History

The first Geographical Information System was created under ZEMP (Zoning and Environmental Management Project), a project implemented by the Royal Cambodian Government, The World Heritage Committee, UNESCO, UNDP and the Swedish SIDA.

The GIS of the Royal Angkor Foundation (RAF) was the first one targeting the Angkor site. This system was planned to be transfered to the new governmental authority for Angkor, called APSARA.

UNESCO initiated the project in response to the need of assessing the status of the Angkor computerized mapping system. In the mission report they evaluated the advantages of an implementation of GIS technology. Although Mr. Jean Poitevin worked out several details of the conversion from Microstation to SPANS MAP, the work has not been done.

In the beginning of 1995 RAF decided to begin a cooperation with the University of Sopron College for Surveying and Land Management (US CSLM), Department of Geoinformatics. After both participants signed a letter of understanding, Angkor GIS Center started its work in September 1995. The center is sponsored by RAF and US CSLM. Technical resources are provided by US CSLM, others are provided by the RAF.

The main task for the new center was to develop a GIS to manage the data collected from the Angkor site. There was no specification given for the new system. The goal was to develop a system which lets professionals access any data related to Angkor in an integrated way.

The work was started with the conversion of data from Microstation IGDS (.DGN) files to ARC/INFO. ARC/INFO seemed to be suitable for building a multipurpose GIS.

Second, the Government of Cambodia requested the cooperation of the Government of Japan for the production of a topographic map of the area in the northern and eastern section of Siemreap City where the Angkor ruins are mainly located. JICA responded by dispatching a preliminary study team in September 1996. APSARA was chosen as the Cambodian agency responsible for the project, and the Japanese Geographic Survey Department was chosen as the agency in charge of technical assistance.

In response to the request of the Royal Government of Cambodia, the Government of Japan has decided to conduct topographic mapping for the Angkor archaeological area in Siemreap region, in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations in force in Japan.

The objective of the study is to prepare topographic maps covering archaeological sites and their surrounding area for supporting restoration and conservation programs of Angkor archaeological monuments and infrastructure development plans surrounding Angkor archaeological sites.