Maldives Land and Survey Authority (MLSA) has announced that shapefiles for the Maldives base map are now available for public use. It stated that the datasets can be downloaded by visiting the National Map of the Maldives website www.onemap.mv.
A shapefile is a simple, non-topological format for storing the geometric location and attribute information of geographic features, used for geographic information system software. Maps, charts, and other geographical information about the Maldives were previously only available in books and other hardcopy formats. However, the shapefiles will allow state institutions, private parties, and researchers to use accurate geographical information for research and planning, resource allocation, developing applications, and other work.
MLSA was established to centralise management of land Information and consolidate land research that was previously undertaken by different agencies of the government. The authority also has the mandate of regulating cadastral surveys, national mapping as well as establishing and managing the national geographic information system. MLSA is administered under the Ministry of National Planning and Infrastructure.