Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1246053
14 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 13 MAY 2020 COMMERCIAL OVER the past year, the Plan- ning Authority continued to make the best use of EU funds, as it strives towards technolog- ical advancement. SintegraM is one project that benefitted from these funds. The Authority re- cently completed the mammoth task of developing Malta's first National Spatial Data Infra- structure. The project has posi- tioned Malta at the forefront of geo-spatial technology, by revo- lutionising data as we know it. We interact with spatial data every day, either through our smartphone or other technolo- gies. Spatial data is information about a physical object that can be represented by numerical values in a geographic coordi- nate system. It represents the location, size and shape of an object on planet earth, such as a building, valley, or harbour ar- ea. Through the project we have developed a national spatial data infrastructure and are increasing the capacity of geo-spatial/GIS technology expertise for Malta. This project also set out to en- sure that the underlying aerial, terrestrial and bathymetric in- frastructure and knowledge gain is made available to all govern- ment entities to deliver an ana- lytical framework as per nation- al, EU and other international obligations and requirements. Inter-governmental data dis- tribution is also made possible through this infrastructure. SIntegraM now offers us a new strategic approach into how spatial data is collected, man- aged, analysed and made avail- able. Not only have we created a new base map and purchased the latest aerial, terrestrial and marine technologies, but all the acquired data can now be used to make accurate in-depth anal- ysis and develop future narrative scenarios. Through this new technology, which is the most advanced in Europe, Malta is better placed to improve its pol- icy-making and decision-taking. This not only in land-use plan- ning but in health care, educa- tion, transport, utility services, forensics and other sectors. The Planning Authority brought together over forty en- tities to integrate information and offer a common platform that brings all the maps into re- al space. The benefits to society are paramount; allowing users to view data on their phone, view streets in 3D, mark a location or report an illegality at a specific location. All this is done through the SIntegraM web-portal. Fur- thermore, this technology also allows us to take a snapshot of the environment and view the effects of, for instance: rising sea levels. To compliment this project, the Planning Authority has al- so launched a scheme offering scholarships in the field of ge- omatics for persons employed within the public service. To- gether with the training compo- nent of the SIntegraM project, the scholarships at Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor Degree or Masters level, will ensure the en- hancement of human capacity in the spatial themes across all gov- ernmental entities. In 2020, the Authority will con- tinue with its preparation for the setting up of a National Spatial Intelligence Institute. The In- stitute will ensure continuity in spatial data management, re- search and training in the future. This is vital to keep enhancing the social well-being, since the network created and training have placed SIntegraM as a prec- edent for future research and policy-making. For more information about the Authority's services and initiatives you may visit www. pa.org.mt SintegraM - developing spatial data integration for the Maltese islands