Why we use GIS?

 ?Why we use GIS

One of the major benefits of GIS is that it provides a platform to integrate complex and diverse

information into a simple and illustrative format, a map. GIS facilitates the synthesis of project

information (data) into a mapping environment with complementary ancillary data sets such as

census information, demographics, livestock, studies performed by various organizations such as

the WFP or FAO, etc.                                               

A GIS can be used to do the following:

 Merges diverse data sources – project specific information, socio-economic, census,

statistical and spatial base data such as administrative boundaries, roads, cities,

infrastructure, etc.

 Manage critical data

 Inform the decision making process

 Reporting

 Analyzes data, illustrates trends, growth, and generates value added outputs.

 Develop, validate, integrate, analyze and disseminate data

 Reveals important spatial relationships that facilitate understanding.

 Provides a platform for project planning, monitoring, reporting and data sharing

 Visualizes and disseminates information.

USAID uses GIS as a tool to:

1. Facilitate field data collection (GPS) to add a spatial dimension to our program data

(activity locations, road data collection, agriculture fields, etc);

2. Predict Outcomes – using spatial analysis for scenario modeling we can demonstrate how

policy might impact land use change- GOANNA;

3. Plan Strategies – a strong analysis we can allocate project resources with sound rationale.

4. Monitor and Evaluate Project Impact – uses spatial analysis to monitor the success of its

alternative development program - Spatial analysis provides for project reporting,

monitoring and data access at various scales that gives USAID/Malawi a relative

advantage.

5. Derive New Information from Existing Data – Derivative mapping: We take existing

spatial information and add to it something new (knowledge of relationships between

database elements). For example, we can create a soil erosion potential map using

information on elevation, soils and rainfall, if we know the relationships between those

factors and the new map we are creating.

6. Informed Decision Making – we can incorporate multiple criteria evaluation and multiple

objective land use allocation models for decision support.

7. Visualization - Graphical Impact

In some instances people are reluctant to use GIS as there are many incorrect assumptions about

the technology. People are intimidated by GIS because they believe that GIS is an expensive and

technically complex tool that most people will not understand or be able to readily use.

The reality of GIS:

 GIS is affordable and does not have to require a large capital investment;

 GIS is about data and analysts not hardware or software;

 GIS facilitates the Integration, Analysis, Visualization and Dissemination of project

information;

 GIS provides transparency to clients, project staff and stakeholders through simple

applications; and

 The appropriate GIS response should be assessed for each program differently based

upon program needs and applied in a responsive manner.

Source: Geographic Information Systems Training Module I through 4 ( book )