Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1109092
25.04.19 16 PROPERTY THE Planning Authority in collaboration with a number of stakeholders is developing Malta's first National Spatial data Infrastructure through a €7million EU funded project known as SIntegraM. What does this project have to offer? Information technology has re-shaped both the business world and our society in gen- eral. We have grown to become every more dependent on technology, data and informa- tion. Whether you know it or not, you may be interacting with spatial data every day. If you use a smartphone or a Global Positioning System (GPS) for directions to a par- ticular place, or if you ask a search engine for the locations of seafood restaurants near a physical address or landmark, you are using applications re- lying on spatial data. But wait. Let's stop here - what is spatial data after all? Put simply, it is information about a physical object that can be represented by numer- ical values in a geographic co- ordinate system. It makes the difficult-to-un- derstand world of data sim- ple – How? rough maps, images and three dimensional visualisation, while ensuring the highest standards to policy and data protection. Generally speaking, spatial data represents the location, size and shape of an object on planet earth such as a build- ing, valley, mountain or har- bour area. So why is the so called SIntegraM project so important for Malta? is project offers a new strategic approach into how spatial data will be collect- ed, managed, analysised and made available. Not only is a new base map being created using the lat- est aerial, terrestrial and ma- rine technologies but all the acquired data can be used to make accurate in depth anal- ysis for planning, scenario building, predictive model- ling and even controlling ac- cidents. SIntegraM will introduce the concept of free exchange of data and cost-sharing across governmental entities through a secure structure. It brings about a mentality shift where all information is provided free of charge to all govern- ment entities. To ensure that within gov- ernment entities there will be the human capacity and expertise to plug in and max- imise the holistic advantages of this new infrustructure, the Planning Authority has also launched a scheme offer- ing scholarships in the field of geospatial technology (Geo- matics) for persons employed within the public service. is is through a sister pro- ject called SpatialTRAIN. For this purpose public service employees may attain a qual- ification in geomatics at Cer- tificate, Diploma, Bachelor, Degree or Masters level. Together with the training component of the SIntegraM project, the scholarships will ensure the enhancement of human capacity in the spatial themes across all governmen- tal entities. Government entities collect and manage vast amounts of data—all tied to location. Once this data is automatical- ly mapped out through the sys- tem, spatial analysis will quick- ly make sense of it and so make it easier to use. In this way complex issues can be effec- tively analyzed and hidden pat- terns in data can be revealed. In the near future the ability to decide upon and act with confidence in dynamically changing situations will be more and more data-driven. Mobile applications may eventually be developed by government entities to em- power citizens to make meaningful decisions in their everyday activities and to lead better lives. With more real-time data at their finger tips citizens will be able to become more safe by looking at a map and fig- ure out what areas have high crime rates. ey can explore where are the locations of a school, pub- lic garden and other demo- graphics to try to determine the best location to buy a new home. Will this improve our quality of life? You will be the judge on this but let us look at a simple ex- ample of how this can effect us. Imagine a man is suffering from a cardiac arrest in a pub- lic space. When an emergency call is made on 112, Mater Dei hos- pital activates and deploys an ambulance to the scene. ey have a target for the ambulance to reach the victim within the shortest period of time. But there are some limita- tions. As we all know, in a case of cardiac arrest, every minute counts. Every minute earli- er where the victim receives some treatment increases the chances of survival exponen- tially. In a perfect world, the am- bulance would reach the vic- tim within five minutes of the emergency call. But we know it is not always possible, be- cause we do not have an in- finite number of ambulances on standby, and there are also road and traffic conditions to contend with. What is done then? Other than deploying the ambulance, once the the emergency services receive the call, through a dedicated app, the officer will also ping out an alert to trained first aid volunteers within a 500m ra- dius of the victim's location. So before the ambulance ar- rives the chances of stabilising the victim are much higher. e app can also indicate where the nearest Automat- ic External Defibrillators is should the volunteer require one. e more people subscribe the app and become trained voluteers, the more functions can be extended to alert vol- unteers to cases of minor fires, where such fires can be quick- ly put out by nearby volun- teers easily. Using geospatial data and technology, we can evidently see how we can be able to im- prove the quality of our lives and that of our society not only at a public administrative level but also empowering us to make decisions and take ac- tion on the ground. Spatial data for a knowledgeable society The SIntegraM journey: Spatial data represents the location, size and shape of an object on planet earth In the near future the ability to decide upon and act with confidence in dynamically changing situations will be more and more data- driven