Geographical Information Services (GIS)

​The Geographic Information Services (GIS)  is responsible for coordinating internal production processes, control over various classified/unclassified geographic information, aerial photographs and security of different geographic materials, further to keeping, storing, archiving and furnishing NSA with geographic information for its internal use as well as for MOD, civil ministries, other government for departments and consultants during their implementation to national projects. The GIS branch also engages in providing support to Production Branch through furnishing it with the source materials depending on its availability in the branch or via requesting some of these materials from other government bodies.

This branch is responsible for:

smallarrow.pngSupporting internal production

smallarrow.pngThe control of classified geographic information and aerial photography

smallarrow.pngThe security of geographic materials

smallarrow.pngThe storage and provision of geographic information for internal use and for use by the Ministry of Defence, other security forces and Civil Ministries and smallarrow.pngconsultants carrying out national projects.

smallarrow.pngThe branch is also responsible for establishing and maintaining broad databases of all geographic information under its custody, as well as the checking, approving and controlling the correct depiction of the Sultanate of Oman on all maps produced within the Sultanate and Atlases imported from abroad.

smallarrow.pngThe Branch encompasses the following sections

bigarrow.png Map DEPOT

It manages the following duties:.

smallarrow.pngKeeping and maintaining maps

smallarrow.pngKeeping and maintaining maps of war reserve

smallarrow.pngSupplying maps to various SAF units other security services

smallarrow.pngFurnishing civil maps to government ministries and contracted contractors and consultants per the NSA policy.


bigarrow.png Aerial Photo Archive (APA)

It carries out the following responsibilities:

smallarrow.pngKeeping and archiving aerial photographs

smallarrow.pngSupplying government ministries and their contracted contractors and consultants with aerial photos

smallarrow.pngCarrying out security review operations and approving the use of photos

smallarrow.pngProviding security observers during the aerial photography operation

smallarrow.pngIssuing No Objection Certificate for a number of airborne activities such as hot air ballooning, hang gliding and free descents using parachutes and light aircraft.

At present, all the hardcopy aerial photos are being scanned and then the principal point of each photograph is digitized and added into the database. Every single principal point in the database is assigned a hyperlink connected to the respective scanned aerial photograph stored in the database. The line joining all the principal points called a sortie line (flight line) is also digitized and stored in the database as shown in following snapshot.


bigarrow.png Geographic Place Name (GPN)

It carries out the following responsibilities:

smallarrow.pngEnsuring the correctness of geographic place names shown in every map

smallarrow.pngTransliteration of geographic place names by the use of the Arab Romanization system for converting Arabic names into English names (Latin)

smallarrow.pngConducting field visits for GPN collection

smallarrow.pngCoordinating with Ministry of Interior, governorates and Wali’s offices with regard to approval of GPN

smallarrow.pngEstablishing a database specific to geographic names.

At present, all the approved names are being converted into GIS format with the following additional information attached to them.

smallarrow.pngGPNs in English, Arabic and Diacritics

smallarrow.pngGovernorate and Wilayat details

smallarrow.pngUTM and Geographic Coordinates

smallarrow.pngScale, 1:50,000 sheet number, Source of GPN

smallarrow.pngApproval Status for Name and Coordinates

smallarrow.pngText Size categories for Wilayat, Niyabat, Admin Centers and Villages to show their hierarchy on Map

smallarrow.pngText Size categories for Major/Minor Wadis, Jabels etc.


bigarrow.png Geographic Materials Library (GML)

The GML is considered a national archive library for the Sultanate in the GIS field and is responsible for collecting and archiving geographic materials and its provision when requested. The library holds various types of materials and documents such as all types of maps, original reproduction materials, satellite images, aerial photographs and technical reports (border survey, survey reports, specifications etc.).

It carries out the following responsibilities:

smallarrow.pngReceiving, storing and providing geographic information

smallarrow.pngCompiling and organizing the requested source material package by the Production Branch

smallarrow.pngReviewing and approving maps before publication by any authority and ensuring the correct presentation of the Sultanate in imported maps prior to releasing them

Major Tasks

smallarrow.pngTechnical advice to NSA sections internally and to customers externally including various government and service departments and commercial companies working on government projects

smallarrow.pngCentral photocopying office to carry out photocopying, lamination and binding jobs for various documents and stationary coming from various Branches/Sections of NSA and other MOD departments.

smallarrow.pngCorrespondence and provision of technical advice in matters relating to the demarcation of international boundaries and administrative divisions

smallarrow.pngPreparation of all correspondence and procedures required for flight clearance for aerial photography requests received at NSA by Photo Archive.

smallarrow.pngClassification of maps of various scales under the supervision of Map Depot to be issued to various services and security organisations in accordance with map issue vouchers.