Jeddah hosts meeting on digital geographical data

Commerce and Industry Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah opened a meeting of the ISO/TC211’s international committee at Jeddah Hilton on Saturday and emphasized the importance of digital geographical data.
“Saudi Arabia is pleased to host this meeting to prepare the specifications of digital geographical data,” the minister said and thanked Crown Prince Salman for his support to the five-day conference.
He said Saudi Arabia is a member of the International Standards Organization since 1998 through the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (SASO).
“We have hosted this meeting to benefit from the knowledge and expertise of specialists in the committee,” Al-Rabiah said, adding that the meeting would contribute to unifying specifications for digital geographical data and set out necessary policies and laws.
Murie Al-Shahrani, chairman of the general survey authority, said the meeting would discuss a number of specialized topics. Delegations from member countries as well as Saudi academics and experts will participate in the discussions.
On the sidelines of the meeting, an exhibition of the latest developments and technologies used in digital map making and geographical products has been staged.
The meeting, which will focus on the latest global advancements made in the area of digital mapping and geographical products, is expected to come up with a number of key decisions.
He said the Kingdom joined the ISO technical committee with the aim of keeping pace with the scientific and technological developments in the field.
Dr. Muhammad Bantan, president of Saudi Post, stressed the importance of digital geographical data in improving postal services.
“Addresses of individuals and establishments are created making use of modern technology and geographical data,” he said.
Meanwhile, experts from 22 countries began their discussed yesterday to unify specifications for digital geographical data. The program included a number of workshops.