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11 th International Symposium for GIS and Computer Cartography for Coastal Zones ManagementFigure 1. Smart Atlas View Services. This example shows bathymetry and other features for Namibia.Implementation and useAs part of ODINAFRICA a series of national consultation meetings were held in order to determine userrequirements in relation to national and regional needs for coastal information systems and required data. Basedon the outcomes of this process the broad requirement parameters for national Atlases were put in place. Thetechnical developments of SmartAtlas itself took place on a phased basis during 2012. After each release theuser community tested the software and provided feedback to the developers on bugs found and improvementsto be made to enhance user interaction. This interaction was invaluable in ensuring mutual understandingbetween the developers and the users. Two workshops were held in Nairobi and one in Windhoek, Namibia withrepresentatives from the various national and regional atlases in order to demonstrate use of the software andcollect feedback during the hands-on implementation exercises. During these workshops folder layouts, legends,symbols and units were standardised. Hands-on training was provided on how to create mapfiles, including thecreation of complex legends and symbols to be used in the final atlas.Each new SmartAtlas version incorporated additional user requests to ensure a final product that was tailormade to the specific requirements of the users. During the development period some national and regionalatlases were presented by national atlas team leaders to the user communities to receive further feedback toensure a final product that caters to the needs of different users (e.g. managers, scientists, tourism operators). Asof May 2013 it is expected that at least 15 national and 4 regional atlases will be published. These will bepresented at a regional symposium and exhibition in Maputo, Mozambique, which will bring together a widerange of potential users. Furthermore the national teams will review their national atlases, with relevant nationalstakeholders and the feedback will be used to improve the atlases. Key stakeholders are providing concretesupport to Atlas sustainability. For example, the Benguela Current Commission has shown great interest and hasoffered to host the regional atlas once they have appropriate structures in place.DiscussionThe original African Marine Atlas project has demonstrated effective capacity building for marine datamanagement and product development in Africa through the training of a core group of GIS practitioners andhaving them develop atlas products. The project has also been effective at increasing access to data on theAfrican marine environment through the establishment of a spatial data service. An additional positive outcomehas been the networks and teams that have been built up through this work. This has allowed progress towardsthe development of national marine atlases which will provide higher resolution data applicable and relevant at a177