GIT Barents Project
In the GIT Barents project Russia, Finland, Sweden and Norway have established a joint geographic infrastructure in the Barents Region. From Lofoten Islands in the west to Ural Mountains in the east – across national, linguistic and cultural borders and within three different economic entities – a harmonised geographic database has been built.
In the Barents Region the need for Geographic Information (GI) is particularly large because of the unique conditions that characterize the region. This includes the unique properties of the Arctic ecological systems, the predicted magnitude of climatic changes in the circumpolar North, the existing threats to environmental safety, the welfare of the local and indigenous populations and the foreseeable risks of environmental degradation as posed by a potentially vigorous economic development in the Arctic. The Barents Region possesses an enormous wealth concerning natural resources; most of them are still unused – fish, ores, minerals, forests, water power and huge oil- and gas-fields.
The overall objective of the GIT Barents project is to produce homogeneous geographic information that can be used for all kind of planning and decision-making; communications, infrastructure, control of the environment, nuclear power supervision, cultural co-operation, technical, industrial and economic co-operation, tourism and even security interests. It will also be an important information source for educational institutions at all levels and for all who require a complete and comprehensive picture of and data about the Barents Region.
The project results
The project results include a homogenous geographic database covering the entire Barents Region at the scales of 1:1, 1:3 and 1:12 millions, built from existing national databases. An Internet-based infrastructure which allows for easy access and use of the information and – at the same time – allows for efficient up-dating and maintenance of the database close to its “data source”, i.e. from within each of the co-operating countries. Access to a variety of thematic information from data providers in different parts of the world, among others the Netherlands, USA, Sweden and Norway. Printed maps at the scales of 1:1 and 1:3 million.