[Territorial Policy in Korea (19)] Digital geographic data opens new world

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This is the 19th installment in a series of articles shedding light on Korea`s territorial policies - an integral part of the nation`s development strategy. Researchers from the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements, a state-run institute committed to studying means of enhancing the use of national territory, will deal with about two dozen themes related to formulating the territorial development strategy. - Ed.



By Choe Byong-nam



Korea achieved brilliant economic growth through rapid industrialization. But the process left in its wake reckless territorial development and overburdened infrastructure facilities, which caused various accidents. Such side effects increased inefficiency thus undercutting national competitiveness and productivity. As part of efforts to prevent or minimize these problems, the nation uses geographic information systems technology.

GIS technology was introduced to the nation in the late 1980s. Initially it was used by some local governments and public institutions for facilities management. But the separate introduction by individual organizations led to overlapping investment and difficulties in sharing information. To overcome these problems, the central government launched the Korean Geographic Information Systems project in 1995, paving the way for a state-led, centralized implementation of the initiative. The KGIS project consists of spatial data, application and distribution systems (clearinghouses), standardization, GIS technology development, human resources development, and polices and institutions. The project has proceeded in three stages, each with different focuses.



The first KGIS project (1995-2000) focused on establishing infrastructure to promote the use of GIS. Topographic maps, cadastral maps, and underground facilities maps were digitalized during the period. Some application systems were also developed based on these digital spatial materials. The government actively spurred technology development to catch up with advanced countries in the field. The Act on the Establishment and Application of the KGIS was enacted in 2000 for a more systemic promotion.

The second KGIS project (2001-2005) prioritized developing application systems based on spatial data established in the first period. The framework data based on digital topographical maps, and the geographic information distribution systems designed to disperse those data were constructed. Application systems for handling administrative affairs including land management, cadastral management and land use planning were installed in local government offices. The government injected 482.2 billion won in the second KGIS project, a 70 percent increase from the first period. The increased portion of the budget was mainly spent on framework data and application systems, both designed to encourage sharing and a wider use of spatial data. In particular, central and local governments developed internet-based information systems for residents, which helped improve public information service significantly.

The third KGIS project (2006-2010) has focused on establishing systems to allow not only public institutions but also businesses and citizens to access shared geographic data. The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs is leading the development of integrated national spatial data systems while local governments are establishing spatial data warehouses for information sharing. Individual application systems are being linked and integrated. GIS has been introduced to more public organizations. All local governments currently use GIS in their administrative affairs.

The KGIS project aims at the establishment of the Korean Spatial Data Infrastructure that will be available to public administration, corporate management and the daily lives of citizens. The government seeks to establish GIS-based e-government systems and promote new GIS-based businesses including location-based services. It also seeks to forge GIS-based lifestyles using diverse content services provided by such GIS-based administration systems and businesses.

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Korean Spatial Data Infrastructure

The KSDI begun with the establishment of digital spatial data in the first-stage of the project. Diverse paper maps including topographic maps, cadastral maps, land use planning maps, and underground facilities maps were digitalized. Digital topographic maps were created for the entire national territory excluding mountain areas on a scale of 1:5,000. Digital topographic maps for urban areas and mountain areas were also produced on a scale of 1:1,000 and 1:25,000, respectively. Digital mapping for 37.2 million land parcels across the country were completed. The parcel data are essential to the transaction, assessment and use of land. The spatial information is widely used for administrative affairs, civil information services and corporate activities. Digital spatial data also include zoning systems in 323 different types set by 87 acts on land use regulations, allowing users to easily learn what regulations apply to each land parcel.

Spatial data on urban underground facilities including water supply, sewage, electricity, communications and gas were established as a core KGIS project to prevent disasters stemming from damage and malfunctioning of those facilities. The data is shared by facilities management organizations. In addition, other diverse spatial data including forest type maps, geologic maps, land cover maps, and soil maps were created. The third KGIS project has been accumulating three-dimensional data such as satellite images and high-resolution aerial photographs since 2004.

Spatial data serve as infrastructure for diverse activities in public administration, businesses and everyday life. For a more systemic push of the KSDI, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs is establishing information infrastructure for local governments first. The ministry carried out a model project for national spatial data systems in 2008 and plans to equip all local governments with the systems by 2012. The completion means the creation of the KSDI linking information infrastructure of local governments via horizontal and vertical networks.



GIS-based e-government

Diverse GIS-based application systems for public administration are under development. The Land Management Information Systems were developed for land management, transaction and assessment. They were integrated in 2004 into the Korean Land Information Systems with the Parcel-based Land Information Systems. All local governments currently use KLIS for land and cadastral affairs. Because land and cadastral data are essential to all administrative affairs of local governments, they are shared by other application systems.

Information systems for urban underground facilities are being established for management of the nation`s water supply, sewage treatment systems, gas, electricity and communications. The project became a core KGIS project after a deadly gas explosion at a subway construction site in Daegu in 1995. Information systems for the water supply and sewage treatment systems are operated by local governments while those for gas, electricity and communications are run by supplying companies.

Urban planning and management are more complicated than other kinds of administrative affairs and thus require more professional skills and knowledge. For an effective establishment of information systems in these fields, the Korean Planning Support Systems using spatial analysis methods have been under development since 2006. The systems are designed to provide information necessary for urban planning objectively and scientifically. The ministry has been supervising the KOPSS project and the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements is developing the analytical models.

Recently, GIS-based information systems are linked with other information systems that do not use spatial data. For example, Architectural Information Systems have been developed since 1998 and are widely used for construction permits, management and many other related tasks. They are among the most successful administrative information systems. But information use in the systems is limited in that they do not engage in location information of buildings and land use information. To overcome these problems, the government is working to link and integrate the Architectural Information Systems with the KLIS.



GIS-based business

The KGIS project also affects private corporate activities. Spatial data and applications systems are opening new markets which are constantly increasing in size. Spatial data also assist in the development of content service businesses. Recently, private companies` spatial data-based content services have been thriving. For example, the automobile navigation market is rapidly growing. With all cars likely to be equipped with navigators, the sector should expand further.

A few years ago, internet portals provided simple location information services. But now they offer map information with spatial data with higher resolution than those offered by Google. In the past, information providers were not interested in map information. But spatial data are expected to become an important component of competitiveness for internet portals in the future. Domestic portal services are making and planning huge investments in establishing high-quality map databases. In the mobile internet environment, spatial information services are becoming an increasingly crucial means of business. Competition is expected to increase in the sector whose market will be worth trillions of won.



GIS-based life

The e-government systems built through the KGIS project have improved not only the productivity of administrative affairs, but also public information services for citizens. To receive public documents, for instance, people had to visit government offices, submit the request form, and usually wait more than 10 minutes. The government had to employ a lot of public servants. That caused a huge waste of resources and damaged national competitiveness.

The KGIS project is offering a resolution to these problems. Zoning systems for individual parcels are now available via the internet with related documents easily downloadable. Internet services for land use information record an average 207,000 accesses per day. In addition, standard values and transaction prices of land parcels are offered on the internet.

The government-set zoning of every parcel of land and details of related regulations are available online. The sites register an average 37,000 visits per day. In addition, cultural, tourist, location, transport and other diverse information services are provided on the internet.

GIS-based businesses also allow consumers to obtain diverse spatial information anywhere, anytime. Internet portals and wireless services provide information on location, restaurants, transport, oil prices, safety, weather, real estates and etc. Location-based services are incorporating increasingly diverse content. In the near future, all information necessary for everyday life will be available anywhere, anytime.



Preparingnext-generation KSDI

Korea`s first national map using modern longitude and latitude and systemic cartography is Daedongyeojido. The map, consisted of 60 woodblock pieces, was created by Kim Jeong-ho in 1861. Daedongyeojido included comprehensive territorial information spanning the entire country in the 19th century.

The KGIS project can be said to be the creation of Daedongyeojido for a knowledge and information-based era. On the policy side, it is about establishing a set of systems for shared spatial data for public administration, business management and citizens` everyday lives. It will eliminate inefficiency and create a new "blue ocean." The government has established a variety of spatial data, their distribution systems as well as a set of necessary legal basis and partnership. The outcome has been quite successful.

Information technology is developing as fast as ever. Many experts anticipate the advent of a world of ubiquitous networking, in which people-to-people, people-to-things and things-to-things communications are conducted freely without being limited by time and space. In it, a brisker combination, integration and convergence of information will occur, creating new values and markets. To prepare for the future, the government is working to establish plans for the fourth KGIS project aiming to build an upgraded, next-generation KSDI. The government also overhauled related laws and organizations in 2009. Land survey acts were integrated. The new comprehensive act on National Spatial Data Infrastructure replaced the previous law of Establishment and Application of the KGIS. A new law has been set up to promote businesses based on convergence of spatial data. The government has drastically expanded the organization in charge of spatial information management. Korea is gearing itself for an approaching society of converging spatial information and ubiquitous networking.