GIS: A tool for proper planning and informed decision-making

1. GIS: A tool for proper planning and informed decision-making • June/July 2011 Lucky Msimanga

2. Presentation Outline • Purpose of the presentation • Defining GIS • Practical Demo • Components of GIS • Benefits of using GIS in the Public Service • Examples of general GIS applications at municipal level • Implementation process • Conclusion • Recommendations

3. Purpose • To share with honourable mayors and councilors the strategic importance of GIS in a municipality • To appeal to honourable mayors and councilors to assist and ensure that their municipalities have strong GIS capacity

5. Why GIS and Planning? • Need for government/municipalities to deliver services • Proper planning is a pre-condition • Use the right tools • GIS IS THE TOOL FOR EFFECTIVE PLANNING • Why GIS is important for planning? • Know and understand our people (Development is about people)

6. Knowing and understanding our people • Who they are (Age, Race, Religion, Gender, Culture, etc.) • Where they live (Location/space, and numbers) • How they live (Living conditions, e.g. food, housing, water, health, education, etc.) • Identify what they need, i.e. gaps • Address their needs

7. Defining GISGeographic Information System • Geography – Space (Importance of space as a denominator for all government activities) • Information – Data and its meaning • Information about people is key • System – Electronic tool to help analyze space and data, thus identifying gaps with ease GIS IS A PLANNING TOOL

8. GIS • A computer-based/electronic tool for planning and decision-making by portraying and analyzing features and events that happen on earth. • Uses the power of visualization for easy understanding of one’s environment

9. DEMO

10. Components of GIS • Hardware – PC, Severs, etc. • Software – Intelligence, analysis of data • People – Skill, knowledge and experience • Data – Attributes of features or events on earth surface

11. A few examples of GIS applications SOCIAL SERVICES • Demographics • Social/Welfare services distribution • Crime trends analysis • Diseases trends and causes • Education • Health • Etc.

12. Economic and Infrastructure development • Employment and wage statistics • Economic sectors’ analysis • Utility rate and consumption patterns • Production capital assessment • Infrastructure provision and access analysis. • Transport planning

13. Natural resources management • Water and Hydro-geologic resources • Minerals and geology • Oil reserves • Soil analysis (Suitability for different crops) • Wetlands resources

14. Environment, Conservation and wildlife • Vegetation • Climate and weather • Environmental degradation • Pollution • National Parks • Endangered species analysis • Global change assessment • Biodiversity • Forestry • Wildlife habitat management

15. GIS at municipal level • Water reticulation • Refuse removal • Utility rate and consumption patterns • Rates and taxes management • Technical installations • Roads and streets management • Land use planning and management • Infrastructure planning • Settlement planning • Disaster management • IDP and SDF FORMULATION • Etc.

16. Resource Management & Monitoring Water Consumption Source: EThekwini Municipality

17. Settlement Planning and Disaster Management FLOOD ZONE

18. Conclusion • GIS – Essential tool for planning and informed decision-making • GIS can leverage and support Municipal efficiency • Success in GIS usage depends on: • Clear understanding and appreciation of importance of using GIS as a planning tool for effective public service delivery.

19. Recommendations • All municipalities must have GIS capacity • Municipal Councilors must assist their municipalities to have GIS • GIS capacity means: • Hardware • Software • Data • Qualified staff (Key to GIS success)

20. THANK YOU • Contacts: Lucky Msimanga Office of the Premier 015 287 6239 0823772227