1.  Purpose of the Global Map project

The concept of Global Mapping, and the establishment of an international body for Global Mapping, was first proposed by the Ministry of Construction of Japan (MOC) in 1992; and in 1994 the Geographical Survey Institute of Japan (GSI) proposed the first draft Map Specifications. The project currently involves the participation of many interested nations. The main objective of this global project is to bring all nations and concerned organizations together to develop and provide easy and open access to global digital geographic information at a scale of 1:1 million. This would be used to facilitate the implementation of global agreements and conventions for environmental protection, for monitoring of major environmental phenomena and to encourage economic growth within the context of sustainable development. As part of this objective, a Global Map product will be developed to this specification.

 

The Global Map will also contribute to the development of a Global Spatial Data Infrastructure.

 

2.  Brief Specification of Global Map data

1) Spatial resolution: ca. 1km (equivalent to 1:1,000,000 scale)

2) 8 layers

a. Vector data (point, line, area)

Boundaries (Administrative/Coast), Drainage (Rivers/Lakes),

Transportation (Roads/Railways/Airport), Population centers

b. Raster data (grid)

Elevation, Land Cover, Land Use, Vegetation

 

3.  Liaison description

WGISS will interact with the Global Map project to exchange the information and to seek the area for give and take collaboration.

 

4. Key document/Website

www.iscgm.org