The Geospatial Information Board (BIG) is an advisory body of ASIG and the Council of Ministers, aiming to establish the National Infrastructure of Geospatial Information in the Republic of Albania.

The creation of the Geospatial Information Board is specified in Article 10 of Law No. 72/2012 “On the Organization and Functioning of the National Infrastructure of Geospatial Information of the Republic of Albania.” The composition, organization, and functioning of the Geospatial Information Board (BIG) are determined by Order No. 40, dated February 20, 2020, issued by the Prime Minister, “On the composition, organization, and functioning of the Geospatial Information Board”, changed by  order  n0. 44, dated 28.03.2023.

The Board is chaired by the Director of the Deputy and  Prime Minister’s Office and includes the following members:

  1. General Director of the State Authority for Geospatial Information;
  2. General Director of the National Agency for the Society of Information;
  3. General Director of the National Agency for Territorial Planning;
  4. General Directorof the State Cadaster Agency;
  5. General Director of the Institute of Geography and Military Infrastructure;
  6. General Directorl of the Albanian Geological Survey;
  7. Representative of the Ministry of Finance and Economy;
  8. Representativeof the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;
  9. Representative of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment;
  10. Representativee of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy.

In the meetings of the Geospatial Information Board, the following are invited to participate:

  1. Head of the Department of Geodesy at the Faculty of Civil Engineering;
  2. Representatives of Municipal Associations;
  3. Representatives of the Geodetic Engineers Association, licensed;
  4. Representatives of public authorities responsible for geospatial information topics depending on the topic under discussion;
  5. Experts in various fields depending on the topic under discussion.

The scope of the Geospatial Information Board’s activities (BIG) includes advising and formulating opinions and proposals related to:

  • Development of national policy for geospatial information infrastructure;
  • Improvement and supplementation of existing legislation on geospatial information infrastructure;
  • Development and improvement of technology in the field of geospatial information;
  • Determination of other topics as per the provisions of this law;
  • Decisions of ASIG regarding the collection, processing, and/or updating of geospatial data by public authorities according to relevant topics;
  • Determination of state standards and uniform rules for the creation of geographic information systems for each topic;
  • Rules formulated by ASIG for the creation, updating, exchange, access, and use of geospatial data, geospatial services, and metadata; Rules formulated by ASIG for achieving interoperability;
  • Determination of conditions and standards related to the creation of a national GIS;
  • Determination of rules for access and exchange of geospatial information by public and private entities; Initiatives of public institutions in the field of geospatial information;
  • Determination of technical and administrative rules for the National Geoportal;
  • Any other issues related to geospatial information infrastructure.

The Geospatial Information Board exercises its activities in accordance with the internal regulation, “On the Organization and Functioning of the Geospatial Information Board,” approved by Order No. 40, dated February 20, 2020, of the Prime Minister, changed.