Description
The project is a response to the general lack of updated relevant geographic information in Romania. The objective of the project is to enhance the capacity of the project promoter to prepare geographic information needed for environmental monitoring and reporting, for integrated planning and for implementation of the EU Directive on harmonization and exchange of geographic information domestically and across national borders. National, regional and local authorities with activities related to nature conservation, protected areas management and environmental education; NGOs, R&D institutes, universities will benefit directly of the project result. It contains four main components: a) Production of a detailed Terrain Model, new maps and orthophotos for approx. 50,000 sqkm b) Development of a database of geographic names c) Equipment for safe storage and efficient distribution of geographic data d) Capacity building, transfer of knowledge and training for the building of a modern mapping authority The project contains also a strong component of institutional cooperation with Registers Iceland and the Norwegian Mapping Authority as project partners. This pilot project was strategically important for Romania, as the impact on the development of mapping will be very high.
Summary of project results
The project was a response to the general lack of updated relevant geographic information in Romania. The objective of the project was to strengthen the capacity of the Romanian Agency for Cadaster in relation to integrated planning and control and for the implementation of the EU Directive on harmonization and exchange of geographic information, domestically and across national borders. This pilot project was strategically important for Romania, as the impact on the development of mapping will be very high. The main results of the project until the end of December 2017 are: - 48,000 sqkm of orthophotos, 9,500 sqkm of high accuracy terrain model for flood risk areas and 23,000 sqkm of appropriate digital terrain model have been produced - a national database of geographical names was established and updated in accordance with INSPIRE rules and made available on the Internet through NACLR’s Geoportal; - equipment for safe storage, allowing to extend the capacity of the Romanian Agency for Cadaster to set-up a new disaster data recovery center; - 37 people within the Romanian Agency for Cadaster participated in 5 study visits and trainings organized for increasing education and exchange. The project contained a strong component of institutional cooperation with Registers Iceland and the Norwegian Mapping Authority as project partners. National, regional and local authorities, environmental NGOs, custodians of protected areas, R&D institutes and universities will benefit directly of the results of the project. All the planned results have been achieved by the end of the project, with the exception of the production of orthophotos and digital terrain models, which has been continued with the Project Promoter's own resources and is estimated to be finalized in the first part of 2018.
Summary of bilateral results
The two partners - Registers of Iceland and Norwegian Mapping Authority took part in the advisory board, to follow up the project progress and to contribute to the decision making in the project. Project partners have also contributed to the Project implementation with the followings: - Transfer of knowledge by training organized for NACLR personnel and help with overall project planning. Training sessions have been executed in Iceland and in Norway. Managers and experts from the two partner institutions had a significant presence with the project promoter in Bucharest; -development of technical specifications needed for procurement, participation to the evaluation of bids and establishment of contracts for the components 1 – 3 in the Project; - Participation to the quality control checks of deliveries in the Project. At programme level, two events financed from the bilateral fund were organized: 1. "Study visit to Iceland from 10 -14 November 2015" 2."Study visit - Danube Delta - 24-27 May 2017" The two events were attended by representatives of: Registers of Iceland, Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests, National Administration "Romanian Waters", Ministry of European Funds and National Agency for Cadastre and Land Registration, Registers of Iceland, Norwegian Mapping Authority, National Administration "Romanian Waters". The Programme was a key measures to strengthen bilateral relations while also achieving the overall objective of reduce economic and social disparities, contributing also to exchange of experience and capacity building both ways. The Fund for Bilateral Relations at programme level has been set to 206,875 Euros and has constituted an additional source of funding for bilateral cooperation initiatives to be implemented. A total amount of 59,297 Euros has been used by the beneficiaries during the programme implementation period, due to the very short period of implementation of the programme and the specificity of the activities related to the increase of the administrative capacity of the project promoter, based on training and study visit.