathering and updating the geographic information.- No containers to gathering and updating the geographic information.

- No geographic information available to the decision makers.- No geographic information available to the decision makers.

- Waste time, effort and cost to produce geographic information.- Waste time, effort and cost to produce geographic information.

- A GIS Cell was functional during the InterFET Operations, - A GIS Cell was functional during the InterFET Operations,

but not for UN Peacekeepers.but not for UN Peacekeepers.

(Mapping, surveying, terrain analysis, Roads GIS, etc)(Mapping, surveying, terrain analysis, Roads GIS, etc)

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Example-1Example-1

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Example-2Example-2

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Example-3Example-3

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RecommendationsRecommendations

• Establishing an UN Geographic Information System (UNGIS)Establishing an UN Geographic Information System (UNGIS)

- UN Geographic Database- UN Geographic Database

- - UN terrain analysis team or GIS teamUN terrain analysis team or GIS team

UNUNG-DBG-DB

Customizing & Tailoring

GIS teamGIS team

DPKODPKO

Field Field MissionsMissions

UNDPUNDP