Technology is advancing rapidly and has changed our lives thoroughly. Nowadays the use of a smart phone or a tablet computer has brought us much convenience, as these can also serve as a computer, a television set or even a filing cabinet. For example, if you need to visit an unfamiliar place, previously you would have had to look it up on a map or a street guide to search for its location and plan the route. Today, you can simply use the map app in your smart phone or tablet computer to easily identify the location and be led to your destination with the help of the Internet and the Global Positioning System.
Similarly, today we can gain information on geographic locations, size and topography more easily by making use of the development and application of technology. The Survey and Mapping Office (SMO) of the Lands Department (LandsD) is the agency providing such services for us.
The SMO is responsible for land survey and mapping. It sets up and maintains the geodetic survey control network, carries out land boundary surveys and aerial surveys, and produces maps in both paper and digital forms. Earlier, I visited the LandsD and I was glad to learn that the SMO has won a number of awards for its work, including the highly regarded Geographic Information System (GIS) Award, which was given to the SMO for its development of the Land Information System (LIS). Under this system, a large amount of spatial data can be managed with an enterprise GIS, and a number of old systems used by the department in carrying out its daily work have been integrated.
The LIS provides a smoother and more efficient workflow, ranging from data collection and data processing to map and cadastral database updating and the completion of mapping. It also supports land management and policy implementation. As far as I know, this Award has only been given a few times over the past decade. The LIS has stored all the data related to maps and land boundaries in Hong Kong, and therefore we can produce maps of different themes according to our needs and carry out spatial data analysis.
Through the LIS, which has integrated spatial data from different sources, and the online “GeoInfo Map”, which was developed by the SMO, all kinds of necessary information on our daily life, such as information on primary one allocation school nets, transport facilities, leisure and cultural facilities, sports venues, tourist spots and even real-time weather conditions and air pollution indexes at nearby locations, as well as relevant geographic information, has been consolidated into an online map platform for our easy access and reference. You are welcome to use the platform online by clicking this link: www.map.gov.hk. This online map platform also received high scores from public voting and the professional adjudication panel in the 2012 Meritorious Website Contest, and has become one of the meritorious websites.
The above awards demonstrate that the professional work of the LandsD in survey and mapping has gained international recognition, and what is more encouraging is that our geographic information service is supported by the community.
During the visit, I learned that the colleagues of the SMO are actively finding ways to provide better geographic information services. Besides working hard to update the maps, they are developing a more complete spatial database to enhance spatial data analysis. With their commitment to serve the community, my colleagues hope to make use of the development and application of technology to enhance the services provided for the community, such as 3D spatial model of the city , a mobile surveying system and more. By collecting more useful spatial data and disseminating such data through online maps, we have upgraded from our traditional paper map products to a more people-oriented online data platform.
29 September, 2013
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