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

• June/July 2011

Lucky Msimanga

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

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

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)

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

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

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

DEMO

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

SOCIAL SERVICES– Demographics– Social/Welfare services distribution– Crime trends analysis– Diseases trends and causes – Education– Health– Etc.

A few examples of GIS applications

• 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

Natural resources management

– Water and Hydro-geologic resources– Minerals and geology– Oil reserves– Soil analysis (Suitability for different crops)– Wetlands resources

Environment, Conservation and wildlife

– Vegetation – Climate and weather– Environmental degradation– Pollution– National Parks– Endangered species analysis– Global change assessment– Biodiversity– Forestry – Wildlife habitat management

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.

Resource Management & MonitoringWater Consumption

Source: EThekwini Municipality

Settlement Planning and Disaster Management

FLOOD ZONE FLOOD ZONE

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.

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)

THANK YOU

• Contacts: Lucky Msimanga

Office of the Premier

015 287 6239

0823772227