Overview
Geo-information technologies enable the collection and processing of land-related data efficiently, rapidly, and cost-effectively - using global positioning systems, computer mapping, remote sensing, and geographic information systems (GIS) - making it possible to relate economic and development decisions to specific locations or markets.

In the next three years, ECA will establish a facility that will offer member States easy access to up-to-date tools, techniques and global data resources. ECA will provide the gateway software that will link to nodes in African countries where they can make their records accessible. ECA will be organizing a series of hands-on training workshops in five sub-regional locations to promote more country-specific systems, hosted by member States themselves, or by ECA on their behalf.

ECA will also increase its work on national spatial data infrastructure (NSDI) - which is the technology, policies, criteria, standards and people necessary to promote geospatial data sharing; integrating that infrastructure and geo-information policy into NICI plans; and fostering public participation in geo-information management. The US-based ESRI company and the International Steering Committee on the Global Map (ISCGM) are ECA ' s partners in developing NSDIs and providing grants to countries doing so.

Other ongoing involvement includes the Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Surveys (RECTAS) in Nigeria and the Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) in Nairobi , whereby ECA advises on course curriculums, technical services offered to member States, and on management issues. ECA supported workshops during the bi-annual conferences of African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment (AARSE) in October 2004. Support will be provided to AfricaGIS in 2005.