Geo-spacial Information Agency said the ongoing political,economical and social development necessitate to consume more Geo-spacial information aimed at exploring natural resources.
In his an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald recently,Geo-spacial Information Agency Director Sultan Mohamed said that to meet the nation development demand, the council representatives during its 16 regular meeting ratified new proclamation to change the structure and its mandate.
As to him, the new law enables the agency to carry out its responsibility which clearly put the vitality of Geo spacial information to attain the second GTP goals.
Geo-spacial information also serves for preparing working plan and supervision and evaluation, he noted.
The agency delivers its Geo spacial responsibilities through producing maps which indicates the arable lands, tourist sites. In addition it serves to do surveying works and GIS and remote sensing. To accomplish its tasks, it gather information through air photographing and taking satellite information. It also supervises mapping works done by other institutions. The Geo spacial information can be used as an input for agriculture, industrial, urban development and different projects.
He also said: ” The agency has been doing its business in two ways, the first one is by its own initiative proactively through producing maps and the other approach is producing map on demand driven base.”
Sultan indicated that every country needs fundamental topographic map which can be used for development. The map can be used for road construction, enlargement of railways, hydroelectric power generation and land management and utilization.
According to him, his agency has been transforming the working system of the agency from analog to digital and much has been achieved so far.
Regarding to challenges, he noted that the turnover of qualified human resource for better salary has been incapacitating the agency.
As to him, in order to address the problem the agency has proposed to the government the application of Job Evaluation and Grading (JEG) for better payment and it will be implemented soon.