Saba to Start Using Aerial Photographs
Last December, aerial photographs and elevation measurements of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba were made available online in the Data Room Caribbean Netherlands. This significant step aims to enhance the digital society in the Caribbean Netherlands. It marks the first time that visual materials of the islands can be accessed through a data viewer. On Saba, the Department of Infrastructure and Spatial Planning is investigating the most effective ways to utilise this imagery in the island’s geographical maps.
Making the geo-data of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba available online is an efficient improvement that enhances public services. We spoke with Zelda Meeuwsen, the head of Infrastructure & Spatial Planning on Saba, about the impact this will have on the island. She stated, “The Public Entity of Saba (Openbare Lichaam Saba in Dutch, abbreviated OLS) has many responsibilities. Our department is tasked with preparing and overseeing the execution of infrastructural projects, which include the maintenance and management of roads and public buildings. Additionally, we develop policies on affordable housing, manage planning permission applications, and work on a development plan that Saba currently lacks. Quality mapping materials are essential for carrying out all these tasks.”
Who will be using the geo-data?
The department is developing a Geographic Information System (GIS) that integrates data from various sources. Zelda explains, “We are creating a basemap that includes aerial photography, elevation data, contours, and existing information about the island’s infrastructure. This Basemap will serve as the foundation for additional information that we will supplement over the coming months with our data and other sources. This initiative will support our work and the efforts of other departments and organisations,” Zelda says. Organisations like the Conservation Foundation will be able to use the data immediately to monitor nature, for instance. The data is valuable for identifying high-risk areas that emerge after heavy rainfall and developing a stormwater management plan (SWMP). Although this information may not be readily visible to citizens, publications like planning permits will become more understandable. Once we have integrated all the data, we can create detailed maps with specific information, such as monument charts. This will enable us to communicate more effectively with the community.
Keeping the data up to date
On keeping the data current, Zelda says: “Aerial photographs and local observations enable us to document construction activities effectively. Regular imagery updates also support environmental research, particularly in monitoring roadside erosion caused by climate change, which can lead to landslides and rockslides. High-quality mapping materials will help us identify problem areas and implement appropriate mitigation measures, such as constructing retaining walls or planting trees to reduce risks.”
Address registry
The data also contributes to the potential establishment of a central registry for addresses and buildings, known in Dutch as Basisregistratie Adressen en Gebouwen (abbreviated as BAG). There is no BAG for the islands, but the feasibility of creating a basic registration system is being explored. “Conducting an inventory of buildings would be a crucial first step. How many buildings do we have, and what are their uses? This assessment will also enhance our understanding of the number of dwellings, the housing needs, and the types of houses that should be developed. Reliable foundational data is essential for this purpose.”
More efficient collaboration
Aerial photography and elevation measurements will enhance both efficiency and collaboration. Zelda explains, “Previously, we all maintained separate records. For example, the Saba Electric Company had its map, and while we had some data, we lacked a comprehensive overview of addresses. By integrating aerial photos, elevation measurements, and other existing data, we can obtain a complete picture of various important physical characteristics of the sites. This will be beneficial for our development projects. For instance, we can more easily locate pipelines during road expansion work, reducing the risk of damage during construction. Since Saba is small, many issues tend to resolve themselves due to the close lines of communication between different organisations. However, we can identify potential problems in advance with a clearer overview, leading to greater efficiency and reduced research costs.”
Knowledge exchange using GIS systems
There are some challenges to address. For instance, Zelda points out the need for support and knowledge exchange when using these systems: “We are gaining knowledge about GIS ourselves. However, training and support would help us work more efficiently with the mapping materials. Two colleagues are currently exploring this, but they have found converting raw data into usable datasets challenging. Collaboration with specialists and a training program are essential. Once we master this, we’ll be able to involve other departments.” In conclusion, Zelda emphasises that the imagery has provided some surprising insights: “With aerial photography, we can view hard-to-access areas and discover new features, such as vast open spaces, unusual plants, or unidentified structures. We see the island from new perspectives, which enhances our understanding of the site.”
Everyone is welcome to participate:
Files on this theme
BAG
The Key register Addresses and Buildings (in Dutch: Basisregistratie Adressen en Gebouwen, BAG) contains municipal basic data of all addresses and buildings inside the municipality. Copies of these data are collected in a National Facility (Landelijke Voorziening, BAG LV). The Dutch land registration organisation Kadaster manages the BAG LV, and provides data to public offices, institutions, companies, and private citizens. The Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations is responsible for the BAG system.
Base registries
There are 10 base registers. Base registers have been officially instated by the government as the mandatory data registration sources for all governmental institutions when executing their public duties. Their application varies: from the turning out of emergency response services, and the efficient determination of a claim on benefits, to the appraisal of a license application. The citizen’s privacy is guaranteed when these data are used.
BGT
The Key register Large-scale Topography (in Dutch: Basisregistratie Grootschalige Topografie, BGT) is a digital map of the Netherlands, which records buildings, roads, waterways, land, and railway lines in a uniform way. The map is accurate up to 20 centimeters and contains many details, just as you would see in reality. In short, it documents the spatial organization of our physical surroundings: trees, roads, buildings.
BRI
The Key register Income (Basisregistratie Inkomen, BRI) contains the total income or taxable annual income of everybody who files an income tax return. Government organisations use the BRI to determine supplements, subsidies, or benefits. The income registered in the BRI is called the registered income. You can view your registered income (of the previous year) on MijnOverheid (MyGovernment).
BRK
The Key register Kadaster (Basisregistratie Kadaster, BRK) consists of the cadastral registration and the cadastral map (Kadastrale Kaart). The cadastral data are used by many clients as the foundation for their own work processes. In that sense, the Kadaster has been a key register for a long time. The Kadaster’s products remain available through MijnKadaster and the other channels. Direct links to other key registers will enable incorporation of the data of other registers into the cadastral register and products.
BRO
The Key register Subsoil (Basisregistratie Ondergrond, BRO) is to become the central database containing all public data on the Dutch subsoil. The BRO Act, which came into effect on 1 January 2018, requires that source data owners provide and use soil and underground data in a digital form. The requirements will be expanded step by step in the next 4 years. The data in this key register have been validated and are of importance for activities like fresh water procurement, underground transport, and mineral mining, but also for activities on the surface, like energy transition, housing construction, and infrastructural projects.
BRP
The Key register Persons (Basisregistratie Personen, BRP) is the key register for personal data within the key register system. The Dutch government uses the data recorded in the BRP. Amongst other things, these are: name, date and place of birth, address, and familial relations. Other organizations also use the BRP data, for instance pension funds and research institutions.
BRT
The Key register Topography (Basisregistratie Topgrafie, BRT) consists of digital topographic files on different scale levels (scale: 1:10.000, 1:50.000, 1:100.000, 1:250.000, 1:500.000, and 1:1.000.000). The Netherlands Cadastre or Kadaster manages the BRT. This collection of topographic files is available as open data. This means that the Kadaster makes these data files available free of charge, and subject to minimal delivery conditions.
BRV
The Key register Vehicles (Basisregistratie Voertuigen, BRV) lists data of vehicles, vehicle registration documents, and persons to whom the vehicle registration document was assigned. The Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW, Dienst Wegverkeer) provides information from the register to authorities, citizens, and businesses.
Citizen Service Number Management Facility (BV BSN)
The Citizen Service Number Management Facility (BV BSN) encompasses the set of provisions responsible for managing the Citizen Service Number (BSN). Organisations that utilise the BSN, such as municipalities or other government agencies, can access the BV BSN. Core functions of the Citizen Service Number Management Facility Number generator for issuing Citizen Service Numbers: The BV BSN generates Citizen Service Numbers and allocates them to municipalities. Number register for recording Citizen Service Numbers: The BV BSN's number register logs which municipality a BSN is assigned to and the issuance date of the BSN. It also tracks the status and history of the BSN. Presence queries: By initiating presence queries, municipalities can prevent the assignment of multiple numbers to a single individual. Verification queries: These are used to validate the accuracy and authenticity of the BSNs and associated data.
Digikoppeling
Digikoppeling (‘Digilink’) consists of standards for interfaces, containing agreements for the exchange of messages between authorities. One Digikoppeling implementation in an IT-environment enables you to exchange messages with all authorities, and to join nearly all eOverheidbouwsstenen (e-Government Building Blocks), for instance the key registers. Governmental as well as private organisations that perform a public task can use Digikoppeling.
Digilevering
Digilevering (‘Digidelivery’) is one of the system services. Digilevering distributes up-to-date and accurate key register data to key register clients in the shape of event messages, for instance relocation of a company, the birth of a person, or a change in somebody’s income. Each receiving organization is responsible for determining which data are relevant.
Digimelding
The information stored in key registers has to be up-to-date and reliable. One of the tools used to guarantee the quality of the key registers is Digimelding (‘Diginotification’), which enables users to ‘report back’. All users of the key registers have a legal duty to report any data that they know could be wrong. Reporting back contributes to efficient operations management within the government, improves the level of service, and increases the opportunities to fight fraud.
HR
The Trade Register (Handelsregister, HR) is the base register containing all businesses and legal entities. All other economic actors are also listed in this register. This guarantees legal security when doing business. All government bodies will we required to make use of this register. For instance, a municipality will have to consult the Trade Register when searching for a company’s details.
NORA
The purpose of the Netherlands Government Reference Architecture (Nederlandse Overheid Referentie Architectuur, NORA) is to be a guiding and driving tool. It contains frameworks and existing agreements for the lay-out of the Dutch governmental information management system. Realising services within the scope of these frameworks and agreements ensures smooth cooperation with other services, and optimal re-use of existing solutions.
System Catalogue
Data from the key registers form the axis for multiple use of data within the government. The System Catalogue makes visible which data the Key register System contains, what they mean, and how they are interconnected. The System Catalogue is targeted to inform policy makers and legislation lawyers.
System services
The smart exchange of data from the System of Key registers enables the government to operate more efficiently and to improve its service. Four System service support the key registers in their aim to disclose their catalogue of products and services to users in a uniform way. The System of Key registers identifies the following System services: Digikoppeling Digimelding Digilevering Stelselcatalogus.
WOZ
The data collection for the Key register WOZ (Waardebepaling Onroerende Zaken, or Valuation of Immovable Property) consists of several data, needed to relate this value both to an immovable property and to a stakeholder. These are: “Established value”(WOZ value), a BAG-listed address, and a link to cadastral parcels and/or addresses, and to BAG dwellings, stations, berths, and/or objects.
