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THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA
NATIONAL REPORT
ETHIOPIAN MAPPING AUTHORITY - LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE *
Prepared for The XVIII ISPRS Congress
Hadgu G. Medhin
General Manager, Ethiopian Mapping Authority
KEY WORDS: Ethiopia, National Report, Restructuring, Digital Mapping, Computerization, Orthophoto Mapping.
ABSTRACT
The National Report of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia entitled "Ethiopian Mapping Authority(EMA) - Looking into the Future"
presents the highlights the EMA has been undertaking in implementing its ambitious Ten - Year Master plan that envisages to effectively and
efficiently address customer needs by providing adequate, timely, reliable and customized geoinformation. Within the ten year period beginning
1994, the plan entails the transformation of all mapping activities into digital system, full computerization and modernization of the
management system, completion of the 1:50,000 topographic mapping project which stands at 5096 coverage of the country now and
acceleration of the production of geoinformation through available options /orthophoto mapping/ to meet immediate and urgent customer
needs.
INTRODUCTION
In today's world of information technology, the responsiveness to
the forces of change has become a matter of necessity. The
change is so rapid that it requires the sensitivity and dynamism of
those playing the leadership role. This becomes even more so
when considering the bold steps required to be taken by National
Mapping Agencies if they are to be the beneficiaries of the
opportunities availed by information technology.
In this consideration, I can say, the Ethiopian Mapping Authority
finds itself at a historic moment in time, where under a
combination of multiple driving forces of change and
modemization, decisive actions are being undertaken to effectively
respond to the urgent calls of the time.
The democratization process in the country has ushered in a free
market economy that is breaking our old monopoly of the
production and dissemination of the geo information resources.
Customers demand for timely and tailored products. Government
urges us for more and more efficiency and cost recovery. Donors
insist on the development of institutional sustainability. All these
call for a rapid change and adjustment to the demands of the time
if our mapping organization is to maintain its competitive edge
into the future.
EMA|s response has been first to conduct structural and functional
diagnosis of the organization, a thorough review of its whole
setup with a view to shape its future. This was, in the main,
carried out by a consultancy mission of international standing
assisted by SIDA (Swedish International Development Agency).
Based on the findings of this study a ten-year master plan has
been drawn, commented upon by renowned international
personalities in the field and with a view that it could be subject to
continuous refinement and modification to keep it in tune with
changing requirements of the time. Implementation has already
begun. The highlights of the master plan are the following.
1. ORGANIZATIONAL RESTRUCTURING
Organizational restructuring has been most demanding
19
particularly with the aim of effectively ^ addressing and meeting
the increasing demands for geoinformation. Previously less
emphasis was given to customer services and marketing. Now
customers have become the key elements in the mapping domain.
2. MODERNIZATION OF MANAGEMENT
EMA has been effective in building its technical departments but
had given less emphasis to the development of the corresponding
counterpart of management and administration domains of the
organization. Urgent action was required to put it at a level to
remove the impediment for a smooth transition in building a
market oriented and competitive geoinformation producing
organization. Computerization and staff training in terms of
acquiring new skills and change of out look were among the
basics for modern & efficient systems of management. EMA's
response to this was geared towards effectively addressing these
requirements. Hardware & Software have been introduced. Short
term trainings have been offered by local consulting firms for a
sizable staff in developing computer literacy, in particular, in the
areas of records, property financial and personnel management.
Senior staff members have been sent abroad to modern mapping
organizations for exposure and more is expected to happen along
this line in the coming years.
3. DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND POSITIVE MOVES
TOWARDS DEVELOPING THE READINESS FOR A
TIMELY RESPONSE TO URGENT CUSTOMER
NEEDS
The introduction of digital technology not only enhances our
capability to maximize the utilization of our data resources for a
variety of products but also to meet our specific customer needs.
These days our customers are becoming well aware of the options
they have. If we can not address their interests in terms of quality
* This Country Report is an updated version of the paper first
presented to the "Cambridge Conference for National Mapping
Organizations" held in St. John's College from 25 July to 1
August 1995.
International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B6. Vienna 1996
