GIS & Nepal, By: Babu Ram Dawadi1 GIS in Nepal Challenges & Prospects Challenges & Prospects In last several years, we have witnessed probably the most spectacular period of growth of GIS in its history. In last several years, we have witnessed probably the most spectacular period of growth of GIS in its history. GIS is no longer simply a data analysis tool for scientific and academic research, but a core technology for information management and decision making in business and government. GIS is no longer simply a data analysis tool for scientific and academic research, but a core technology for information management and decision making in business and government.

GIS & Nepal, By: Babu Ram Dawadi2 Challenges Challenges of implementing GIS Challenges of implementing GIS GIS, in itself is a relatively sophisticated technology. GIS, in itself is a relatively sophisticated technology. Hence the apparent success of GIS as one of the fastest growing areas of the computer industry in the globe as well as in Nepal. Hence the apparent success of GIS as one of the fastest growing areas of the computer industry in the globe as well as in Nepal. There are mainly four challenge points relative to GIS implementations in Nepal, these are: data, people, technology and applications. There are mainly four challenge points relative to GIS implementations in Nepal, these are: data, people, technology and applications.

GIS & Nepal, By: Babu Ram Dawadi3 Data Data Data In the early days of GIS, the major data issues was the absence or lack of digital geographic data. In the early days of GIS, the major data issues was the absence or lack of digital geographic data. In the context of Nepal, GIS users have to acquire their own data by digitizing paper maps. In the context of Nepal, GIS users have to acquire their own data by digitizing paper maps. Conventionally, geographic data came mainly from government sources. But data on the governmental level are still in the paper forms and they need to be digitized. Conventionally, geographic data came mainly from government sources. But data on the governmental level are still in the paper forms and they need to be digitized.

GIS & Nepal, By: Babu Ram Dawadi4 Data Access to geographic data Access to geographic data The availability of digital geographic data does not necessarily mean easier access to data. The availability of digital geographic data does not necessarily mean easier access to data. Users are simply unaware of what data are in existence or where they are found. Users are simply unaware of what data are in existence or where they are found. In order to facilitate the sharing of digital geographic data, government agencies and the private GIS industries have joined forces to develop and promote the use of data standards and metadata (SDI). In order to facilitate the sharing of digital geographic data, government agencies and the private GIS industries have joined forces to develop and promote the use of data standards and metadata (SDI).

GIS & Nepal, By: Babu Ram Dawadi5 Data Data ownership, copyright and Recovery Data ownership, copyright and Recovery Data ownership which is in turn related to the issues of copyright and cost recovery of using the data. Data ownership which is in turn related to the issues of copyright and cost recovery of using the data. Government held data are regarded as a valuable commodity and the provision of such data to the public is a chargeable service. Government held data are regarded as a valuable commodity and the provision of such data to the public is a chargeable service. Many jurisdictions require secondary data users to pay royalties to the agencies that produce the base data. This requirements increases the complication of enforcing copyright laws and the ultimate cost of using the geographic data. Many jurisdictions require secondary data users to pay royalties to the agencies that produce the base data. This requirements increases the complication of enforcing copyright laws and the ultimate cost of using the geographic data.

GIS & Nepal, By: Babu Ram Dawadi6 Data Liability of misusing data Liability of misusing data A problem that is directly related to data ownership is concerned with the legal liability of the suppliers of geographic data. A problem that is directly related to data ownership is concerned with the legal liability of the suppliers of geographic data. In order to encourage the sharing of geographic data among data collectors and end users, it is essentials to clarify define the limit of liability of the data suppliers when misuse of the data occurs. In order to encourage the sharing of geographic data among data collectors and end users, it is essentials to clarify define the limit of liability of the data suppliers when misuse of the data occurs.

GIS & Nepal, By: Babu Ram Dawadi7 Data Geometric Incompatibility Geometric Incompatibility The problems of geometric incompatibility occur when digital geographic data captured from different map sheets or obtained from different sources fail to match (like change of georeferencing standard). The problems of geometric incompatibility occur when digital geographic data captured from different map sheets or obtained from different sources fail to match (like change of georeferencing standard). Geometric incompatibility is also caused by using geographic data collected at different scales and map projections. Geometric incompatibility is also caused by using geographic data collected at different scales and map projections. To integrate data from different sources, it is necessary to convert data from one coordinate system to another, however there is no guarantee that the resulting data sets will be geometrically compatible with one another because of rounding errors. To integrate data from different sources, it is necessary to convert data from one coordinate system to another, however there is no guarantee that the resulting data sets will be geometrically compatible with one another because of rounding errors.

GIS & Nepal, By: Babu Ram Dawadi8 People For large scale corporate implementation of GIS, training of end users always represents one of the must difficult tasks. For large scale corporate implementation of GIS, training of end users always represents one of the must difficult tasks. Senior management users require GIS user education rather than user training. Senior management users require GIS user education rather than user training. The objective of GIS user education for senior managers is to ensure that they have a good understanding of the technology and a realistic expectation of what the system can and can’t do. The objective of GIS user education for senior managers is to ensure that they have a good understanding of the technology and a realistic expectation of what the system can and can’t do.

GIS & Nepal, By: Babu Ram Dawadi9 Technology From the technology perspective, the development of GIS is heavily dependent on the general trends of the hardware and software evolution in the computer industry. From the technology perspective, the development of GIS is heavily dependent on the general trends of the hardware and software evolution in the computer industry. Not only to hardware and software to manage the GIS data, the technology involving to the data capture (like remote sensing, GPS etc…) has major roles in GIS system development. Not only to hardware and software to manage the GIS data, the technology involving to the data capture (like remote sensing, GPS etc…) has major roles in GIS system development. In Nepal, not so much sophisticated technologies have been entered but we expect in the near future that by the growing technologies in this fields. In Nepal, not so much sophisticated technologies have been entered but we expect in the near future that by the growing technologies in this fields.

GIS & Nepal, By: Babu Ram Dawadi10 Applications The large numbers and varieties of GIS applications currently in use have always been quoted as an indication of its maturity and success. The large numbers and varieties of GIS applications currently in use have always been quoted as an indication of its maturity and success. In many GIS implementation projects, a large proportion of the resources has been devoted to structuring the system’s architecture, stabilizing the technical environment and getting data into the database. In many GIS implementation projects, a large proportion of the resources has been devoted to structuring the system’s architecture, stabilizing the technical environment and getting data into the database.

GIS & Nepal, By: Babu Ram Dawadi11 Situations & Activities In the context of Nepal, GIS is a growing fields. In the context of Nepal, GIS is a growing fields. The technologies, government policies, Country’s economic Conditions directly affects the development of GIS. The technologies, government policies, Country’s economic Conditions directly affects the development of GIS. Different activities have been started in the field of GIS from different sectors (Governmental and non- Governmental). Different activities have been started in the field of GIS from different sectors (Governmental and non- Governmental). Some private sectors (like ECMODE) initiates the development of GIS by creating commercial data to specific fields. Some private sectors (like ECMODE) initiates the development of GIS by creating commercial data to specific fields.

GIS & Nepal, By: Babu Ram Dawadi12 Situation & Activities Similarly organizations like NGO federation, UNDP are lunching their projects to different areas of Nepal in which GIS plays major roles. Similarly organizations like NGO federation, UNDP are lunching their projects to different areas of Nepal in which GIS plays major roles. For the enhancement of GIS technology, the dedicated site ( has developed. We can see Most of changes in GIS through this site. For the enhancement of GIS technology, the dedicated site ( has developed. We can see Most of changes in GIS through this site.