E-GOVERNMENT CONCEPT AND SPATIAL INFORMATION:
A CASE STUDY IN ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
M. Sarpoulaki a , A. Eslami Rad b , A. Saleknia c
a Director Technical Advisor, National Cartographic Centre of Iran (NCC), P.O.Box 13185-1684, Tehran, IRAN -
sarpoulaki@ncc.org.ir
b Director Technical Advisor, National Cartographic Centre of Iran (NCC), P.O.Box 13185-1684, Tehran, IRAN —
eslamirad@ncc.org.ir
c Photogrammerty Department Expert, National Cartographic Centre of Iran (NCC), P.O.Box 13185-1684, Tehran,
IRAN - saleknia@ncc.org.ir
Commission IV, WG IV/1
KEY WORDS: E-Govemment, Spatial Data Infrastructure, Data management, Digital Mapping
ABSTRACT:
As an accepted definition, E-govemments can be considered as use of information and communication technology in public
administrations combined with an organizational change and new skills in order to improve public services and strengthen support to
public policies. With this regard, National Mapping Organizations (NMOs) around the world have to stabilize their position in the
future government body by playing an effective role in establishing E-Govemment within country. As a general rule,
implementation of E-Govemment concept in NMOs will result to change in document and data exchange process inside and outside
organization, demand to simple and free access to their products and information, better responsibility to customers, improvement in
working process of technical and administration sections, reduction in costs and in one word, more efficient and effective
organization.
In this paper we try to report the recent achievements and developments in this subject in National Cartographic Centre of Iran
(NCC) which actually act as Iranian national mapping organization. In the first step, concepts and models for implementation of E-
Govemment concept and role of Spatial Information in it will be explained with focus on Government to Citizens relations (G2C),
Government to Business services (G2B) and Government to Government relations (G2G). in the next part, the current situation of E-
Govemance in Iran in different aspects will be discussed. Suitable role of National Cartographic Centre of Iran in E-Govemment
concept will shape the next part. The last part of this paper will focus on proper policies and plans for NCC in order to play an
effective role in E-Govemment.
1. INTRODUCTION
One of the basic policies for democratic governance around the
globe is to decrease the administrative size and costs and to
increase the functionality of government body. This is the
motivation behind research activities within governments for
utilizing them to new methods and technology. Based on this
fact, the target point for this kind of governments can be
considered as proper use of information and communication
technology in public administrations combined with an
organizational change and new skills in order to improve public
services and strengthen support to public policies. This will lead
us to the E-Govemment concept which is commonly defined as
“continuous and safe execution of the mutual duties and
services between government and citizens in the environment of
electronic communication and transaction”. Obviously, based
on these definitions, one can consider E-Govemment concept as
a proper basis of good and efficient governance, keeping in
mind that E-Govemment is more about government than about
electronics.
It is proven that incorporation of spatial information in the
provision of E-Govemment will bring benefits to the citizen in
terms of relevance and ease of use and to government in terms
of improved management of public resources, particularly in
promoting better planning and targeting policies to address
problems of local communities. National mapping organizations
as part of government body and providers of spatial information
which are an important part of governmental information
infrastructure have to be more active in this area in order to
survive in this new era and find their proper place in the future
Electronic Governments.
In Islamic Republic of Iran, the same policy has been followed
by government during the last few years. During these years,
more than 1000 web sites related to governmental organizations
and agencies have been established and despite all deficiencies,
they are working as part of government digital public relation
and public service providers. In addition, electronic government
offices with authorized access to police, cadastre and other
governmental databases, are working around the country as a
right step toward E-Govemance concept.
National Cartographic Centre of Iran not only doesn't consider
itself as an exception to this rule but also is trying to stabilize its
position in the future government body with playing an
effective role in establishing E-Govemment within country. As
a general rule, implementation of E-Govemment concept in
NCC will result to change in document and data exchange
process inside and outside organization, demand to simple and
free access to our products and information, better
responsibility to our customers, improvement in working
process of technical and administration sections, reduction in
