KUWAIT, March 28 (KUNA) -- Kuwait GIS-ESRI User Group (KGUG) Chairman Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdallah Al-Sabah said on Monday the geographical information systems have made much progress in the country over recent years.
In a keynote speech at the 8th Kuwait GIS User Conference, he said the great increase in the number of bodies and agencies using geographical information systems was a clear-cut example for this progress.
The number of users will be even on the increase in the coming years as the world has become more interested in this field that contributes to the provision of a better life and more sustainable environment and natural resources, he said.
As many as 400 experts, users and exhibitors of this technology come from all over the world to participate in the conference, which is organized by the Kuwait GIS-ESRI User Group (KGUG), Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdallah added.
They are coming to Kuwait in order to share information and experiences and to see the country's advancement in the geographical information systems, he pointed out.
On his group's future activities, he noted that it would publish a book containing the terms of geographical information systems in Arabic, and establish a national center for such systems with a view to unifying Kuwait's basic map.
Furthermore, the group seeks to publish a single dictionary containing spatial data so as to serve all state agencies and departments by means of making relevant information and data available to everyone, he noted.
However, the KGUG chairman emphasized that it is necessary to create a Gulf network with a view to exchanging experience and promoting scientific and research cooperation among specialists in the geographical information systems of the GCC member states.
The Kuwait GIS-ESRI User Group (KGUG) was established in September 16th, 2003. It's a non-profit group in Kuwait that promotes GIS geographic data sharing, encourages data standardization and provides a network for the exchange of information between all GIS users, taking into account the culture and values of Kuwait and Gulf Society.
The 8th Kuwait GIS User Conference is being held on March 28 - 29 at the Regency Hotel Kuwait. It is considered the largest gathering of geographical information systems' users in Kuwait. (end) zak.mt