|
What's New
?
CGIAR-CSI GeoNetwork Beta Version now ONLINE!!
 |
GeoNetwork is a search, discovery, and download platform for geospatial data sharing and dissemination of geo-referenced information to support sustainable development, environmental conservation, and poverty alleviation. |
 |
|
The CGIAR-CSI GeoNetwork Project is intended to facilitate a friendly and free geospatial data-sharing platform for the CGIAR system and members for the CGIAR-CSI Consortium. |
|
GeoNetwork allows scientists and researchers to easily disseminate geospatial data that has been created and developed by at the various CGIAR Centers, and affiliated organizations. |
 |
| |
| GeoNetwork is a standardized and decentralized spatial information management environment, designed to enable access to geo-referenced databases, cartographic products and related metadata from a variety of sources, enhancing the spatial information exchange and sharing between organizations and their audience, using the capacities of the internet. |
|
This approach of geographic information management aims at facilitating a wide community of spatial information users to have easy and timely access to available spatial data and to existing thematic maps that might support informed decision making. |
|
|
Reformatted CRU TS 2.1 Climate Database ONLINE!!
 |
The CGIAR-CSI is happy to announce that the CRU TS 2.1 Climate Data, reformatted for easy use in geospatial analysis and GIS software packages by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), is now available through the CGIAR Geoportal at:
|
|
The CRU TS 2.1 Global Climate Dataset is comprised of 1224 monthly time-series of climate variables, for the period 1901-2002, covering the global land surface, excluding Antarctica, at 0.5 degrees resolution.
The nine climate variables available through this dataset are: daily mean, minimum and maximum temperature, diurnal temperature range, precipitation, wet day frequency, frost day frequency, vapor pressure and cloud cover.
This data has been produced by the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) of University of East Anglia (UEA), and reformatted by International Water Managment Institute (IWMI) for use in geospatial analysis using common GIS software.
|
ICIMOD-MENRIS new CGIAR-CSI member
 Many thanks to BasanthCGIAR-CSI welcome to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), new member of the CGIAR-CSI network:
The CGIAR-CSI on the 31th of October of 2006, signed a MoU with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), based in Kathmandu, Nepal, as a formal basis for further collaboration and to provide a platfom to encourage the sharing of experiences and learning in spatial information and applications for sustainable development, and establishing ICIMOD as a full member of the CGIAR-CSI.
a Shrestha (Head of MENRIS) and Dr. Gabriel Campbell (DG) for pursuing and facilitating this collaboration.
In October 2005, ICIMOD was invited to become a member of the CGIAR-CSI, by the membership at the Annual Meeting, held in Nairobi, Kenya. Since then there has been continuing dialogue between the two organizations in building co-operation.
|
CGIAR-CSI proposed UNGIWG Membership
|
 We are very happy and proud to announce that the CGIAR-CSI has been asked (tentatively) to become a full member of the United Nations Geographic Information Working Group, representing the CGIAR.
UNGIWG is tasked with the development and adoption of standards and protocols to be used by all UN agencies, and is one of the premier organizations supporting the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI initiative) and the UN-SDI initiative. In particular, UNGIWG promotes the use of geospatial information for sustainable development, resource management and environmental conservation within developing countries.
CGIAR-CSI is the first non-UN organization to be considered for membership.
We have been asked to apply officially for membership at the next UNGIWG meeting, in November in Santiago, Chile. Glenn Hyman from CIAT will be going to represent the CGIAR-CSI, and to deliver our application to the UNGIWG steering committee. In addition, Glenn will be representing CGIAR-CSI at the GISD annual meeting, held immediately before the UNGIWG meeting, also in Santiago. Glenn will be delivering a presentation on the CGIAR-CSI at GISD.
We think that this is a fantastic opportunity to participate and provide our unique CGIAR perspective into the global discourse on geospatial data and infrastructure, and particularly to highlight the special geospatial needs of agricultural development, biodiversity conservation, and poverty allievation, as well as social justice as it pertains to access to geospatial information.
In short, our agenda is to bridge the geosptial digital divide by empowering responsible agencies and individuals with geospatial information and skills. We think that this opportunity goes a long way toward helping us to promote that goal. We see the invitation to join UNGIWIG as a recognition of the success of the CGIAR-CSI in promoting that message.
Your comments and feedback are welcome and encouraged.
|
SRTM v3 available ONLINE!!
The CGIAR-CSI is pleased to announce that Version 3 of the SRTM Digital Elevation Database is now online.
Many thanks to Andrew Jarvis (CIAT) and his colleagues, Edward Guevara of the CIAT Land Use project, Dr. Hannes Isaak Reuter (JRC-IES-LMNH) and Dr. Andy Nelson (JRC-IES-GEM), for continuing to improve and update the DEM's. Also thanks to Kings College London (Dr. Mark Mulligan) and JRC for hosting mirror download sites, to help us with the overflow of demand on our bandwidth.
This latest version represents a significant improvement from previous versions, due to use of usgs "finished" grade data, further optimisation of the hole filling algorithm and the use of auxillary dems for filling in the holes.
Learn more...
|
ICRISAT and University of Florida organized a course on GIS co-sponsored by CGIAR-CSI
(Hyderabad, India, 31st of July - 4th of August 2006)
 |
As the first activity under the recently-signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), ICRISAT and the University of Florida (UoF), co-sponsored by CGIAR-CSI, organized a short course on GIS in land management at ICRISAT-Patancheru on first week of August 2006.
Sabine Grunwald, Associate Professor, Department of soil and Water Science (SWS) at the UoF served as the faculty in charge. Sixteen participants from several ICAR labs and agricultural universities in India and two technologists from the CGIAR-CSI team, Sadir Mohideen and Senarath Anjitha, based at IWMI headquarters in Colombo took part in the activity.
|
LAUNCH of the CGIAR-CSI NEWSLETTER
|
The CGIAR-CSI Newsletter is a weekly reference platform providing interesting geospatial information and news coming from the CGIAR and the wider global geospatial science community. This includes information on recently released geotools, applications, GIS solutions, publications, events, and news from the different projects related to CSI, etc.
If you have any news or information related to geospatial science and you would like to reach a broad professional community, the CGIAR-CSI Newsletter can provide you with easy and effective dissemination tool.
|
IWMI WEBMAP for 102 years of climate data
 |
This webpage allows you to select your location of interest either through a webmap or by entering its long/lat coordinates. In case you are interested in getting data just for a few locations this is the best and most simple option. This webmap gives you access to 102 years of monthly climate data at 0.5 deg resolution (the data source is CRU Climate Research Unit of University of East Anglia, UK) as indicated in the metadata. It also gives you access to 30 year averages from the IWMI Water and Climate Atlas at 0.1 deg resolution.
|
NEW GEONETWORK SOFTWARE now avaliable online
 |
FAO has recently produced a GeoNetwork Quick Start Guide, which is now available on the CGIAR-CSI GeoNetwork support page. This guide has instructions for first time users, as well as installation and admin help. FAO also created a CD which includes a list of relevant or useful software for the good performance of GeoNetwork. (GeoNetwork v2.0.2 and supporting software for it, GIS & WMS opensource software, etc...).
The CGIAR-CSI has now translated this into French and Spanish.
|
Second GeoNetwork Technical and Management Workshop
(Rome, Italy, 24th - 28th of April 2006)
| |
Organizers: FAO SDRN, WFP VAM |
| |
Dates: 21-23
September 2004 |
| |
Venue: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Head Quarters,
Rome, Italy |
Workshop overview and presentations are now online:
GeoNetwork is a free and Open Source, simple and efficient management tool for integrating and analysing geospatial data. It allows easy sharing of geographically referenced thematic information between CGIAR Centers, UN Agencies, NGO's and Partners Institutions. The workshop was preceded by a one-day hands-on technical session based on the use, installation and customization of GeoNetwork opensource version 2.0.
The workshop addressed the following topics:
1. Assessment of achieved results from current GeoNetwork nodes.
2. Presentations by new partners;
3. Establishment of a steering committee;
4. Discussion of new GeoNetwork requirements, work plan formulation with a common strategy for new implementations and developments for the coming year |
Update on CGIAR-CSI GeoNetwork Project
 As part of the full system-wide implementation of the CGIAR-CSI GeoNetwork Project (agreed upon at our Annual Meeting in Nairobi), we are now proceeding to develop and operationalize the GeoNetwork infrastructure across all Centers. We have now installed GeoNetwork Nodes for all the Centers which have requested off-site hosting (that is, installation and hosting of the GeoNetwork Node at CGNET).
We are also offering technical support for GeoNetwork Nodes hosted on-site at several Centers.
To facilitate support, provide information exchange, and training, we have setup an online CGIAR-CSI GeoNetwork Support Center website. This website provides access to the basic installation documents and instructions for, as well as links for downloading the latest version of the software, etc. We also provide contact details, including Skype Names, for the GeoNetwork support personnel.
For more info...
|
CGIAR Consortium for Spatial Information CGIAR-CSI GeoSpatial Science Meeting and Planning Workshop
(Nairobi, Kenia, 17th - 21st of October 2005)
| Workshop overview and presentations are available online on |
ICT-KM Project: ICT for Tomorrow’s Science
Consortium for Spatial Information (CGIAR-CSI): Thinking
Spatially, Acting Globally for a Sustainable Future
This project, recently funded by the CGIAR ICT-KM Program, is intended strengthen geospatial data management
and coordination, and to facilitate collaboration amongst the CGIAR
centers in applications of geospatial science for sustainable development.
This project will use the existing CGIARI-CSI network to facilitate
increased networking and collaboration; develop infrastructure for geo-spatial
data sharing and common spatial data management; and provide a platform
for the wide dissemination of CGIAR geo-spatial science, based on international
standards and catalog initiatives.
The goal of this project is to establish the CGIAR-CSI as a premier
platform for the global sharing and dissemination of spatial knowledge
and information, specifically targeting the facilitation of sustainable
development. This project will develop a CGIAR GeoPortal and Data Sharing
Platform, as well as develop the basis for a online toolkit of geospatial
applications relevant to sustainable agricultural development.
The target audience includes CGIAR scientists, and a diverse set of
stakeholders at local, national and international levels: NARES, government
analysts, conservation and development NGOs, producer organizations
and researchers.
For further information:
to visit the CGIAR ICT-KM Program, or see full details of the project workplan: CSI Work Plan
|
|
