Diriyah, September 03, 2023, A joint memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) and the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information (GEOSA) aims to improve cooperation in data and information exchange, geospatial services, surveying and drone projects, knowledge and expertise sharing, technical consultations, training and development, and data and information exchange. The official map of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, published by the latter, will be used as a foundational map and an authorized official source for the Kingdom's international boundaries, administrative and supervisory regions, and geographical sites, according to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was signed by the CEO of DGDA, Jerry Inzerillo, and the President of GEOSA, Dr. Eng. Mohammed bin Yahya Al-Sayel. The MoU also encourages the DGDA to use the National Geospatial Reference as a single source of truth for all geospatial data. Jerry Inzerillo, the CEO of the DGDA, said at the event that "this MoU aligns with the DGDA's efforts to strengthen collaborative ties with relevant entities, which will help achieve mutual benefits across various domains."
The MoU covers a number of cooperative areas, including the DGDA's use of the National Geospatial Platform's and the Continuous Operation Reference Station Network's goods and services. With data governance, effective information interchange, and support for national geospatial security, DGDA will additionally assist GEOSA in developing and putting into practice the National Geospatial Strategy.
According to Dr. Mohammed Al-Sayel, president of the GEOSA, "The MoU encompasses various aspects of national training, capacity building, promoting products and projects of both entities, sharing experiences and knowledge, providing technical consultations, supporting ongoing research activities, and utilizing geospatial information from the GEOSA as a technical and consultative reference, particularly in the context of surveying works and regulatory frameworks."
