Nationwide GIS for Thailand

Thailand will get its first nationwide GIS by the end of the year, which will provide a detailed digital map of the country's resources and allow for better management across government agencies. Previously various government departments had their own GIS systems that were largely incompatible.

The national project was initiated by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as part of plans for e-government and for better management of natural resources. The Agricultural Ministry, which oversees the digital map project, awarded an 832-million baht contract to ESRI (Thailand).

The company is working with GIS Data, a subsidiary of CDG Group, to develop the digital map. GIS Data works with the Royal Thai Survey Department, which already has an orthophoto map of the Northeastern region, and another consortium that will take orthophotos of other parts of the country.

In the past, there were 71 GIS projects implemented by public agencies, state enterprises, educational institutes and the private sector.

GIS Data has employed 600 people to work on the one-year project, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year. They scan negative films of orthophotos of the Royal Thai Survey Department and edit colours to sharpen the image. Aerial triangulation will be plotted over landmarks in order to outline survey routes.

Survey teams will use a pen-based computer to record map details and will also have a car equipped with GPS and a video camera. The data will be used for checking direction accuracy. At present, the team has plotted 4,000 locations out of a total of 12,000. A team of 180 people will match up the GIS ground information with orthophoto maps in order to ensure accurate dimensions.

GIS Data will also work with the Ministry of National Resources and Environment on a pilot project for historical orthophoto maps to track land usage development.