National Geographic Information System: Unified National Information System

Author: Monica Ruano Montalvan
Organization: Instituto Geografico Nacional

Ave. Las Americas 5-76, zona 13
Guatemala, 01013
Central America

Phone: (502) 332-2611
Fax: (502) 331-3548
ign@ign.gob.gt

The main purpose of the National Geographic Institute of Guatemala (IGN) is to provide reliable geographic and cartographic information to assist in the country's development. For this reason, the IGN develops and coordinates the country's national GIS.

During the past year, the IGN coordinated with SEGEPLAN and other government organizations a cartographic project of major importance: the Sistema Unificado de Informacion Nacional (SUNIL [National Unified Information System]). The project aims to digitalize the 13 sheets of the 1:250,000-scale topographic map of Guatemala, which will make up the first complete national digital database of the total Guatemalan territory. This database originates from a standarized data structure with appropriate geometric and topological control. This project marks the beginning of the IGN's modernization by using top-quality digital technologies to develop the national GIS, which will be of great importance in the decision making process of planned countrywide projects.

By means of the SUNIL project, the IGN will show how any government or private organization can update their production line of cartographic information using new technology (hardware and software), to create a cartographic base that will help plan and decide upon important subjects for the development of the country.