"The benefits of more timely, detailed, and accessible data are many: Geospatial information can bridge gaps, provide a clearer picture of where and how we can do better, and deliver deeper insights and smarter decisions"

António Guterres
Secretary-General of the United Nations

 

The importance of the 'Community'; 'Collaboration'; and 'Commitment' to the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (UN-IGIF) to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, address climate-related challenges and leave no one behind were emphasized at the Congress hosted by the Government of the Republic of India in Hyderabad. The Congress program, from 11 - 13 October, had three plenary sessions with nine keynote presenters with diverse experience and perspective, and from diverse background and geography. Each addressed the principal focus of the plenary sessions - supporting sustainable development and the wellbeing of society; embracing digital transformation and technological development; environmental and climate challenges and reinforced the importance of working together. Alongside the plenary sessions were four special sessions that were essentially panels comprising predominantly panelists representing national agencies from Member States, and a further forty thematic parallel sessions. All in all there were 121 presenters. Within the Congress week, from 10 - 14 October, there were two special events with particular focus on children, youth and the under-represented. There were also eight side events and three formal meetings.

The UN Secretary-General had a message that was read out before the Prime Minister of India's 12-minute videoed official address at the official opening session on 11 October. The Governor of the State of Telangana provided her closing address at the official closing session on 13 October. In his message, the UN Secretary-General welcomed the theme 'Geo-enabling the global village: No one should be left behind' and appreciated the outreach to the next generation with a dedicated youth forum. This 'youth forum' was the special event titled 'Geo-enabling the Global Village with Generation Z and Alpha' where school children and teachers from 18 schools across India presented their geospatially enabled sustainability projects. Many of these school children stayed on for the rest of the week and were amongst the 1369 participants from 77 countries. In particular, many applauded the inclusion and participation of young adults, school children and the normally under-represented in the Congress program. Participants noted and welcomed the inclusiveness and the diversities within what was a very strong substantive program put together by the International Advisory Committee of the Congress. The program and its presentations and ensuing discussions had overarching focus on the Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework.

 

"The COVID-19 pandemic should have been a wakeup call for the world in taking everyone along. Billions of people in the developing world needed diagnostics, medicines, medical equipment, vaccines, and more. Yet, they were left to their own fate. There is a need for an institutional approach by the international community to help each other during a crisis. The United Nations can lead the way in taking resources to the last mile in every region. Even in fighting climate change, hand-holding and technology transfer are crucial. We share the same planet. I am sure we can share best practices for saving our planet too. The possibilities that geospatial technology offers are endless. Sustainable urban development, managing and even mitigating disasters, tracking the impact of climate change, forest management, water management, stopping desertification, food security. There is so much that we can do for our planet through geospatial technology."

Narendra Modi
Prime Minister of India

 

UNWGIC 2022 Program Guide

Please click on each Plenary, Thematic Parallel Sessions, Special and Side Events to view the presentation materials

Monday, 10th October 2022

Time (Hrs)

G.01-02

G.03-04

G.05-06

10:00 - 11:30

Side Event #1 - Indian Evolving Geospatial Ecosystem: Dialogue with Global Stakeholders

Special Event: Geo-enabling the Global Village with Generations Z and Alpha

 

11:30 - 11:45

Tea/Coffee Break

11:45 - 13:15

Side Event #2 - Enabling the Geospatial Ecosystem - Policy Considerations for the Governments and Industry in a Rapidly Evolving Technology Landscape

Special Event: Geo-enabling the Global Village with Generations Z and Alpha

 

13:15 - 14:30

Lunch Break (Hall 3)

14:30 - 16:00

Side Event #4 - Bridging Academia and Industry in Geospatial Research, Education and Training

Special Event: Geo-enabling the Global Village through the Celebration of Multi-faceted Diversity and Inclusion Approaches

Side Event #3 - Matchmaking Forum for the Indian Geospatial Industry and National Government Agencies

16:00 - 16:30

Tea/Coffee Break

16:30 - 18:00

Side Event #4 - Bridging Academia and Industry in Geospatial Research, Education and Training

Special Event: Geo-enabling the Global Village through the Celebration of Multi-faceted Diversity and Inclusion Approaches

Side Event #3 - Matchmaking Forum for the Indian Geospatial Industry and National Government Agencies

18:30 - 21:00

Official Welcome Reception (Hall 3)

Tuesday, 11th October 2022

Time (Hrs)

Hall 4,5,6

09:30 - 11:00

Official Opening Session

11:00 - 11:30

Tea/Coffee Break | Exhibition Opening (Hall 1,2)

11:30 - 13:15

Plenary Session #1: Supporting Sustainable Development and the Wellbeing of Society; Embracing Digital Transformation and Technological Development; Environmental and Climate Challenges

13:15 - 13:30

Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure Readiness Index and Value Proposition in World Economy, Society, and Environment (Report Launch)

13:30 - 14:30

Lunch Break (Hall 3)

 

Ground Floor

First Floor

Novotel Ballroom

G.01-02

G.03-04

G.05-06

1.01

1.02

1.03

1.04

1.05

1.06

Parallel Track 4 - Strengthening Capacities, Capabilities and Communications

Parallel Track 5 - Operationalizing the Integrated Geospatial Information Framework at the Country-level

Parallel Track 7 - National Development Priorities and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Parallel Track 8 - Integrated Geospatial Information and Earth Observation for Climate Resilience

Parallel Track 1 - Governance, Policy and Legal Frameworks, and Sustainable Financing

Parallel Track 2 - Data and Standards

Parallel Track 3 - Creativity and Innovation

Parallel Track 6 - Determining the Future Geospatial Information Ecosystem

Parallel Track 9 - Enabling Geospatial Knowledge, Innovation and Technology via Academia and Private Sector

Parallel Track 10 - Generations, Diversity and Partnerships

14:30 - 16:00

TP4A - Capability Development for Sustainability and Resilience

TP5A - Regional Cooperation for Implementing the UN-IGIF

 

TP8A - Geospatial Solutions for Climate Challenges

TP1A - Geospatial Policy Development at the Country-level

TP2A - Integrated Marine Geospatial Information for Sustainable Oceans, Seas and Coastal Zones

TP3A - Innovative use of Remotely Sensed Earth Observations

TP6A - Drivers for the Future Geospatial Information Ecosystem

TP9B - Geospatial Knowledge for an Enabling Environment

TP10A - Celebrating Diversity in Geospatial Information Management

16:00 - 16:30

Tea/Coffee Break | Indian SDGs Showcase: Geospatial in Women Empowerment (G-Chaupal Area: Foyer of Hall G0.6 Ground Floor)

16:30 - 18:00

TP4B - Strengthening Capacities for Sustainability and Resilience

TP5B - Global Cooperation for Implementing the UN-IGIF

TP7B - Supporting National Priorities and the SDGs

TP8B - Applications for Climate Adaptation

TP1B - Geospatial Policy and Legal Frameworks for ALL

TP2B - Developing Foundational Data for the SDGs

TP3B - Innovative Location-based Services

 

TP9A - Effective Communication for an Enabling Environment

 

19:00 - 21:30

Official Congress Dinner (Hall 4)

Wednesday, 12th October 2022

Time (Hrs)

Hall 4

Hall 5,6

09:30 - 11:00

Special Session #1A: The IGIF for Transformative Evidence-based Policy Development and Decision Making

Special Session #1B: The Future Geospatial Information Ecosystem

11:00 - 11:30

Tea/Coffee Break |Indian SDGs Showcase: Mera Gaav Humara Jal (G-Chaupal Area: Foyer of Hall G0.6 Ground Floor)

11:30 - 13:15

Plenary Session #2: Supporting Sustainable Development and the Wellbeing of Society; Embracing Digital Transformation and Technological Development; Environmental and Climate Challenges (Hall 4)

13:15 - 14:30

Lunch Break (Hall 3)

 

Ground Floor

First Floor

Hall 5

G.01-02

G.03-04

G.05-06

1.01

1.02

1.03

1.04

1.05

1.06

14:30 - 16:00

TP4C - Promoting the Usefulness of Geospatial Information and Profession

TP5C - Operationalizing the UN-IGIF at the Country-level

TP7C - Supporting National Priorities and the SDGs

TP8C - Pilots and Tools for Mitigating Climate Related Impacts

 

TP2C - Understanding and Valuing Standards for the SDGs

TP3C - Creativity and Innovation in Geospatial Research and Development

TP6C - Data Accessibility for the SDGs

TP9C - Towards an Effective Geo-enabled Environment

TP10C - Effective Partnerships

16:00 - 16:30

Tea/Coffee Break | Indian SDGs Showcase: Z-Gen School Students (G-Chaupal Area: Foyer of Hall G0.6 Ground Floor)

16:30 - 18:00

TP4D - Communicating the Value and Significance of Geospatial Information Effectively

TP5D - Operationalizing the UN-IGIF at the Country-level

TP8D - Strategies and Tools for Urban and Rural Flood Mitigation

TP1D - Strategizing and Implementing geospatial policy for ALL

 

TP3D - Innovative Geospatial Services, Platforms and Systems

TP6D - Next Steps in Thinking Spatially

TP8E -Operational Framework for Integrated Marine Geospatial Information for Sustainable Oceans, Seas and Coastal Zones

TP10D - Effective Partnerships

Friday, 14th October 2022

Time (Hrs)

Novotel Ballroom

G.01-02

G.03-04

09:30 - 11:00

Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the Regional Committee of United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for Asia and the Pacific (UN-GGIM-AP) [hosted by the Survey of India]

Meeting of the UNWGIC 2022 International Advisory Committee (by invitation)

Side Event #5 - Space-based Geospatial Activities in India: Applications of Space Technology in the User Ministries

11:00 - 11:30

Tea/Coffee Break

11:30 - 13:15

Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the Regional Committee of United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for Asia and the Pacific (UN-GGIM-AP) [hosted by the Survey of India]

Meeting of the UNWGIC 2022 International Advisory Committee (by invitation)

Side Event #6 - The Importance of Land Administration for the Implementation of the SDGs

13:15 - 14:30

Lunch Break (Hall 3)

14:30 - 16:00

Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the Regional Committee of United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for Asia and the Pacific (UN-GGIM-AP) [hosted by the Survey of India]

2022 Meeting of the UN-GGIM Expanded Bureau together with co-Chairs of the UN-GGIM Functional Groups (by invitation)

Side Event #7 - Transitioning from Geospatial Data to Geospatial Knowledge for Enhanced National Development – the Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure (GKI)

16:00 - 16:30

Tea/Coffee Break

16:30 - 17:00

Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the Regional Committee of United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for Asia and the Pacific (UN-GGIM-AP) [hosted by the Survey of India]

2022 Meeting of the UN-GGIM Expanded Bureau together with co-Chairs of the UN-GGIM Functional Groups (by invitation)

Documentation for the Second UN World Geospatial Information Congress