The World Bank WASHINGTON DC, TRUST FUND : #030670

Final Report for GIS database FR-1

SECTOR PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MINING SECTOR IN THE LAO PDR

CONSULTANT : Kazushige Wada, GIS/database Expert

November 2006

Abbreviations and Acronyms (Alphabetical listing)

AMS BGS CAD CD CPU CIFEG DB DGM DOE DSL DTM DVD EDL EIA ESCAP FIPC GB GIS GPS HD

American Army Service British Geological Survey Computer Aided Design system Compact Disc Central Processing Unit International Center for Training and Exchanges in Geosciences see RDB Department of Geology and Mines Department of Electricity, Ministry of Industry and Handicraft Digital Subscriber Line Digital Terrain Model (DEM: Digital Elevation Model) Digital Versatile Disc Electricite du Laos Environmental Impact Assessment Economic and Social Commission Asia Pacific Forestry Inventory Planning Center Giga bytes Geographic Information System Global Positioning System Hard Disk in computer

INTERGEO A division of Department for Geology and Mines of Geology and Minerals Geology in Vietnam IT JICA LAN LCD LNMC LXML MAF MCTPC MEM MIH MRC MRCS Information Technology Japan International Cooperation Agency Local Area Network Liquid Crystal Display Lao National Mekong Committee Lane Xang Minerals Ltd. Ministry of Agriculture and Forests Ministry of Communication Transport Post and Construction Ministry of Energy and Mines Ministry of Industry and Handcrafts (former Ministry name of MEM) Mekong River Commission Mekong River Commission Secretariat

NAFRI NGD NUOL OJT OS RAM RDB RS PC SIDA STEA UNDP UNESCO UPS UXO WB

National Agriculture and forestry Research Institute National Geographic Department National University of Laos On-the-Job-Training Operating System Random Access Memory (main memory) in computer Relational Database (DB: Database) Remote sensing Personal Computer Swedish International Development Agency Science Technology and Environment Agency United Nations Development Programme United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Uninterrupted Power Supply Unexploded Ordinance World Bank

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Table of Content 1. General ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Geo-science GIS database ......................................................................................... 1 1.2 Objectives .................................................................................................................. 1 2. Assessment of the existing database ................................................................................ 2 2.1 Utilization status of GIS database .............................................................................. 2 2.1.1 Current status of existing GIS database ............................................................... 2 2.1.2 Some issues for mutual usage of GIS database.................................................... 2 2.2 GIS and related database in DGM .............................................................................. 5 2.2.1 GIS database for geology and mineral resources.................................................. 5 2.2.2 The other databases ............................................................................................. 5 2.2.3 Data-entry in DGM ................................................................................................ 8 2.2.4 Technical level in Information Technology ............................................................ 8 2.2.5 Data management in Mining Concession Division............................................... 12 2.2.6 Information disclosure by website ...................................................................... 13 2.2.7 Geophysical data................................................................................................. 14 2.2.8 What we can learn from the UNDP project......................................................... 15 3. Conceptual design of the Geo-science database............................................................. 16 3.1 Stored data of the Geo-science database................................................................. 16 3.2 Data table and relationships among the tables ........................................................ 19 3.3 Actions required for implementation of the Geo-science GIS database.................... 26 3.4 General structure of Geo-science GIS database ....................................................... 26 3.5 Other required actions ............................................................................................. 27 3.5.1 Further design .................................................................................................... 27 3.5.2 Human resource development ............................................................................ 27 3.5.3 Collaboration with JICA project........................................................................... 30 3.5.4 Expansion and creation of new websites for DGM and MEM .............................. 31 3.6 Integration of the geo-science GIS database and the full-fledged mining concession data management system....................................................................................... 32 3.7 Action plan and capacity development plan ............................................................. 32

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Figures Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Fig. 6 Fig. 7 Fig. 8 Fig. 9 Flows of mining concession data management and concession map creation ................. 12 Current GIS data and collected GIS data for Geo-science GIS database ........................ 16 Example output from the present GIS database including existing and collected data ..... 18 Example outputs of collected typical GIS datasets ...................................................... 19 New designed tables in database for mineral resource data .......................................... 21 Table relationships among tables in Geo-science database ........................................... 25 General image of the Geo-science GIS database......................................................... 27 Future technical organizational structure related to IT in the DGM ............................... 30 Geo-science GIS database and its peripheral database systems in DGM........................ 32 Tables Table 1 Table 2 Table 3 Table 4 Table 5 Table 6 Table 7 Table 8 Table 9 Representative sources of GIS database in Lao PDR..................................................... 4 Main GIS data in DGM ............................................................................................. 6 The other databases in DGM ...................................................................................... 7 List of PCs in the Geo-Mines Information Center and Mining Concession Division ....... 10 List of peripherals at Geo-Mines Information Center .................................................. 11 List of software at Geo-Mines Information Center ...................................................... 11 Representative geophysical surveys in Lao PDR ........................................................ 14 Current GIS data in DGM and collected GIS data for Geo-science GIS database ........... 17 Recommended hardware for geo-science GIS database ............................................... 26

Table 10 Recommended software for geo-science GIS database ................................................ 26 Table 11 Additional GIS and database training courses required for present DGM staff ............... 28 Table 12 IT staff required in the DGM for a program of constructing geological information infrastructure .......................................................................................................... 29 Table 13 Final goal of human resources development in IT field of DGM in a program of construction of geological information infrastructure .................................................. 29 Table 14 General items of IT improvement in the "action plan" and "capacity development establishing plan" projects........................................................................................ 35 Table 15 Cost estimate for implementation of the IT improvement items conducted in the "action plan" projects ......................................................................................................... 36 Appendix Appendix 1 Contents of collected GIS datasets and integrated mineral resources database for Geo-science GIS database ................................................................................ 38

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1. General 1.1 Geo-science GIS database In order to establish information infrastructure in Lao PDR, construction of GIS database covering basic geology, mineral resource, geophysics (ground and airborne), geochemistry and other information is definitely significant for Lao PDRs mining sector and it is also one of missions of the MEM and/or the DGM as a government organization. The database will be used for geology and

mineral resource map creation and information disclosure via Internet and CD distribution, from technical point of view. With the object of national strategy, it is also used for designing of mining In addition to its usage in mining field, the GIS database

strategy and study of mining policy.

would also assist in compilation of land-use, environment conservation, disaster prevention, hydrogeology, civil engineering and so forth. geo-science field in this country. This GIS database should include those widely varieties of contents, and collection and integration of surrounding information are inevitable. Though the DGM already started to use GIS The content is exactly a fundamental information in

technology to create geological maps, mineral occurrence maps and to manage mining concession data, they have a lot of problems such as shortage of operation budget, human resource, a lack of technical level, hiatus of strategy of information infrastructural construction and so on, as mentioned in later sections in this report. Various projects have been conducted by some international aid

agencies to implement GIS equipment and human education, however, the DGM still does not rise to the self-sustainable stage.

1.2 Objectives Main objectives relevant to geo-science database based on Terms of References by the WB (July, 2005) are as follows; assess current state in terms of quality, and coverage of geological mapping design a geo-science database on mineral resources and potential zones The outputs of the research and evaluation shall be used as fundamental information for construction of the future geo-science database covering mineral resources, potential zones and related surrounding information. In this report, based on assessments of present situations and issues revealed through this project, a basic design of the geo-science GIS database is shown and some new necessary actions are proposed to improve the DGMs capacities related to IT and surrounding technologies.

2. Assessment of the existing database 2.1 Utilization status of GIS database 2.1.1 Current status of existing GIS database Typical GIS databases for relevant geo-science fields in Lao PDR are shown in Table 1. NGD has been constructed a GIS database that can store fundamental geographical information and infrastructural data for geographical map production and now NGD can revise or edit data by itself. NGD supplies several GIS datasets to the public for a fee and free datasets to government organizations or projects where an official request letter has been submitted to NGD. MRC has

been constructing a tremendous amount of high-precision datasets related to the Mekong River, and MAF is also creating various kinds of datasets; for forestry, soil, land-use distributions and so forth. The Department of Electricity in MEM manages GIS spatial data related to electric power supply, like power stations and water reserves and so on. UXO distribution. Since most of these organizations have been conducting considerable GIS training for staff, the process of GIS database construction is understood sufficiently by at least some staff. Efficient UXO Lao archives a mountain of datasets about

self-management systems have already been established in some of these organizations. Continuous technical assistance have also been given by foreign experts. However, in some

organizations, data collecting and construction have been made at personal level; where skills may vary widely, and it has not reach the level of organized GIS construction. A variety of databases are now constructed in those organizations, and thus datasets can be obtained and used as fundamental information for future geo-science database in the DGM.

2.1.2 Some issues for mutual usage of GIS database One of the largest issues in databases constructed in various organizations is in mutual usage among the organizations. The facts that construction of each GIS database depends upon Though

different financial resources causes difficulties in data-sharing among these organizations.

data supply can be made by submitting official request letters to the data possessors in almost of the cases, there are no letter format and it needs time and sometimes hard to find out persons in charge even for Laotian staff members. At the present time, the task has been done using personal Foreign consultants may submit duplicated request letters

network of the Laotian staff members.

from the same organization, and it causes stress for both data-supplier and data-recipients. The NGD is only organization for data management for fundamental geographic information, and may undertake a role of active leadership for mutual data exchange. It needs to

set up a liaison council which should be a cross-ministry organization and to unify and simplify proceedings for mutual usage of GIS datasets among related organizations. In developed countries, related government ministries and agencies which possess GIS

databases connect their data servers to Internet, and disclose such information in public.

Thus

scheme of mutual usage of fundamental GIS datasets is called a clearinghouse. Even in Laos, the liaison council mentioned above may be expected to play a role to setup such GIS data clearinghouse in the future. Standardization of GIS data also should be carried out on a parallel

with the creation of clearinghouse.

Table 1 Representative sources of GIS database in Lao PDR

2.2 GIS and related database in DGM 2.2.1 GIS database for geology and mineral resources GIS in DGM has been used to create, manage and store geology and mineral resource maps, such as the 1:1,000,000 geological map produced by BGS and a mineral resource map produced by ESCAP project as shown in Table 2. In addition, twelve 1:200,000 geological maps

have been completed by INTERGEO, and another 17 maps are currently being edited in Vietnam. However, in DGM, there is little information regarding the present status of map creation by INTERGEO, because almost all works of map work has been done in Vietnam. Evaluation and assessment of DGMs GIS datasets has identified the following issues with GIS datasets that should be resolved: Geological and mineral resource data is not managed in a unified formatting. Attribute tables are sometimes plagued by missing data, errors and mixing of data types. Not all spatial datasets are managed under topological rules, which should be applied in geological issues to avoid overlapping, undershoots, overshoots, sliver polygons etc. After data is obtained from objects, datasets are seldom revised or updated. 2.2.2 The other databases Other than GIS datasets, DGM has been also establishing a bibliographic database, SANGIS (South Asia Network for a Geo-science Information System) supported by UNESCO, as shown in Table 3. Data-entry is proceeding now, and nearly 50 percent of all reports stored in DGM have On the other hand, though there exists a map database to store topographical and/or

been entered.

geological maps, data entry has been sporadic. Assessments of the databases in DGM can be summarized as follows: Although geological, mineral resources and mining concession datasets are stored and managed in GIS, they have been used mainly for creating geological maps, with relatively little emphasis on stored attribute data. Several datasets created through various projects are stored in GIS independently, and no attempt has been made to coordinate this varied information, unfortunately. the GIS datasets and the bibliographic database. There is also no linkage between

This situation strongly indicates that several GIS

datasets and text databases are not integrated and have been playing only a limited role as a geological archive in Lao PDR.

Table 2

Main GIS data in DGM

Table 3

The other databases in DGM

2.2.3 Data-entry in DGM The followings are showing the present situations of data-entry level for GIS database construction. Staffs in the Geo-Mines Information Center understand the process of GIS data-entry, including scanning, digitizing, adding attributes and so on. There is, however, no established standardized procedure or error checking in the data-entry operations. Data-entry operations are entrusted to one or two operators and there can be seen many Data-entry errors, unformatted data, missing data in attribute table attached spatial datasets. Map are scanned with an A3-size scanner, and larger maps require extra work to paste scanned images to each other with paint software like Photoshop, and with maps themselves must be scanned several times, which might cause a deterioration of data accuracy. LAN is not working because of the malfunction of a router in the DGM, and staff are forced to connect and disconnect cables among PC and peripherals many times in daily data-entry operations.

2.2.4 Technical level in Information Technology In order to evaluate IT level in the DGM, surveys were conducted in the Geo-Mines Information Center, the Mining Concession Division and Geological Division. a) GIS Two of the four staff members of the Geo-Mines Information Center have intermediate GIS skills (one of them is in upper intermediate) and the other two are at the beginner level. The other two staff members who are presently in the Mining Concession Division and Geological Division can operate GIS. They were former staff members (one of them were Director) in the Geo-Mines Information Center and their levels are in upper-intermediate. The bulk of GIS operations have been carried out by the upper intermediate staff member. The two beginners are only outputting maps. Utilization of GIS is biased towards map production. Staff of the Mining Concession Division have a great deal of interests in GIS and understand its broader range of applications, but their understanding of GIS techniques still comes mostly from seminars, workshop etc in this study. Staff in the Mining Concession Division are keenly interested in integrated application of GIS and GPS, especially for navigation,.

b) Database There is insufficient understanding of the database in the Geo-Mines Information Center and the Mining Concession Division, regarding their relationship with GIS. Utilization of SANGIS to manage records of reports and documents is limited. enter SANGIS data. Preliminary mining concession management system created in 2004 has not been used because of lack of database knowledge and understanding. Data has

been entered by just one staff member, when time allows; thus, it has taken a long time to

c) PC and peripherals Present status of PCs usage in the Geo-Mines Information Center and the Mining Concession Division is shown in Table 4. Almost all staff members work with his or her own PC Four PCs (one of which is out of order) are used for GIS operation, but they have inadequate memory (RAM) and hard disk (HD) capacity (At least 500MB and 80GB are preferable for RAM and HD, respectively). Although staffs of the Mining Concession Division are faced to use PCs with lower specification, these PCs have mainly been used for data-entry to tables without any problems. Almost all of the power stabilizers and lightening protection equipment are out of order, so many PCs, peripherals and software are at risk. damage to hardware and software. Sometimes software has not been properly registered, and re-installation of software damaged by lightning, etc., has been hindered by lost registration numbers Peripherals in the Geo-Mines Information Center are shown in Table 5. sharing by staff has been hampered by problems with the LAN. Present scanners, A4 and A3 in size, are too small for map scanning for GIS data entry. The color plotter, purchased 10 years ago, is deteriorating, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to find supplies. If this situation continues, DGM might end up with no equipment for outputting map products. Peripheral In fact, there has already been much

Table 4

List of PCs in the Geo-Mines Information Center and Mining Concession Division

Table 4

List of PCs in the Geo-Mines Information Center and Mining Concession Division

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Table 5
Peripherals Plotter Scanner Scanner & printer Digitizer Maker HP UMAX HP CalComp

List of peripherals at Geo-Mines Information Center

Model DeskJet750C Mirage Iise PSC 1315 all-in-one DrawingBoard III Year 1995 1998 2005 Size A0 A3 A4 A0 Usage status Output of maps Map scanning for digital map creation Copier, scanner and color printer Not used, because of expiration of maintenance for installation driver

d) Software A list of typical types of software installed at the Geo-Mines Information Center is shown in Table 6. There are several important software applications that are not the least version or whose license periods have expired. There are some packages that are useless because they are missing their hardware keys.

Table 6 List of software at Geo-Mines Information Center

Category Software MapInfo GIS TNTmips ArcView ArcCAD* Remote Sensing CAD Draw Image processing Database Spread sheet Graph Geo-science
* **

Version 6.0

Licensed 2 0

User 3 0 0 0

Usage status Used rather effectively in map production and maintenance of spatial databases See below** Not working because of no hardware key See below** See below** Entry of boring data

3.1 11.3 6.0

0 -

ER Mapper AutoCAD 2000 Corel Draw Photoshop Access Excel Grapher Rockware

1 0 7.0 1

2 0

Used for scanning paper-based maps to create digital map 3

ArcCAD is a GIS engine for AutoCAD Installed through the UNDP project. License expired, because of no maintenance fee payment and re-installation by PC s troubles

e) Internet connection There are only two terminals connected to Internet in DGM Internet is used just for e-mail, so its use is very limited Registration of software has not been done via Internet

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2.2.5 Data management in Mining Concession Division In ordinary operations about mining concession application procedures in the Mining Concession Division, inspections of applied areas such as overlapping have been made as shown in bluish zone of Fig. 1. Application documents are submitted to staff members who manage each categorized concession data which are separated by mining law. Staff responsible (staff E, for instance in Fig.1) handover sets of coordinates of applied area or an applied area map (on topographical map of 1:100,000) to a GIS operator in the Mining Concession Division who enter the data to GIS. The applied area are compared with existing mining concession areas stored in GIS In this procedure,

dataset to avoid overlapping, and the results are reported to the staff responsible.

the GIS operator keep printout of applied mining concession areas with coordinates of corners of the area on file. GIS operator in Geo-Mines Information Center assists these procedures in case of absence of GIS operator in the Mining Concession Division or whenever mining concession map creation is requested as shown in reddish zone of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

Flows of mining concession data management and concession map creation

Following issues can be pointed out regarding these application procedures for mining concession area. There can be stagnant in application area checking procedures, in case of absence of GIS operator in the Mining Concession Division, because there is only one GIS operator in the Division.

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 Checking procedures can be made also in the Geo-Mines Information Center, but mining concession area datasets in the Center exists independently from datasets in Mining Concession Division and also is not always the latest information, so might not able to make a right judgement. Though map of applied mining concession areas are outputted and kept on file, verification of the entry data is not made with topographical information, because of no stored scanned topographical maps in GIS datasets.

Issues mentioned above might be solved by the following actions. A full fledged mining concession data management system be implemented at DGM. GIS education for staff members in Mining Concession Division. Consolidated management of mining concession data by implementing LAN in DGM office. Utilization of topographical maps stored in GIS be made for checking applied areas. There are some approaches to achieve it; for instance; using scanned map from existing paper-base topographical maps, and using raster output from GIS topographical database of NGD covering the whole country based on cooperation with NGD.

2.2.6 Information disclosure by website Various kinds of mining related information, from mining policy and laws to geological and mineral resource maps, have been disclosed through DGM website (http://www.dgm.gov.la/). Mining concession distribution, sampling status of geo-chemical data and so on are shown on the website, and general information relevant to mineral resource potential are also disclosed effectively. The response speed of the website is appropriate for providing information to web clients. However, there are several issues that still need to be resolved. For over two years, the web contents have not been updated, for instance, the latest mining concession information is from December, 2003. There are no data for many important areas of mining activities, like mining sector statistics, protected or reserved areas, UXO distribution zones and so forth. There are some pages which do not show any content, for instance, sapphire and coal on pages for mineral potential. The information in the DGM website mainly focuses on geological issues, and there is a lack of governments announcements like recent mining policy and infrastructural data which are inevitable for mining developers; they should be disclosed from an MEM website, but there is no official MEM website at the present time. There are few mutual information exchanges between DGM and clients via Internet; if a client sends an e-mail to DGM, there is little chance they will receive a response. It is essential for the acceleration of foreign investments to disclose information by

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establishing an MEMs website.

With the creation of the new MEM website, the issues mentioned

above should be able to be resolved through coordination between the MEM and DGM websites. If this situation continues, however, it will be very difficult to attract domestic and/or foreign investors. Therefore, development of a new MEM website and updating of the present DGM

website should be done immediately.

2.2.7 Geophysical data Airborne and ground geophysical surveys for mining and oil exploration have been conducted by mining concession licensees in Lao PDR. surveys. Table 7 lists representative geophysical

These privately developed geophysical maps are constrained by confidentiality clauses.

Even if concession areas are already relinquished, the dataset is not permitted to disclose by the DGM. Though thus status should be improved in the sight of effective usage of stored datasets,

extravagant measure of information disclosure might reduce investment wills of mining development companies. Therefore, regarding disclosure of those geophysical datasets in

relinquished areas, the MEM and DGM should carefully discuss and consider a future management for them. The principle of such data management shall be described in an administrative

instruction of mining law. From technical point of view, though geophysical datasets submitted from licensees are

stored in cartridge tapes, there is no tape reader equipment and no appropriate software in the DGM, and it is not possible to create outputs such as these geophysical anomaly maps at present time. there are no geophysical maps and data in GIS database in the DGM now. So,

It will be required to

consider to utilize such information effectively with management approach for stored data from here on.

Table 7
Year 1960 Organization /Company Mekong Committee Mineral Survey Projects Vietnamese group Enterprise Oil Lao Hunt Oil Ltd. Monument Resources Ltd. Newmont Vieng Kham Ltd. Lang Xang Minerals

Representative geophysical surveys in Lao PDR

Method Airborne magnetometer scintillation counter survey Aeromagnetic survey Airborne survey Aeromagnetic survey Airborne survey Aeromagnetic survey Airborne survey aeromagnetic survey Helicopter-mounted aeromagnetic and radiometric survey Electromagnetic survey Target Iron Survey volume (line-km) 4,040 Area Sanakham-Pak Lay area plus three areas in Xiengkhouang Xiengkhouang Savannakhet Savane, Sekong, Attapeu & Champasak Sayaboury, Vientiane & Bolikhamsay Sayaboury, Vientiane & Luang Phabang Savannakhet

1975 1990 1991 1993 -

Iron Oil Oil Oil Mining

2,023 12,123 7,200 9,000 2,727 6,450 1,900

Mining

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Ltd. 1997 Phu Bia Mining Ltd.

Helicopter-mounted Airborne Ground magnetic Induced polarization/resistivity TDEM

Mining

Xiengkhouang

2.2.8 What we can learn from the UNDP project Through the UNDP project conducted from 1993 to 1997, mineral occurrence dataset compiled in 1990 and was revised by BGS. Procurement of GIS such as software and hardware

and various kinds of training courses in the project contributed to improve the IT level in the DGM. After completion of the project, however, many need actions have not been done, various kinds of problems can be seen in the DGM as mentioned in section 3.2 (3). It seems to be difficult to maintain and improve technical capacities among the DGM IT staff, due to no continual and appropriate supplementary employment of IT human resource and appropriate trainings to the DGM staff. There can be seen lacks of required version-up and maintenance of software, needed replacement and implementation of aging peripherals, and it leads difficult situation to maintain technical level and to introduce new technologies. Hardware and software are forced to take risk of possible fatal damages, since damaged UPS by external factors such as lightning, is left not to be repaired. There are also un-recovered software packages damaged by the surge current because of expiration of registration by no payment of maintenance fee. In order to prevent recurrence of those issues, it can be pointed out that proper follow-up actions in future projects will be inevitable.

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3. Conceptual design of the Geo-science database This section describes the general design of the geo-science database, one of the main tasks of this project.

3.1 Stored data of the Geo-science database In order to design a general feature of future geo-science database, we investigated and evaluated the present GIS data stored in the Geo-Mines Information Center and GIS dataset recently collected from several domestic and international organizations, which are shown in Table 8 (there, the conventional GIS data from DGM are shown as Data source : DGM). Figure 2 shows various

kinds of existing mining related and background datasets in Geo-Mines Information Center, collected datasets in this study and JICA studys data.

Fig. 2 Current GIS data and collected GIS data for Geo-science GIS database
Several new datasets have been created through this study. For instance, although the

former mineral resource datasets by ESCAP and BGS were created independently, many data were redundant or missing. Therefore, we compiled them into a new ESCAP&BGS mineral resource

data table, comparing and editing the two datasets assistance from a geological expert in this study. Figure 3 shows a mineral resource distribution map of mineral resource data and topography compiled using DTM and raster data calculated for shadow shading. Figure 4 shows representative background GIS datasets collected in this study.

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Table 8 Current GIS data in DGM and collected GIS data for Geo-science GIS database

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Fig. 3

Example output from the present GIS database including existing and collected data

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Fig. 4

Example outputs of collected typical GIS datasets

3.2 Data table and relationships among the tables We describe the basic table structures for main mineral resource and geochemical datasets in Fig. 5. The data tables were designed with reference to the compiled ESCAP&BGS datasets The core tables are

described in the previous section, considering requests from JICA study team.

DepoitOccurence, ChemAnaStream, ChemAnaRock and ChemAnaSoil, which are one mineral occurrence and/or deposit table and three geochemical data tables, respectively. For

several geographical fundamental datasets such as province and district codes, they are supplied from the NGD and are stored. Data table structures for mining concession dataset are designed,

based on a dataset structure created in the Preliminary Mining Cadastre Management System through a project entitled Strengthening of Management Capabilities in Department of Geology and Mines, The Lao People's Democratic Republic, Part4 : Review of Cadastre Management conducted by WB in 2004. The general concession dataset is also stored in a table Concession, which

includes investors information. Figure 6 shows the relationship among these data tables which are the basic information structure for mineral resources and geochemical data archives and can be applied to the future

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geo-science GIS database. New datasets, mineral occurrences, chemical analysis data, geological mapping data and so on, which will be obtained in the current JICA project described in section 4.5, should be added to the data tables mentioned here. The collected and created GIS datasets and the designed database for mineral resource and the future geochemical datasets are listed in Appendix 1 and are stored in DVD.

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Fig. 5

New designed tables in database for mineral resource data

21

22

23

24

Fig. 6 Table relationships among tables in Geo-science database

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3.3 Actions required for implementation of the Geo-science GIS database In order to establish the geo-science GIS database, it is recommended that the following sets of hardware in Table 9 be installed at the Geo-Mines Information Center.

Table 9
Hardware PCs with LAN board

Recommended hardware for geo-science GIS database

Set 4 2 4 4 1 1 1 1 3 3 4

Network

Plotter Scanner Laser printer Color Printer Power supply

Specifications Desktop PCs for GIS database server and other PCs with LAN board CPU: 2GHz or higher, RAM: 1GB or higher, HD: 100GB or higher Laptop PCs Display: 20 inches and/or wider LCD Based on Windows XP Professional or latest version LAN connection in the Geo-Mines Information Center and the Mining Concession Division in DGM Hub A0-size color plotter A0-size A4-size A3-size, color UPSs for new PCs (one for each PC)

Table 10 shows recommended software for installing the Geo-science GIS database.

Table 10
Software GIS Business software Network security

Recommended software for geo-science GIS database

Specifications ArcEditor (the latest version) : single user license Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint Network security software Set 4 6 1

3.4 General structure of Geo-science GIS database Figure 7 shows a comparison between the present GIS datasets and the Geo-science GIS database and their relationship with future full-fledged mining concession data management system. The characteristics of the Geo-science GIS database are as follows; The database should integrate the present GIS database with the bibliographic database, SANGIS, which are managed by the GIS and RDB. User interface should be customized to bridge between the GIS and the text database. Unification of the quality and contents for stored data is provided in the Geo-science GIS database, because all of datasets are shared and managed in LAN. Data can be update systematically, helping to decrease data entry errors. Peripherals are shared via LAN and are accessible from any PC in LAN. The Geo-science GIS database will be a Laotian information base especially for geology and

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mineral resource archive, and it can be utilized for creating geological and mineral resource mapping project for consideration by WB.

Fig. 7
3.5 Other required actions 3.5.1 Further design

General image of the Geo-science GIS database

Basic design and a large quantity of collected data for future Geo-science GIS database in this project will contribute to the fundamental construction of the database. JICAs outputs like The

geological information will take an important rule by supplying data to DGM appropriately.

bibliographic database is a basic information source for mining exploration and can be a part of fundamental information in DGM, though it has still only been used infrequently in DGM. Therefore, a GIS database dealing with spatial information and document database handling reports can be harmonized in the Geo-science GIS database. the planning stage of the Geo-science GIS database. This integration should be contemplated in

3.5.2 Human resource development a) Training for the present DGM staff For construction and maintenance of future geo-science GIS database and full-fledged mining cadastre management system, it will require that DGM staff improve their technical skills

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related to database and GIS.

Target staffs and required training are summarized in Table 11.

There are several practical trainers or companies that might be able to conduct database and GIS training, such as Vientiane GEOMATICS Services, ESRI Thailand or invited foreign experts. Furthermore, OJT through practical ordinary operations is required for technical improvements.

Table 11

Additional GIS and database training courses required for present DGM staff
Content of training Present technical level of candidate trainee Number of staff B2) GIS ArcEditor M3) A4)
4)

Section

Database Access B2) M3)

Target class

Upper-middle level1) Geo-Mines Information Center Middle level1) Beginner level1) Other staff Middle level1) Mining Concession Division

1 1 2 4 1 1

3)

GIS project manager GIS assistant manager GIS operators 2 operators & 2 technicians DB+GIS manager DB+GIS operator 2 operators & 2 technicians RS technician Geophysicist

Other staff 4 middle level1) Other staff1)

2)

Geological Division
1)

1 1

: GIS Experienced staff,

:B: Basic,

: M: Middle,

: A: Advanced

b) Supplementary employment of IT staff and future goal The previous section pointed out some necessary IT training courses for the present DGM staff. On the other hand, well-educated and trained IT specialists should be recruited to proceed

with the future expansion of the geo-science GIS database for the construction of a geological information infrastructure. It will be, however, quite hard to hire such IT specialists in the DGMs

employment system, since the country as a whole suffers from a chronic supply deficiency of IT specialists, and they are frequently lured away from government by private companies at higher wages. In order to cope with these difficulties in recruitment, some comprehensive plans such as long-term temporal employment of IT, remote-sensing, and geophysical specialists from Europe, United State, Japan, Thailand etc., are required, making preferential treatment in payment in such projects as capacity building and raising the level of the present DGM staff through instruction from specialists. At a time, recruitment of new graduates who studied IT, effective utilization of

existing human resources (IT) from other Ministries and also job displacement in the DGM should be considered, keeping a policy of the right person for the right job. The IT staff who will be

required for the future program of constructing geological information infrastructure are listed in

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Table 12.

A comparison of IT staff numbers with technical levels in the DGM between the present

situation and final goal through the program is shown in Table 13.

Table 12

IT staff required in the DGM for a program of constructing geological information infrastructure
Type of employment TP*

Specialty GIS

Number 1

Technical level Experienced GIS database expert, with higher English, who can train the present DGM staff. Geological background is preferable but not necessary. New graduates from university or young IT trained specialists: they should be selected based on their suitability and potential. Experienced computer networking and server administration expert, with higher English, who can train the present DGM staff. Geological background is preferable but not necessary. New graduates from university or young IT trained specialists: they should be selected based on their suitability and potential. Experienced RS expert, with higher English, who can train the present DGM staff. Geological background is nesessary. Experienced geophysical (especially aerial geophysical survey) expert, with higher English, who can train the present DGM staff. Knowledge of OasisMontaj is necessary.

GIS LAN

1 1

PE** TP*

LAN Remote sensing Geophysics

1 1 1

PE** TP* TP*

*TP : temporally in a program, ** : PE: permanent employment in DGM

Table 13

Final goal of human resources development in IT field of DGM in a program of construction of geological information infrastructure
Types of employment Temporally in a program Permanent Number of staff* 1(0) 2(0)

Specialties

Classes Expert GIS project manager and assistant manager GIS operator GIS technician DB manager

Main tasks Consulting of all GIS activities in DGM Instructions for the DGM staff Management of GIS database construction Management of geological map creation

GIS

Database

DB operator DB technician Expert

LAN LAN manager Expert

Remote

Creation of geological maps Editing of spatial data Mapping/data-entry Editing of attribute data Design of DB (also GIS) Creation of concession areas Management of DB Maintenance of DB Text data entry into DB Editing of table contents Consulting of LAN in DGM Instructions for the DGM staff Administrator of LAN Maintenance of LAN Security of LAN Instructions the DGM staff

Permanent Permanent Permanent

4(2) 2(2) 2(0)

Permanent Permanent Temporally in a program Permanent Temporally

2(0) 2(0) 1(0)

1(0) 1(0)

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RS analyst sensing RS technician Expert

Geophysics

Geophysicist

Geophysical technician
*

Consulting of all remote-sensing activities in DGM Data processing and analysis of remote sensing data Supply imagery data to GIS database Data processing of remote sensing data Creation of imagery data Consulting of all geophysical data obtained in a program Instructions for the DGM staff Data processing and analysis of airborne geophysical survey Supply imagery data to GIS database Provide support for data processing Creation of geophysical maps

in a program Permanent Permanent Temporally in a program Permanent

1(0) 1(0) 1(0)

1(0)

Permanent

1(0)

: Numbers in parentheses are the numbers of present staff

Based on various training of IT and new staff assignment mentioned above, the following technical organizational structure can be created and required for future geological and mineral resource data management in the DGM.

Fig. 8 Future technical organizational structure related to IT in the DGM

3.5.3 Collaboration with JICA project In May, 2006, a JICA project was started for DGM supposed to conduct geological surveys and to create geological maps for mineral potential target areas. geological and mineral resource maps. The project will produce detailed

The various products and datasets from this JICA project

should also be utilized effectively for creating the Geo-science GIS database covering the whole

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country.

In order to utilize the outputs from the project to the maximum, following suggestions

might be considered in the JICA project for future construction of Geo-Science GIS database. Supply JICAs outputs (spatial data and tables) to the present GIS archives Geological mapping based on implicit topology description Information disclosure of the outputs via DGMs website for clients New geological and geo-chemical datasets obtained by the JICA project should be arranged to fit the structures by referencing proposed data table structures in this study.

3.5.4 Expansion and creation of new websites for DGM and MEM As described in a section 3.2.6, though the present DGM website discloses a broad range of significant information for website clients, there are some missing important items which are closely related to mining activities such as new information on exploration and exploitation by mining companies, statistics, reserved or protected areas and UXO information and so forth. Furthermore, the web contents have not been updated and not been provided any official news for more than two years, and the DGM website is in the process of losing its attraction for foreign investors. These issues which have been pointed out in workshops and seminars, were discussed As a result, we concluded that website management by the DGM staff is

with the DGM staff.

difficult in the present form, but it might be possible manage the website by developing new administrative tool to support ordinary updates. Since the present circumstances of Internet usage

or LAN in the DGM office are not suitable for website management, these improvements should be accompanied with related actions such as LAN installation in the DGM and training for the staff. On the other hand, construction of a new portal site for the MEM is essential for foreign investors to collect information of fundamental infrastructures like power supply, road and so on, and it is necessary to construct such a site putting mutual linkage with the DGM website. Discussing with staff of DGM and MEM, it was agreed to create a guideline of website revising and constructing plan for them which would include the following items; Publish information which can be disclosed to the maximum extent possible by the DGM through the revised website and published products such as paper-based maps etc. Develop a tool to transmit information of policy, mining law, regulations and so on announced by government without any delays and establish a framework for managing the websites of the DGM and MEM Keep in contact with web clients as much as possible Make the MEM website a portal site for organizations under the MEM to disclose mining and energy related information with mutual linkages with existing websites, and inform relevant foreign government offices and private companies

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3.6 Integration of the geo-science GIS database and the full-fledged mining concession data management system This section overviews a general relationship among the present databases (GIS datasets, mining concession data and another text database), the future Geo-science GIS database and the full-fledged mining concession data management system as shown in Fig.9. The future

Geo-science GIS database is a kind of extended system of the present GIS datasets, and it would be desirable to include the existing bibliographic database. Mining concession data should be The Geo-science

managed in a future full-fledged mining concession data management system.

GIS database system and the full-fledged mining concession data management system should be linked via LAN in DGM.

Fig. 9

Geo-science GIS database and its peripheral database systems in DGM

3.7 Action plan and capacity development plan Based on assessments of information management and IT in the DGM, actual procedures of construction of proposed Geo-science GIS database and implementation of future geological information infrastructure are mentioned here. The following programs should be done in an action plan which will be carried out in coming three years from 2007 to 2009; Construction of Geo-science GIS database

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 Procurement of hardware and software for Geo-science GIS database IT level-up of the present DGM staff Construction of archives for documents shore in shelf in the DGM Construction of full-fledged cadastre mining management system Website construction of MEM Website expansion of DGM Geological mapping with the scale of 1:50,000 and 1:100,000 covering the whole country using GIS should be carried out in a proposed capacity building project for eight years hiring temporal GIS, LAN and other specialists and new graduates. The construction of full-fledged cadastre mining

management system which is laid out in the action plan, should be followed up in the capacity development plan to help DGM staff establish sustainable management. Table 14 and 15 summarize general items of the IT improvement actions and general cost estimates in the action plan and in the capacity building plan projects. improvements in the action plan project will be about US$1,130,000. The total cost for IT

The following three items are fundamental preconditions to make sustained growth of IT in the DGM through many actions which will be conducted in the action plan and the capacity building plan. Devise measures to maintain employment of IT engineers Maintain hardware and software Setup of broadband infrastructure for Internet connection At the present time, shortage of IT engineers in government organizations and private companies is a common universal issue, and there is employment competition of IT engineers in a lot of fields. This situation also can be seen in GIS specialists of Lao PDR. On the other hand, it

needs long-term training to educate staff members of the DGM in the IT field. So, appropriate countermeasures might be required to protect headhunting of such skilled engineers after taking such long-term training. Closing an employment agreement with the staff members which constrains to

leave the present job for couple of years before taking the training, for instance as conducted in Department of Primary and Mines, Thailand, might be one of the solutions with corporation of private mining development companies. Even if the measure is taken, it would be hard to protect engineer against drainage to private companies. Setting up of a technical school of IT should be

also considered to expand the number of IT engineers in Lao PDR. The Moores law still alive in the IT world and rapid IT innovation is going on. This

means that obsolescence of IT is also very quick. In order to keep and rise the level of IT in the DGM, it is inevitable to maintain version-up of hardware and software and very important to take appropriate budgetary steps. In addition, it should be considered to avoid or shorten an

interregnum between projects in order to conduct continuous maintenance support.

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A delay of establishment of Internet line is a peculiar issue in developing countries, and this is an obstacle for performing ordinary tasks in the DGM. Nowadays broadband Internet

connection is a prerequisite condition in IT usage, which covers from e-mail usage, installation and registration of software, to information collection. Installation of DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)

would be one of realistic options in order to fulfill broadband Internet connection in the DGM.

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Table 14

General items of IT improvement in the "action plan" and "capacity development establishing plan" projects

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Table 15

Cost estimate for implementation of the IT improvement items conducted in the "action plan" projects

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Appendix

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Appendix 1

Contents of collected GIS datasets and integrated mineral resources database for Geo-science GIS database

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