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first published week of: 05/18/2015
The ability to map data has become essential for urban researchers and city managers worldwide. Geospatial technology, as this tool is known, was in its infancy 20 years ago when the United Nations’ last major cities summit took place. But as preparations for next year’s Habitat III conference go forward, the geospatial community expects to play a major role in helping the urban community understand the size, scale and scope of challenges in cities.
The issue is increasingly central to the current process to agree on a new global strategy around international development, particularly around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While the 17 draft SDGs and 169 related targets will likely be agreed upon at a special summit in September, the process to determine the monitoring framework for those goals and targets will continue at least until next March, when the U. N. Statistical Commission convenes. continued…