Agency: Bhutan launched its first National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), a centralised digital platform providing accurate, standardised maps and geospatial data to all government agencies, private stakeholders, and the public.
Unveiled by Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay and supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the NSDI is designed to prevent costly mistakes caused by scattered and unreliable data.
Past planning setbacks, such as the Nu 2 billion relocation of Jigmeling Industrial Park in Sarpang and the dismantling of homes and a school in Pema Gatshel for gypsum mining, highlight the urgent need for such a system. The platform integrates land use zoning, road networks, schools, health centers, and other vital data, supported by advanced mapping tools, UAV drone imagery, and national geospatial standards. Officials say it will improve planning, disaster preparedness, and resource management while supporting Bhutan’s 10x Economic Roadmap and the vision for Gelephu Mindfulness City.