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Experts call for help with accurate mapping
Experts have called on development partners and international organisations to assist with the creation and updating of photographic maps of Laos, saying it will help with development projects. Experts from the National Geographic Department made the call at a seminar held by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday to explain information obtained from metrology surveys, aerial photography and mapping to central-level officials.
The most recent geographic information mapped uses a scale of 1:100,000 and was done by the former Soviet Union from 1981-1985. Through grant assistance from Japan, some updates were made in 1997.
Deputy Head of the department's Division of Planning, Finance and Cooperation, Ms Khamvanh Lorkhamyong, said the lack of up-to-date maps meant some development partners had to spend a lot of money to obtain the necessary information for project planning. As an example, she said the Asian Development Bank spends from US$100,000 to US$200,000 a year to purchase photographic or satellite maps. Bankengruppe and the World Bank each spend about US$100,000 while the Japan International Cooperation Agency spends much more, about US$300,000 annually.
According to information provided at the seminar, with support from Finland the department is constructing a topographic map using a scale of 1:50,000 and a photomap with a scale of 1:5,000. The topographic map has been completed for the southern provinces while the photomap is complete for the southern and central provinces. The department expects to finish both maps by 2015. The experts reminded seminar participants of the importance of accurate geographic information for all sectors.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Dr Thongchanh Manixay mentioned shortcomings that stem from a lack of information, which largely concern land allocation. Disputes have arisen after land was authorised for concession to investors. As a result, many projects have encroached on local people's land, cemeteries, farmland and other areas that provide villagers with livelihoods. A lack of geographic information also opens up the possibility of duplicated concession authorisation on the same piece of land.
Due to the rapid pace of development, experts have suggested that geographic information should be updated every five years at a minimum or, if possible, once a year even if the update cannot be 100 percent complete for the whole country. It costs about US$10 for aerial photography of 1 square kilometre and about US$2.4 million to cover the whole country, experts said.
An aerial photo of Vientiane taken by the National Geographic Department.
Minister of Home Affairs Mr Khampane Philavong, who chaired the meeting, stressed the importance of having clear geographic information as a tool for socio-economic development planning and to facilitate investor decisions. “To ensure the information is accurate, it needs to be updated through metrology surveys, aerial photography and regular mapping, using standardised information agreed upon throughout the country,” he said.
Experts have called on development partners and international organisations to assist with the creation and updating of photographic maps of Laos, saying it will help with development projects. Experts from the National Geographic Department made the call at a seminar held by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday to explain information obtained from metrology surveys, aerial photography and mapping to central-level officials.
The most recent geographic information mapped uses a scale of 1:100,000 and was done by the former Soviet Union from 1981-1985. Through grant assistance from Japan, some updates were made in 1997.
Deputy Head of the department's Division of Planning, Finance and Cooperation, Ms Khamvanh Lorkhamyong, said the lack of up-to-date maps meant some development partners had to spend a lot of money to obtain the necessary information for project planning. As an example, she said the Asian Development Bank spends from US$100,000 to US$200,000 a year to purchase photographic or satellite maps. Bankengruppe and the World Bank each spend about US$100,000 while the Japan International Cooperation Agency spends much more, about US$300,000 annually.
According to information provided at the seminar, with support from Finland the department is constructing a topographic map using a scale of 1:50,000 and a photomap with a scale of 1:5,000. The topographic map has been completed for the southern provinces while the photomap is complete for the southern and central provinces. The department expects to finish both maps by 2015. The experts reminded seminar participants of the importance of accurate geographic information for all sectors.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Dr Thongchanh Manixay mentioned shortcomings that stem from a lack of information, which largely concern land allocation. Disputes have arisen after land was authorised for concession to investors. As a result, many projects have encroached on local people's land, cemeteries, farmland and other areas that provide villagers with livelihoods. A lack of geographic information also opens up the possibility of duplicated concession authorisation on the same piece of land.
Due to the rapid pace of development, experts have suggested that geographic information should be updated every five years at a minimum or, if possible, once a year even if the update cannot be 100 percent complete for the whole country. It costs about US$10 for aerial photography of 1 square kilometre and about US$2.4 million to cover the whole country, experts said.
An aerial photo of Vientiane taken by the National Geographic Department.
Minister of Home Affairs Mr Khampane Philavong, who chaired the meeting, stressed the importance of having clear geographic information as a tool for socio-economic development planning and to facilitate investor decisions. “To ensure the information is accurate, it needs to be updated through metrology surveys, aerial photography and regular mapping, using standardised information agreed upon throughout the country,” he said.
