Policies of the Government on the Advancement of Utilizing Geospatial information and Expected Roles of Geographers

Abstract

In 2007, the Basic Act on the Advancement of Utilizing Geospatial Information (the NSDI Act of Japan) enacted, which obliges the Government to execute the measures to promote the application of geospatial information. Based on this act, various actions are taken places such as provision of the fundamental geospatial data, support for distribution and exchange of geospatial information and intensification of linkages among related organizations. It is important for the policy makers on utilization of geospatial information to possess a certain extent of geospatial sense and geographical literacy. Great contributions by geographers, with experiences of application of maps, are expected.