Location Intelligence the panacea to accelerated development in SIDS - CARIGEO side-event

Side -event of the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) will be held from 27 to 30 May 2024 in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. 

This side-event is organized by the Regional Committee of United Nations on Global Geospatial Information Management for the Americas through the Caribbean Geospatial Development Initiative (CARIGEO) in collaboration with the following partners:

1. United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
2. Barbados - Lands and Surveys Department
3. Jamaica - Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation - National Spatial Data Management Branch
4. United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM)- High level Group of the Integrated Geospatial Framework (HLG-IGIF)
5. United States of America Census Bureau
6. United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management: Americas - Academic Network, University of the Republic Uruguay/International Federation of Surveyors
7. United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management: Americas – Private Sector Network, GeoTechVision, Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI)

Side event Location Intelligence the panacea to accelerated development in SIDS will feature an engaging three parts discussion.

The first section will focus on the importance of location intelligence in propelling growth, highlighting geospatial data challenges, including availability, access and ICT usage in SIDS.

The second section will feature experts from the US Census Bureau, Academic Network Americas/ International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) and Private Sector Network Americas, delving into solutions that leverage location intelligence and geospatial technologies (3D mapping, GeoAI, mobile GIS) and discusses data platforms available in the Americas (CARIGEO, ECLAC, UN-GGIM Americas), the institutional arrangements and  strategies for effective use. The UN’s Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (IGIF) will then be discussed, juxtaposed with other supporting geospatial frameworks (land, disasters etc.)  related initiatives such as the Spatial Data Alliance and the rollout of the Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation Centre in China, all aimed at ameliorating SIDS social, economic and environmental challenges.

The third section will present real-life applications from Barbados, Jamaica and other SIDS, on how location intelligence accelerates development across various sectors.

Expected Outcomes:

• Participants will have greater appreciation for geospatial and environmental management activities in the region
• They will help to champion geospatial, digital and environmental matters
• Participants will understand the importance of fit for purpose data, its availability and accessibility
• The event will foster new partnerships and strengthen existing ones among regional stakeholders, facilitating shared initiatives and collaborative projects
• Policymakers and practitioners will acquire actionable insights and best practices for integrating digital and geospatial technologies into their work, contributing to more informed decision-making and policy formulation.