Overview of geospatial technologies in Rwanda

Satellite positioning systems, real-time traffic maps, ride hailing services ,and e-commerce… all of these applications are enabled by location-based – or “geospatial” – technology and information. Geospatial technology broadly includes mapping and surveying techniques, remote sensing, photogrammetry, cartography, Global Navigation Satellite Systems and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) With its unique ability for acquisition, integration and analysis of geographically referenced spatial information, this technology has in recent times been recognized as an effective tool for planning, management and decision making in Rwanda, across Africa and worldwide.
The major sectors using geospatial technology in Rwanda are:
Land use and land management, infrastructure in roads , electrical networks and water supply systems , in environmental management etc.
The geospatial technologies are broadly included in the vision 2050 of Rwanda , The development of National land use master plans , Kigali master plan , satellites cities and secondary cities for the vision up to 2050 reflect a concentration on proper planning ahead and integrate various infrastructure projects with big ideas. One most important pillar to achieve these objectives is the innovation brought in human capital development for the capacity building for the young generation and these have to be inclusive leaving no one behind in the knowledge of geospatial technologies and its optimum use being basic or advanced skills in Geographic Information Systems especially in land use planning .
With the main 4 drivers of the economy being the innovation , integration, agglomeration and competition as stipulated in the study by the ministry of finance in collaboration with the world bank.
The geospatial market comprises four identifiable components – data, software, hardware and services. Of these two segments, data and services have shown significant growth in Rwanda. The major Geographic Information System software providers are ESRI Rwanda as proprietary and QGIS as open source
Various initiatives and programs have been introduced to pave way for an assured future knowledge economy : these include the Rwanda Space Agency which was established in 2020.
The use of geospatial technologies start back in use of national cartography where theodolites and other traditional means were used , from the maps delineating the country boundaries produced back in the Berlin conference which regulated the European colonization.
Geospatial technologies regulations in Rwanda are favored by the general ICT policies which have a privilege's advantage in order to advance a knowledge based economy these are reflected in the tax exemptions on the geodetic equipment and other needed infrastructure in the field. the use of accurate measurement in land survey and plots subdivision is mandatory (less than 5 cm ) based on the geodetic network which covers the whole country. Major regulations governing the promotion of the use of geospatial technologies are :
National data reproduction policy
One of the pillars of the use of geospatial technologies is in the evolution from the academia , where most of the students acquired the knowledge and contributed in the promotion of these technologies in their various responsibilities across the public and private sector.
Private business and associations have actively started using geospatial technologies and definitely contributing to the capacity building in the field. among them :
The trends in the use of geospatial technologies are in various forms ,
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