10-year Singapore Geospatial Master Plan outlines key land and maritime initiatives for geospatial enabled outcomes to improve lives and enable solutions to complex urban challenges - Annex A-C

ANNEX A

Welcome Remarks by Mr Yeoh Oon Jin, Chairman, Singapore Land Authority at the Opening of Geo Connect Asia at Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore on 6 March 2024 (Wednesday)

Introduction

1.             A very good morning to:

a)            Our Guest-of-Honour, Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law;

b)            Associate Professor Gan Wee Hoe, Chief Executive Officer, SingHealth Community Hospitals;

c)             Dr Tan Weng Mooi, Director (Integrated Health Promotion), MOH Office for Healthcare Transformation (MOHT);

d)            Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

2.             Welcome to the opening of the Geo Connect Asia 2024. To our international guests, thank you for coming to Singapore to attend the conference. We have an exciting line-up of events over the next 2 days, and I trust you will find the programme relevant and insightful.

Integration of Geospatial in Businesses

3.             As many of you are aware, geospatial is driving significant economic growth and innovation globally. According to a report by the Market Research Future, the global geospatial market is projected to exceed 200 billion USD by 2030. Yet, there remains immense untapped potential in leveraging geospatial to support social and economic development across cities and nations.

4.             We see a growing trend of geospatial data and technology being integrated with various industries. Businesses are increasingly using geospatial insights for strategic decision-making, including conducting localised market analysis and optimising logistics.

5.             As the national geospatial and mapping agency, the Singapore Land Authority collaborates with many industry partners to explore ways to enhance their use of geospatial technology. Last year, SLA signed a MOU with the Container Depot and Logistics Association (Singapore), or CDAS, to improve routing for heavy vehicles using geospatial data such as road conditions and restrictions.

6.             I am pleased to announce that we have completed the development of the routing API, which CDAS’ member companies can now easily utilise to route their heavy vehicles more efficiently and safely. We remain committed to expanding our partnerships and mainstreaming geospatial in businesses.

Synergies between Geospatial and Artificial Intelligence               

7.             Looking ahead, we are currently exploring how to synergize geospatial with the latest technology wave – Generative AI. By combining geospatial with AI, could we uncover previously undiscovered insights, and unlock transformative capabilities?

8.             To jumpstart this discovery journey, SLA launched the OneMap GPT challenge with the Infocomm Media Development Authority last year. OneMap, Singapore’s authoritative map, provides detailed and authoritative information to our citizens and businesses. Through this challenge, we are exploring ways to leverage Large Language Models, such as GPT, to enhance OneMap’s usefulness and relevance to the daily lives of Singaporeans.

9.             We were very heartened to receive a total of 41 entries for this challenge, and we will be sharing more about the winning entry later today. I am eager to see how we can further leverage generative AI and geospatial to push technological boundaries to better serve Singaporeans. 

Nurturing Geospatial Talents

10.          To meet the growing demand for geospatial expertise, it is crucial to nurture our pool of geospatial talents, starting from young.

11.          In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, geospatial technology providers and surveyors, we initiated our inaugural Map Our World programme in November last year. The programme aims to spark students’ interests in map-making, through a challenge that encourages them to come with up maps to support sustainability causes. It also offers students a taste of life as a working professional via job shadowing with surveying and geospatial firms.

12.          We have also organised four editions of the annual ASEAN Geospatial Challenge, where tertiary students develop geospatial solutions to address the United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goals. This year, we have received 49 entries from four ASEAN countries, namely Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Singapore.

13.          The innovation and creativity displayed by students continue to inspire us. We are delighted to announce the winners of both the Map Our World programme and the ASEAN Geospatial Challenge during the Awards Ceremony tomorrow.

Closing

14.          I trust that my remarks have offered you a glimpse into what is achievable and the exciting prospects that lie ahead. I encourage each of you to take full advantage of this conference to cultivate partnerships, explore new possibilities, and seize the opportunities ahead.

15.          With that, I wish everyone an enriching conference. Thank you.

ANNEX B

(i)             Memorandum of Understanding between SLA and SingHealth Community Hospitals

Objective

To strengthen the partnership in leveraging geospatial technology for healthcare, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Mr Colin Low, Chief Executive of SLA and Associate Professor Gan Wee Hoe, Chief Executive Officer, SingHealth Community Hospitals on 6 March 2024 at Geo Connect Asia 2024. Witnessed by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law, Mr Edwin Tong, the MoU will foster closer collaborations between both organisations in developing spatial analysis capabilities to improve decision-making in healthcare and advance population health.

One such project that SLA and SCH are working on is the co-development of a living asset map portal on community assets (piloting with the Sengkang precinct) to support social prescribing. Social prescribing connects people with a range of non-medical services in the community to improve their health and wellbeing. These assets include community groups that forge social connections, activity-based groups that promote health-social integration, and silver volunteerism groups to engender the purposeful engagement of seniors.

Demarcated Area of Living Asset Map Portal 

North-East Target Area of the Living Asset Map Portal

Outcome

Mapping the proximity of these activities according to personalised interests allows individuals to conveniently take an active role in managing their own health and wellbeing.

This digital platform aggregates geospatial and community-based data to support referrals that connect patients with health-promoting assets and resources with the aim of empowering individuals to take charge, manage and improve their health and wellbeing.

Photograph of MoU signing

Mr Colin Low, Chief Executive of SLA (right), and Associate Professor Gan Wee Hoe, Chief Executive Officer of SingHealth Community Hospitals (left), signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a Living Asset Map Portal for social prescribing. The signing was witnessed by Mr Edwin Tong (centre), Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law.

Quote

“The living asset map portal using geospatial technology is an important enabler for social prescribing. As a controlled, crowd-sourcing platform, it will enable community partners and healthcare providers to contribute real-time information on community assets that patients can be connected with for seamless continuation of their social prescriptions after discharge from hospitals. With a view of community assets near their place of residence, patients will also be empowered to exercise their decision, take action, and achieve better outcomes in health and wellbeing. SingHealth Community Hospitals is honoured to partner the Singapore Land Authority on this digital transformation journey."

- Associate Professor Gan Wee Hoe, Chief Executive Officer, SingHealth Community Hospitals

(ii)           Memorandum of Understanding with MOHT

Objective

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Mr Colin Low, Chief Executive of SLA and Dr Tan Weng Mooi, Director (Integrated Health Promotion), MOHT to kickstart the development of a one-stop e-directory with consolidated information on health and social service providers in several more precincts.

SLA will collaborate with MOHT to expand the Digital Local Connect (DLC) network, launched in December 2023, to cover other regions beyond the first DLC which was developed for Yio Chu Kang and launched in December 2023. Five other areas are currently being considered.

Outcome

The Digital Local Connect will serve as a localised e-directory for grassroots leaders, volunteers, community partners and general practitioners to guide residents to relevant support services, community programmes and training resources according to specific needs.

Photograph of MoU signing

Mr Colin Low, Chief Executive of SLA (right), and Dr Tan Weng Mooi, Director (Integrated Health Promotion) of MOHT (left), signed a Memorandum of Understanding to expand the Digital Local Connect Network. The signing was witnessed by Mr Edwin Tong (centre), Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law.

Quote

“Developed together with precinct leaders and community partners, DLC is a one-stop e-directory with consolidated information on health and social service providers in the precinct. Grassroots leaders, volunteers, community partners and general practitioners can leverage DLC to signpost residents to relevant support services and resources in their neighbourhood. This user-friendly platform supports collaboration and sharing of information among the partners to better service the community. Following the launch of DLC in Yio Chu Kang in December last year, MOHT is pleased to continue our partnership with SLA to harness geospatial and location technology to support social and healthcare services, to improve the coordination and support to residents, and help them better access and navigate care.”

     -    Dr Tan Weng Mooi, Director (Integrated Health Promotion), MOHT

ANNEX C

Screenshots of the barrier free access function on OneMap

Table 1 – Areas where barrier-free access routes have been mapped

1.       Bukit Merah

2.       Ang Mo Kio

3.       Orchard

4.       River Valley

5.       Marina South (including Gardens by the Bay)

6.       Museum District

7.       Punggol

8.       Singapore River

9.       Tanglin