The use of spatial data has still not been in line with the expectations. This seems clear when we see many cases related to the spatial. This condition is caused by spatial data management in areas that do not have the full technical mastery, thus Heru Setiadhie, the head of Local Government Agency in Central Java, said while opening a workshop of Spatial Data for the Enrichment of the Regional Competence, in Semarang (15/06/2010) .
Furthermore, Heru hoping to BAKOSURTANAL to provide information and knowledge about the further implementation of the management and utilization of spatial data, so it can be useful for people's welfare.
This expectation is aligned with the implementation of the workshop aimed for local agencies. This workshop is the result of cooperation between BAKOSURTANAL and Local Government Agency of Central Java, and followed by other Local Government Agencies of the counties and cities in the vicinity of Semarang, and other relevant agencies.
This Workshop is the first model for BAKOSURTANAL to make spatial data closer to the users. Previously, the workshop was designated for the teachers, but now it is more focused for the institutions that are direct practitioners in the field.
The material presented was very relevant to the problems faced by the local regions, such as Maps to Support Spatial submitted by Samsul Ma'arif, the lecturer of Diponegoro University. In his presentation Samsul presented the need of spatial planning in local areas as the implementation of Law Number 26 of 2007. Other speakers came from Bakosurtanal; they were Win Islamuddin Bale who explained on Surveying and Mapping Services of Bakosurtanal and Bambang Riadi who presented the Digital Data for Regional Planning.
The exposure was followed by a discussion between the presenters and participants. One intriguing question was about the area, whether spatial data issued by BAKOSURTANAL has become a reference for determining the administrative area of a district/regency or city, because the government uses the references based on BPS data, which are not the spatial data.
Answering this question, Bambang Riadi clarified that Topographic Maps of Indonesia are not the official reference for the boundary region. Boundary mapping is needed in particular areas held by the region with technical assistance from Bakosurtanal and supervision of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Bakosurtanal also admitted it is still a lot of 'homework' to be solved. However, everything must be based on the priority scale with all existing limitations. Looking ahead, Bakosurtanal also wants to further enhance the role of spatial data utilization for the welfare of the people.
by Agung Christianto
