Accuracy of Data Contained in the Afghanistan Infrastructure and Security Cartography System (AISCS)
Abstract
On January 29, 2013, I wrote to share the results of an analysis SIGAR conducted in conjunction with both the Criminal Investigation Task Force (CITF) and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) on the accuracy of data contained in the Afghanistan Infrastructure and Security Cartography System (AISCS). AISCS was developed by International Relief and Development, Inc. (IRD), a USAID contractor, as a web-based geospatial database intended to provide a comprehensive and accurate picture of infrastructure development in Afghanistan. Our letter noted problems with the datas accuracy and completeness, notably that the geographic coordinates for a number of the sites appear to be incorrect or could not be verified solely through geospatial means. In response to our letter, USAID directed IRD to conduct a review of the database, with particular focus on the 42 out of 227 sample records that NGA identified as having either incorrect or inconclusive coordinates in AISCS. In a March 9, 2013, letter, USAID provided SIGAR with the results of IRD's review. In summary, USAID's letter stated that IRD was subsequently able to locate 41 of the 42 schools using aerial imagery and site visit reports. Nine of these schools had coordinates that were incorrectly entered into the AISCS system. IRD located these schools and corrected the coordinates in the database. The one school IRD was unable to locate will need to be revisited to verify its correct geospatial coordinates as it was last visited in November 2007. While we commend USAID for responding promptly to our letter and for correcting the coordinates for nine of the schools, we continue to question the accuracy of AISCS for many of the structures NGA initially identified as having inaccurate or inconclusive coordinates.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 11, 2013
- Accession Number
- AD1140396
Entities
People
- John Sopko
Organizations
- Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction