Crain, Ian 
  
7 | CONCLUSIONS 
* The principal implications of the functional requirements of SEMIS to the physical implementation of the system 
are: 
= a full function GIS is required, with capability to manage large spatial coverage, and to link to non-spatial 
relational databases. 
= a relational database management system is required 
= statistical analysis and time-series analysis are required 
® Given the decentralised concept of SEMIS, it would not be necessary for each participating agency to duplicate all 
the full capabilities. Initially it might be best to concentrate GIS processing in one or a few centres in each country 
to build a centre of expertise. Compatible database capabilities could be more widespread. Statistical analysis and 
time-series analysis capabilities are often very specialised to a particular discipline and so there could be 
specialised centres of expertise in these functions as appropriate - e.g. in trend analysis of water quality. 
e The system functional design proposes in-country data exploitation facilities as well as trans-border data sharing 
facilities in order to meet the needs posed by assessments and decisions related to international projects. 
e A distributed loosely coupled network of national and sub-national GIS installations communicating through the 
Internet can effectively meet the needs of decision makers in the Greater Mekong Subregion. All the needed 
components will soon be in place in the Subregion-region, through the activities of this Project and through other 
related projects. 
e Such an open-ended design can allow countries with limited IT infrastructure to begin with simple low-technology 
systems, and still participate in information exchange and integration 
* Pragmatic information content standards can be adopted and adapted from current practices of national and 
international agencies. 
eo The SEMIS design provides the capacity for the exchange and integration of spatially referenced environmental 
information to support wise decision making in the GMS, but cultural and political barriers may have to be 
overcome before free flowing exchange of data and cooperative planning becomes a reality. 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
Any large development project operates as a team and has many cooperative participants. Particular acknowledgment is 
made to the Project Director, Christian Berubé, the Field Coordinator, Michel Barré, IT specialists Guy Bruno and 
Jacques Charlebois, and ADB Project Officer, Henry Tucker. 
REFERENCES 
ADB, 1998a, SEMIS Report on Outputs 1 - Core Dataset Definition and Output - 2 Conceptual Spatial Systems Design. 
ADB, 1998b, SEMIS Report on Output 3 - Data Standards for Information to be Held in National and Subregional 
Databases. 
MRC, 1996, Mekong River Basin Diagnostic Study (vol. 1 and 2), May 1996. 
Sesser, S, 1995, Lands of Charm and Cruelty: Travels in Southeast Asia, Vintage Books. 
UNEP, 1995, A Framework for the State of the Environment Reporting for Asia and the Pacific, UNEP, Environmental 
Assessment Programme/Asia and Pacific. 
  
294 International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXIII, Part B7. Amsterdam 2000. 
  
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