2021-06-09 Working Group GNDM Meeting

Report on progress for each UNGEGN session to 2029

(if appropriate to be included in the report of the WG GNDM)

Chair

1. UNGEGN database: Discuss and provide feedback to new developments
2. UNECA: Contact UNECA (André Nouguierma) to get information on the progress on GeoNyms
3. Contributions to Training Courses on Toponymy to be assessed and reported 
4. Open Regional Gazetteer for Europe: Report about the progress at each Session

Evaluate and assess exchange standards for geographical names information and for web services (gazetteer, feature and mapping) for the provision of geographical names information

(comprising the review of Part II of the UNGEGN Technical Reference Manual)

WG GNDM

other members/countries

Task Team of WG members:

Roman Stani-Fertl, Peder Gammeltoft Teemu Leskinen, Peeter Päll

+++ to be compiled +++

Some preliminary thoughts for consideration (TL):

1. Compile a structured and annotated list on standards with relevance to GN data exchange, dissemination and integration and provide links to relevant sources on their GN data related properties
   
2. Invite countries, organizations and UNGEGN members to provide thoughts, examples as well as data providers’ and users’ experiences on the application of the standards

Present geographical names data management topics at national and international conferences organized in the fields of geospatial information management

Assess annually

Chair and other WG members

1. Inform the chair about contributions / presentations
2. Provide short summaries of the contributions /presentations

Promote, agree and disseminate romanization systems for national and global use

Catherine Cheetham

Promote and support the establishment of an authoritative international database/gazetteer of geographical names to be disseminated to the public through UNGEGN

Bureau,
WG GNDM,
WG GNCH
WG RS

Task Team of WG members:
Chair, Susan Birtles, Victoria Reeh, Jasper Hogerwerf, Kristina Kwiatkowski

1. Gather problem statements and use cases to understand need for an international database/gazetteer.
2. Report on findings, possible high level solutions, and proposed next steps at 2023 session.
3. Subsequent steps TBD following outcome of 2023 report .

Outcome - Understanding of requirements for an international database/gazetteer.

Deliverable - Report on findings and proposal for next steps (Report on behalf of WG at 2023 session).

Examine processes and recommend good practice

1. on how single and multi-jurisdictional Member States record, store, disseminate and manage their geographical names
2. for the reuse and validation of volunteered geographic Information, crowd sourced data and Linked Open Data (LOD) as part of national geographical names standardization work
3. for the use of standardized geographical names as fundamental data theme in national spatial data infrastructures (SDIs) within the monitoring of the SDG indicator framework in order to analyze and monitor the changes in a country

WG GNDM (for 2 and 3),
WG GNCH (for 1),

Task Team(s) of WG members:

Re 1)

Jasper Hogerwerf, Ingvil Nordland,
Teemu Leskinen, Aju Pudra, Kristina Kwiatkowski, Young-Hoon Kim

Re 2)

Susan Birtles, Jasper Hogerwerf, Ingvil Nordland, Peder Gammeltoft, Aji Pudra, Young-Hoon Kim

Re 3)

Chair, Teemu Leskinen, Kristina Kwiatkowski,

Ingvil Nordland (for 1)

Jasper Hogerwerf (for 2 and 3)

Promote the use of the online discussion forum (Wiki) e.g.

1. on the relationship UNGEGN – UN-GGIM or SDG indicator monitoring
2. on data modelling and database design
3. on general issues in the context of data maintenance (like feature classifications)
4. on geographical names data production and distribution in the context of national, regional or global Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs)

Wiki moderators:

Catherine Cheetham, Vita Strautniece, Teemu Leskinnen, Susan Birtles, Chair

Monitor the availability of free and easily-accessible authorized digital geographical names data as it is seen as a key driver in encouraging the use of nationally-standardized geographical names

No references to other WGs

WG GNDM

Marija Brnot, Victoria Reeh

1. Compilation of the existing data sources
2. Check whether the data is free and eassily-accessible
3. Review every year
4. Encourage more member states to provide authorized geographical names data
   1. Draft a dissemination and communication plan
      1. Articles in the Bulletin
      2. Presentation at national, regional and international conferences/workshops

• Report (at each session)
• Update of the Website (as part of UNGEGN Website): Overview with all free and easily-accessible authorized digital geographical names data)

Organize workshops and on innovative, research and/or technical issues/topics like e.g. volunteered geographic information, crowd sourced data, Linked Open Data or speech technology

WG GNDM,
WG GNCH

Chair, Susan Birtles and others (Eveline Wandl-Vogt, Peder Gammeltoft)

Evaluate and assess innovative methods to be used for Romanization, e.g. machine transliteration

Catherine Cheetham

Interaction with UN-GGIM to be continuously reviewed and evaluated for upgrading the activity level in relation to over-arching activities, such as addressing the SDGs 

Chair, Bureau,

Chair, Catherine Cheetham

Work with UNECA to establish stronger and more permanent ties aimed to:

1. Increase national geographical names standardization in Africa
2. Re-activate the Gaborone Action Plan (GAP) initiated with UNECA
3.  Re-activate Africa GeoNyms project to provide free database/gazetteer software to countries in Africa 

a. Task Team for Africa, UNGEGN Divisions in Africa

b. Task Team for Africa, UNGEGN Divisions in Africa

a, b and c:

Re-establish ties in 2021

Develop workable programmes and establish goals by 2023

Chair

Continue to communicate and liaise with existing groups and explore further effective ways of cooperation with: ICA, ICOS, IGU, IHO, ISO, OGC, PAIGH, SCAR (SCAGI), Unicode Consortium

Existing liaison arrangements, individual Member States, individual experts

Explore more formal arrangement with IGU (as requested) by 2023

Chair (for ISO, OGC), Catherine Cheetham (for UNICODE) (Evelyn Wandl-Vogt) and others to contribute)

Review the current versions of UNGEGN publications, establish a plan to revise or add to them, and implement it

Bureau, WG P&F, WG RS, WG GNDM, WG TT, WG CN

Review and plan in 2021; if needed, draft, edit and publish by 2023

WG GNCH, WG GNDM

Academic datasets: 2025 and ongoing