GIS lessons for councillors

WARD councillors and City officials will be introduced to the intricacies of geographic information systems (GIS) at a symposium at the Johannesburg Zoo on Thursday, 17 November as part of this year’s International GIS Day events.

City officials will be introduced to GISCity officials will be introduced to GISThe vagueness of GIS will be demystified, and the officials will learn about the software and its uses under the theme “enerGISe your body, empower your mind”. Hosting the event will be the City’s corporate geo-informatics (CGIS) department.

City spokesperson, Gaynor Mashamaite, says the purpose of the day is to educate all role players about what GIS can offer ward councillors and how it can help councillors make use of map-related information in their daily duties in monitoring the status of their wards.

GIS is computer software that allows users to collect, manage and analyse large volumes of spatial information and associated data. Using it, they can perform geographic queries and analyse, create maps and do modeling, and identify spatial patterns and trends.

CGIS is in the development planning department, where it provides geographic feature maps and detailed information, including density, height zone, parking requirements, building lines, full area report and zoning certificates, on all Johannesburg properties.

Besides enabling the council to manage its city, information from CGIS has a number of uses for a number of organisations and individuals.

“The City’s geographic information system plays an indispensable role in supporting decision-makers in implementing and monitoring citywide plans,” says Mashamaite.

GIS will be made simpleGIS plays a big role in implementing citywide plansBecause municipal-owned entities make extensive use of GIS, she explains, there will also be an exhibition of the various ways in which GIS is applied. “International GIS Day is an annual global celebration where thousands of people around the world showcase the contribution GIS technology is making to their world.”

Departments and municipal-owned entities scheduled to attend the event include disaster management, in the emergency management services unit; Johannesburg Property Company; Joburg metro police; City Parks; City Power; environmental management; and Pikitup.

International GIS Day is observed annually in about 45 countries. In Johannesburg, activities will start at 8am. “The event will consist of presentations on how GIS is used within the City, a focus on the online maps website and ‘show and tell’ interactive activities,” Mashamaite says.

The City has a mapping system that allows it to monitor urban management in all seven of its regions, using GIS and global positioning system or GPS technology to log, track and trace breakdowns in service delivery, such as potholes that are unfilled and water and sewerage leaks.