NATIONAL MAPPING IN AFRICA – NAMIBIA LAUNCHES NEW NATIONAL MAP PRODUCTS AS A PART OF THEIR NSDI

U. Hedlund¹, U. Okafor²

1 - Swedesurvey

2 - Department of Survey and Mapping, Namibia

ulf.hedlund@lm.se

This paper is a presentation of how the Namibian National Mapping Agency, DSM – Directorate of Survey and Mapping, in co-operation with Swedesurvey AB has produced, revised and launched their new National and Regional map products as a part of their National Spatial Data Infrastructure development.

In September 2005, the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement in Namibia funded a project, “Map Edition and Offset Printing of maps”, in which Swedesurvey AB was selected as project partner. The contract between the Ministry and Swedesurvey was signed late 2005.

Advances in computer technology and GIS have significantly increased the options available for map visualization. Visualization of objects and phenomena in 3 –D is now a reality. New systems allow computers to simulate and model reality by using visual and auditory cues in three dimensions. These same systems might be used to create virtual maps in which users can traverse and study real and simulated environments and landscapes.

The flexibility of GIS Procedures and the ease of editing electronic map display have made it easier and inexpensive to develop several design prototypes before making a choice. Mapping software provides cartographers with the same type of mileage that text-processing software offers writers. GIS technology is providing cartographers with the accurate drafting that has traditionally required tremendous manual skill, patience, and training. They have also revolutionized map revision procedures, and broadened the horizon to experiment with layout, composition, and symbolization, and to duplicate information from one map to another when producing series of maps. Nevertheless, its use requires that the cartographer be just as familiar with the strengths and limitations of each automated system as with principles of effective communication.

The approach to this project was to ensure that the geographic information delivered by the project would become the foundation for the National Base map- from the perspective of a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). It was also a necessity that the project should contribute to the development of DSM’s own capacity with respect to GIS and cartography. The project had to produce various cartographic products, ranging from 1:1 Million to 1:10 000 in scale, all derived from one specifically produced homogeneous national GIS-data base, in a very short time.

This paper gives an introduction to how this was achieved and presents how the data produced will form a base for future operations such as establishing a new Namibian cadastre system.