GIS is undeniably a valuable and powerful tool in achieving
sustainable development, however a GIS can only be as powerful
as the spatial knowledge behind it.
Spatial information systems have been in
use in Malta for just over ten years; time spent in implementing
systems, collating and digitising existing spatial information,
and creating new datasets. It is now, after a decade spent
in learning valuable lessons and gaining experience and knowledge,
that GIS in Malta is mature enough to be fully exploited as
an effective tool.
Malta has set-up its NGIA on Monday 7th March 2005 officially
called Malta Association for Geographic Information (MAGI).
There have been a number of Maltese organisations interested
in GI over the years and in recent months the number of persons
directly involved in the discipline has grown. Following the
inception of an idea by EUROGI in November 2000, the first
contacts were made to set up the association, however less
than a handful of organisations were involved in GIS at the
time. During the process of wider dissemination of on-line
spatial data through mapserver technologies, EU data-flow
requirements, authority/private sector push, and individual
interest, the playing field became more fertile for the eventual
setting-up of the MAGI.
MAGI has been set-up with an aim to focus
on the growth of GI in Malta, identify the principal GI stakeholders,
outline a vision, purpose and long-term benefits of GI, and
delineate the scope of the association. The initial “logistics”
presentation concentrated on how the players arrived to the
current state of affairs; outlined the first steps taken;
identified the potential roles of the association; suggested
possible statute, fora, special interest groups and membership
structures; and proposed the way forward. MAGI received major
backup to set up this association from the European Umbrella
Association for GI. Initial MAGI dynamics included discussions
on a GI White Paper, the need for an information campaign
and public awareness issues.
This website is the result of the strive
for excellence by GI professionals, the processes taken and
eventual achievements.
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Membership:
Membership forms are now available on
line through the Contact Us
page or by downloading the form below
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