GSDI

Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI)  Small Grants Program
As stated in its website, the GSDI Association is an inclusive organization of organizations, agencies, firms, and individuals from around the world. The purpose of the organization is to promote international cooperation and collaboration in support of local, national and international spatial data infrastructure developments that will allow nations to better address social, economic, and environmental issues of pressing importance.

Among its goals, GSDI supports the establishment and expansion of local, national, and regional spatial data infrastructures that are globally compatible and supports interdisciplinary training, education and research activities that advance spatial data infrastructure development. Both internal and external funds are used to support projects and programs that further these goals.

Since 2005 GISCorps has collaborated with the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Association (GSDI) in its Small Grants Program. In that year, Juna Papajorgji, a

GISCorps co-founder, initiated a partnership between GISCorps and GSDI and, as a result, GISCorps joined the Association’s Small Grants Program’s review team. Since then GISCorps has been identifying proposals that may benefit from having a GISCorps volunteer. Missions may be on-site or remotely accomplished at the volunteer’s location. Awards in professional services or in cash are for spatial data infrastructure or earth observation systems-related activities in economically disadvantaged nations. The partnership with the GISCorps has expanded the GSDI program to allow for a larger number of grant awards and for an increase in value of others. To date, GISCorps has participated in 2005/2006 and more recently in 2008/2009, 2010/2011, and 2011/2012 and 2014 projects. The past four years’ efforts have been spearheaded by Mark Salling, a GISCorps Core Committee member.