National Geospatial Portal Launch

Date 13 Oct 2014
Venue Thimpu
Contact Persons Deo Raj Gurung
Type Conferences/Symposia
Programmes MENRIS, Geospatial Solutions

The National Geospatial Portal of Bhutan will be launched during the Bhutan GIS Expo on 13 October 2014, in Thimphu. The event is jointly organized by the National Land Commission (NLC) of Bhutan and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

The National Geospatial Portal will serve as a single gateway to discover, access, and share geospatial data and information among users, including the general public. The portal’s development was initiated by the National Land Commission and Centre for GIS Coordination with support from ICIMOD under the framework of SERVIR-Himalaya. The global SERVIR programme, jointly supported by The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), integrates science and technology into development programmes. SERVIR-Himalaya is implemented by ICIMOD.

Various GIS products and services will be displayed by different national and international agencies in Bhutan during the GIS expo following the launch. The event is expected to attract officials from different departments, non-governmental agencies, the general public, and schools students in Bhutan, and is expected to raise awareness and interest on the importance of geospatial information and its sharing. A geo-information quiz competition will also be conducted as a side event, where five higher secondary schools in Thimphu will compete.