Global Map is a digital geographic data set which covers the whole of the land area of the globe at a scale of 1:1,000,000, roughly equivalent to a ground resolution of 1 km. Global Map is composed of eight thematic data layers. These eight base cartographic layers are elevation, vegetation, land use, land cover, transportation networks, drainage systems, administrative boundaries and population centers.
The International Steering Committee for Global Mapping (ISCGM) is cooperating with participating organizations in the development of Global Map. Global Map product, when completed, shall be openly available to the public. As of September 2001, the data of nine countries has already been released. It is a contribution by National Mapping and related organizations which has been designed to facilitate an improved understanding and aid in the solution of global environmental problems. Information on the specifications, production methods and other details of the Global Map can be found in the ISCGM Web site,
http://www.iscgm.org/. You may also can contact the ISCGM Secretariat at the address listed in below.
Participation of as many countries as possible is being sought and strongly encouraged to ensure that the Global Map product is developed and properly validated for the entire land area of the globe in an efficient and effective fashion. In accordance with established specifications participating countries will, with in the limits of their ability, assist in the development and/or validation of their share of Global Map. National and regional digital data products developed by the participating nations will be integrated into the finished Global Map product. In instances where Nations cannot produce or validate the digital map products because of an unavailability or lack of necessary resources, they are encouraged to participate within the limits of their capability. Such participation might include the provision of some data layers or help in validation of data layers.
Participation in the Global Map Project is voluntary. Involvement by an organization in the project can generally be categorized as Level A, B and C.
The Level A organizations produce data not only of their own countries, but also of other countries based on materials developed on their own or those provided by ISCGM.
The Level B organizations produce only data of their own countries.
The Level C organizations do not produce the data by themselves, but provide ISCGM with information such as administrative boundaries and recent version of paper maps needed for data production, and or validation.
Participating organizations will produce the thematic digital data of the area for which they are responsible, or prepare the material needed to assist others in the production of these data, and provide these materials to the ISCGM. ISCGM will deliver materials provided by the Level C organizations to the Level A organizations, and will receive the finished data from the levels A and B organizations after production is completed. ISCGM will make the resulting data available to the public through a variety of delivery mechanisms e.g. the Internet, or via post, through the mailing of a CD-ROM.
Participating organizations are expected to produce the requisite digital data products or to provide raw material in accordance with the schedule developed with the ISCGM. These organizations will be expected to report their progress regularly so that ISCGM can effectively coordinate the entire project.
Ownership and copyright of the data shall be defined for each component of the Global Map (in terms of both area and content). Those for each component belong to the participating organizations which are involved in the production of the component (The author of the original materials used for the production has the copyright belonging to the original author).
ISCGM will contract with the participating organizations for data distribution. The contract should be established under the condition that the Global Map is available for anyone, without any restriction, at nominal fee to cover costs required for reproduction and delivery.
Anyone who develops products or obtains solutions from the Global Map should acknowledge copyright of the Global Map in the products or solutions. Logos or other markings shall be put on the products, where applicable, to clearly identify the copyright owner.
Anyone who distributes commercial value-added products derived from the processing or augmentation of Global Map data will be required to get permissions from all the copyright owners of data used for the products.
Coordination of the preparation of the Global Map will be through the Secretariat. Finalization of which Level A organizations assist which other countries will be based on the preferences of the countries. If there are several national mapping organizations in a country and two or more organizations participate in this project, one organization should be defined as a contact organization to the ISCGM in principle.
Applications for participation in the Global Mapping Project will be accepted anytime.
The Secretariat of the ISCGM
Geographical Survey Institute (GSI)
1 Kitasato, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, 305-0811 Japan
Phone: +81-298-64-6910
Fax: +81-298-64-6923
E-mail: sec@iscgm.org
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