Policy Frameworks form a Foundation for Growth and Innovation in the Geospatial Industry
The development of South Africa’s geospatial industry is intricately linked to collaboration between government and the private sector since the 1980s. Government bodies at various levels needed to harvest the benefit of computers and geospatial software in spatializing their data for use in decision-making. This demand came from pioneering government departments like the then Departments of Water Affairs, Environment Affairs, Land Affairs, and Agriculture that sparked a symbiotic relationship with the private sector. The private sectors crucial role was to provide GIS technology and help with data capture that emerged as a foundation of the industry to this day.
As part of South Africa’s strategic policy framework, the National Spatial Information Framework (NSIF) was established and subsequently legislation, such as the Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) Act, provided a robust foundation in the geospatial industry. The SDI Act mandates the capture, management, and distribution of geospatial information in government with benefits accruing to the private sector. The National Development Plan (NDP) reinforces the commitment to geospatial data through the proposed establishment of a national observatory for spatial data analysis and planning. There is the potential for the national observatory to become a knowledge centre in achieving the principles of Global Knowledge Infrastructure (GKI) in South Africa. Governmental funding of projects like the Marine and Coastal Spatial Data Infrastructure (MCSDI) will continue to pave the path for the private sector to access and produce geospatial data, encouraging the development of innovation technologies and provide the opportunity for consultative projects.
Access to Base Datasets Empowers South Africaโs Geospatial Industry
The bedrock of South Africa’s geospatial industry lies in the geodetic control network, which lays the foundation for the development of crucial base geospatial datasets as well as the georeferencing and rectification of remotely sensed imagery. Hierarchical layers of geospatial data including administrative boundaries, road networks, land cadastre and topography form the base for the development of key geospatial data layers for use by the private sector. It is this geospatial foundation that has resulted in South Africa being ranked 29th in the Global Readiness Index of GKI.
This forms the foundation for location geography to prosper through the mapping of points of interest, street addresses and road networks for use in navigational GPS technologies. These investments by the private sector have contributed to the overall development of the geospatial industry and have been of direct benefit to the public sector. Government’s decision to make geospatial data and remotely sensed imagery freely available has accelerated private sector growth and has facilitated the development of diverse layers of information vital for both the public and private sectors.
Collaborations between the government and private sector, especially through public-private partnerships, have historically been pivotal. Cooperation ranges from purchasing GIS software to sharing data and resources with this partnerships contributing to driving innovation and providing opportunity for the private sector to be involved in consultancy projects. In recent years levels of consultancy between government and the private sector have declined as government departments have internalize their geospatial capacity.
Government investment in universities, geospatial departments, and centre of excellence, coupled with the development of curricula aligned with industry needs, ensures a steady supply of skilled professionals into the private sector. Collaborations between academic institutions, government departments and the private sector further bolster the advances in the geospatial industry. Yet, closer public-private-education collaborations are essential to fulfil the industries diverse skill needs and to become a leader in innovation.
Despite strides in various areas, the deficit in funds required to develop innovative geospatial technologies hampers the industry’s full potential. Governmental innovation funding channels have either disappeared or have not invested in geospatial technologies, primarily because of an ignorance of its importance and value to the economy. Consequently, private sector has struggled to develop innovate technologies, have had to use their own internal resources, or have sought funding from venture capitalist or agencies outside of South Africa. For example, a technology that would have positioned South Africa as a leader in using satellite imagery in developing dwelling frames that can be used with data integrated from nationally representative surveys to update the population estimates annually, was rejected by the government. Enhanced support through grants, incubators, and startup programs in the geospatial industry is a further imperative to foster indigenous technology advancements as is happening in both east and west Africa.
Charting a Path Forward for the Development of South Africaโs Geospatial Industry.
While government initiatives have undeniably nurtured the development of the geospatial industry in South Africa, bridging the funding gap for R&D remains imperative. The interplay between government, private sector, and academia demands collaborative efforts. Establishing streamlined funding avenues and fostering inclusive partnerships will be key to propel South Africa’s geospatial industry into a realm of heightened innovation and growth.
Key areas to address include ensuring the development of geospatial technologies through the involvement of startups to ensure that there is direct benefit to the people of South Africa. The use of federated web portals and mobile technology are some of the key steps needed to make geospatial data more widely available. Examples of these types of technologies includes the Abolobi App to monitor the small scale fishing in the Western Cape and the Oceans and Coastal Monitoring Apps of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) that uses citizens to collect vital data on the marine and coastal environments.
Concerns that the private sector benefits from geospatial initiatives in the public sector without contributing to the advancement of the geospatial industry is a matter of concern that needs to be reviewed. The nature of the private sector in the geospatial industry is to provide services and products through which revenue can be generated and in so doing, is able to contribute to the economy of the country. The private sector plays a critical role in helping develop innovative technologies to solve critical problems in both the public and private sectors. A key role of the private sector is to value add geospatial datasets emanating from government departments to address particular gaps in the market.
The future growth of the geospatial industry with initiatives as described above is promising but the challenges raised must be addressed. Applying the slogan of the Springboks of โstronger togetherโ has shown historically and must be so in the future, that the public and private sectors must work together for the benefit of the geospatial industry and for South Africa.
