Bahamas National Geographic Information Systems

About Us

Vision Statement

The BNGIS Centre’s vision and remit is to serve as the national technical focal point for the collection and management of geospatial data on the Commonwealth of The Bahamas; to advance a Program that provides a strategic national framework for long-term systematic access and exchange of geospatial data between governmental agencies and other information providers for improved planning, research and analysis, to improve GI literacy in the school system and to equip managers, technicians and the wider GIS Community with GIS skills and technical support.

Mission Statement

To promote, educate, coordinate and advance the practical and efficient use of GIS Technology in The Bahamas.

Areas of Responsibility

The Bahamas National Geographic Information Services Centre is primarily responsible for the provision of GIS services, including training and technical support, to the Bahamian national community.

Key Functions and Responsibilities

GI Policy development

Development of Spatial Data Infrastructure system and programme that guides cooperation and coordination among governmental agencies and other groups in the collection, production, maintenance, sharing and use of spatial information.

Central Repository of Information

Development and maintenance of a Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) Library to serve as the central repository for most non-sensitive GIS data on The Bahamas.

Spatial Data Clearing House

Development of a GIS Website designed to provide a practical means to disseminate spatial data via Government Wide Area Network and the Internet.

Geographic Information (GI) Education

• Training of teachers and students in the use of GIS, Global Positioning Systems (GPS).
• Training trainers.
• Developing lesson plans for integration into existing curriculum.

Spatial Data Clearing House

Establishment of discovery Metadata catalogue, which will allow users to discover what spatial data is available as well as details on content, quality, condition, source, scale and other characteristics of spatial data in order to determine its usability.

Technical Support

• Enforcement of standards, procedures and protocols.
• GIS Software quotations and negotiating GIS software discounts.
• Unfettered access to governmental agencies to utilise BNGIS Centre assets including use of training facility, scanning and GPS equipment.
• Development of GIS Project Proposals.
• GIS Project Management.
• GIS help desk support.
• GIS Software installations and troubleshooting technical issues.

For information on some of the Technical Support provided thus far and the Centre's capacity, please follow the links below.

• Royal Bahamas Defense Force
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Port Department
• Ministry of Works
• Department of Civil Aviation
• National Security
• National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
• Project Management Services
• GIS Software Quotations
• BNGIS Centre's Assets

Training

• Facilitation of workshops, seminars and short courses on GIS and associated geo technologies.
• Provision of training facilities.

For information on the Centre's Training Facility and some of the Training done thus far, please follow the links below:

• Training Facility
• BTC Training in GPS, Grand Bahama
• Training in Argentina
• Maritime Training
• Training in the United Nations Law of the Sea
• GPS Training
• Oil Trajectory Modeling
• USGS Remote Sensing

Other BNGISC Related links:

1. Committee Membership
2. Map Publication
3. Projects & Grants:
   1. IT Project
   2. Geographic Information
   3. Citrix Pilot Project
   4. USGS Remote Sensing

Address and Contact Information:

Bahamas National Geographic Information Systems Centre

P.O.Box N-3040, Bay and Armstrong Streets, Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas 
Tel. (242) 326-8536  
Fax. (242) 326-8535  
E-mail: bngisc@bahamas.gov.bs   
Opening Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except on public holidays.