Down to Earth Geographic Information for Sustainable Development in Africa (2002) / Chapter Skim
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7 GIS-Based Decision Support Systems in Africa
7 GIS-Based Decision Support Systems in Africa
Pages 104-113
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From page 104... ...
The Value of Spatial Decision-Support Systems The action of accumulating data is in itself insufficient to assess and manage the complex process of sustainable development and its broad implications for the environmental, economic, health, and social issues that confront policy-makers and citizens. Capacity is needed to evaluate natural resources and environmental change in a strategic planning context, primarily through analysis or forecasting of change with models that are sensitive to policy options.
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From page 105... ...
A critical feature of a spatial decision-support system is its emphasis on linking data with analysis tools. Some analyses use spatial analysis functions often referred to as GIS modeling in which several data layers are merged to create a new synthetic layer.
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From page 106... ...
This analysis involves the "electronic stacking" of spatial data (e.g., human population, land cover, soils, hydrology) as layers on "top" of each other so that the geographic position within each layer is precisely registered to all the other data layers in the database (Figure 1-2~.
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From page 107... ...
FEWS provides rapid decision support at localized scales using direct observations. Similar observations can be made for drought and fire risk; for example, the Miombo Network (Chapter 3)
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From page 108... ...
Many policy decisions require spatial data and analysis of overlapping sets of data layers. Necessary data analysis includes computer functions that merge various layers to produce a synthetic layer.
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From page 109... ...
4. A Regional Example The Livestock Early Warning System Food security and famine in East Africa are related to weather variation, expanding human populations, political instability, and changing patterns of land use and land tenure.
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From page 110... ...
Communication within conservancies and externally to neighbors, partners, donors, and potential investors . FIGURE 7-1 Paper maps used in decision support in Namibia (Source: Jo Tagg, Namibia Nature Foundation)
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From page 111... ...
Hence, decision support in the area of land cover (Chapter 6) will be one of the more fruitful application areas of geographic data and tools.
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From page 112... ...
All African countries should establish national geographic information policies that address key issues and problems related to how this information is developed, accessed, and used. Some principal issues and problems include: how to enhance access to information and information sharing; setting the rules that determine standards and protocols for data collection, storage, labeling, and integration; data ownership; confidentiality and privacy; and copyright protection.
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From page 113... ...
Nonetheless, there are demonstrations of the value of decision-support tools in the African context such as the continent-wide MARA and FEWS NET programs, the Miombo Network in southern Africa, the Livestock Early Warning System in East Africa, and the Community Based Natural Resources Management program in Namibia. Presently, there is a limited commercial market for geographic information, services, and technologies in Africa, but the need for spatial decision-support systems and demand is likely to grow.
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