| Strengthening
Geo-information Systems for Sustainable Development Modern GI technologies enable us to collect
and process data on land related phenomena, more effiently, more rapidly and at a fraction
of the cost of just few years ago
Geoinformation: yields
a quick and full perception of earth surface occurences provides the correlation between
objects and phenomena, and enable the measurement of space-time characteristics.
Geographic
Information Systems: is the tool that allow us to manage these data and information in
an integrated manner
GIS: what it is
and what it does
- It is more than an immense powerful
mapping system
- It is a tool for managing information
of any kind according to where it is located.
- links geographic locations with
information about those locations
- Keeps track of the spatial
relationships among them.
Thematic display
and queries (Socio-economic data): A GIS
Manipulates the data in its three
dimensions:
- spatial (shape, location)
- thematic, and temporal
organizes it in a way that the users
sees and handles it in a series of themes or layers.
The user can retrieve individual
elements and combine them according to any associations of graphic and non-graphic
attributes. Relational algebra, in particular Boolean operators, can be applied to the
data.
Geographic data an
information: a non-dissociable set
Data and information set of any
aspect of development is constituted by numerous subsets of data and information
pertaining to different sectors.
Food Security
- trade currency regulations
- exports vs. imports
- natural vegetation
- land use land potentiality
- technology in use
human settlements
- industrial development population
growth
- migrations
- land tenure systems etc etc etc
GIS [desktop]
systems today
- range from display only systems to
full-featured geographic information systems.
- thematic systems enable us to
create graphic displays using information stored in a spreadsheet or a database.
- are dynamic
Synthesis of
major examples of GIS application classes
| Sector |
Applications |
| Rural and
urban data management |
land
use programme
cadastre
networks and services
construction planning
... |
|
road layout
industrial plant
commercial centre
tourist resort
... |
| Transport assistance |
fleet
management
navigation assistance
road network
... |
Environmental
studies |
natural
resources inventories
pollution prevention
risk areas (earthquake,
floods, ... )
intervention or
evacuation plans |
Cartographic presentation
Military
applications |
economy
politics
population
promotion
...
... |
Activities
- Advisory services
- preparation and dissemination of
studies
- conducting surveys on appraisal of
needs and gaps
- liaising with regional service and
training centres
- cooperating with other UN sister
bodies and other international institutions
- organizing conferences, seminars and
workshops
- provision of specialized services to
ECA, required for its publications and research work
Development, maintenance and
management of geo-information systems for improved policy analysis and decision making.
(a) Technical material
(i) Digital Cartographic Inventory Atlas for Africa (continuous);
(ii) Establishment and maintenance of a database of mapping and baseline information in
Africa, including extent and coverage formats, technologies in use, etc. (continuous).
(b) Recurrent publications
Cartography and Remote Sensing Bulletin for Africa (one issue).
(c) Non-recurrent publications
(i) Mapping and spatial information systems: Proceedings of the ninth United
Nations Regional Cartographic Conference for Africa;
(ii) Status of mapping and spatial base-line information: A technical inventory.
(d) Information material and
services : Statistical wall charts, graphs, topical maps and posters for ECA
publications, displays and exhibitions.
(e) Advisory services: Advisory
services, on request, to member States and technical support to regional and subregional
organizations on the development and management of geo-information systems, such as the
Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Surveys (RECTAS), the Regional Centre for
Services in Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing (RCSSMRS), the African Organization for
Cartography and Remote Sensing (AOCRS), etc. |