THE NATIONAL Land Agency (NLA), has developed large-scale digital maps valued at $60 million for more than 20 government entities.
Government entities that received these maps run the gamut from the Jamaica Defence Force and the Forestry Department, to the Water Resources Authority and the National Works Agency.
Besides the government entities that have received digital maps, a number of non-government organisations had also used the maps for their purposes as well. They include Cable and Wireless, Jamaica Aluminum Company (JAMALCO), Jamaica Bauxite Institute and the Jamaica Public Service.
The development of the digital maps comes under the umbrella of the Ministry of Land and Environment's national spatial data management project.
According to Minister of Land and Environment Dean Peart, the newly introduced digital mapping capabilities mark the first time that a "comprehensive islandwide, large scale mapping exercise was undertaken using 100 per cent local financing, through a joined-up government approach."
Minister Peart was speaking at a post-sectoral presentation press conference on Wednesday at his offices on Half-Way Tree Road in Kingston.
He told journalists that the provision of digital mapping to the various government entities had been advantageous, as it had allowed them to change and improve their operations.
"For example," he said, "the National Water Commission uses them to guide development and management of their assets such as pipes, pumps and wells and the National Works Agency uses the maps for road development and construction."
