1. Course Announcement
www.kewi.or.ke
Dates:
18th August 2014 โ 23rd August 2014
Venue:
Kenya Water Institute (KEWI), Nairobi
GIS APPLICATION FOR INFORMATION MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACTS ASSESSMENT.
Conducted in English
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Background
Geographic information systems (GIS) refer to systems used for storing, retrieving,
analyzing, and displaying spatial data. Since their initial usage in the 1960s, GISs have
evolved as a means of assembling and analyzing diverse data pertaining to specific
geographical areas, with spatial locations of the data serving as the organizational basis for
the information systems. The structure of GISs is built around location identifiers and the
methods used to encode data for storage and manipulation.
Presently, Environmental impacts are assessed by different licensed organisations and
individuals for different developmental purposes. Examples are a situation where a school is
to be constructed; a borehole is to be sunk; a road or a dam is to be constructed, etc. Heaps
of documents are developed on the impact of the said developments and this information is
filed for legalisation and other official purposes. Unfortunately when different persons
perform environmental impact assessment the information received is fragmented and the
general impact of a whole area is very difficult to be assessed. Information Management
through the use of GIS is important for the reverse of this situation. If information is given a
spatial reference it is possible to defragment the information to be able to assess the impacts
resulting from various developments. Example is where an assessor is working on the
impacts of a sunken borehole. The minimum distance between two boreholes is 800 metres
radius but really an assessor or the receiving NEMA officer will not easily be able to tell how
many boreholes are within a location and their distances apart unless the previously assessed
boreholes were given spatial locations. Information management through GIS will help the
environmentalist make key decision about the environment creating data that can be
visualised spatially. It serves very well then, to enhance the capabilities of environmental
resources managers, and technical staff involved in environmental resources management to
capture spatial data, presently and in course of time by providing them with understanding
on the use of spatial information systems like GIS to assist in collecting environmental data
in an economical and efficient manner.
Application of GIS will help the environmentalist in
a. Screening and scoping and description of baseline conditions.
b. Defragmenting the various pieces of fragments that result from different organisations
and individual who carry out the task of environmental impacts assessment into one.
c. Monitoring and auditing of the impact of a development to the environment.
d. Assessment of risk area and the required mitigation and control measures.
e. Quantification of the impacts of developments on a location or a region.
f. Ease of visualisation of an extent which would otherwise not have been visualised with
the naked eyes.
g. Public participation and Consultations through visual presentations.
2. Justification
Environmental issues are often very complex and frequently require large amounts of diverse
data. Effective management of information on environmental impacts can be greatly aided
by methods which allow for timely and accurate data collection.
There is great need to utilize technology that enhances availability of information for
effective planning and management of environmental impacts. Conceptually environmental
impacts information on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) plays an important role in
assessment and management of Environmental Impacts. For this reason, therefore there is a
significant need to create knowledge among the environmentalists regarding the importance
of application of GIS for environmental impacts assessment.
Training Objectives
The course is designed to facilitate acquiring of hands-on skills in application of
Geographical Information System (GIS) in environmental impacts assessment, and learning
to work with spatial data and GIS tools as way data management to improve assessment,
monitoring and enforcement functions of Environmental management.
Specific Objectives:
The objective of this training is to help the participants:
1. Develop a GIS data manipulative skills using ArcGIS 10 and free QGIS.
2. Enter and display data into a GIS software.
3. Overlay data on a GIS platform.
4. Characterise environmental attributes.
5. Apply skills of data collection and modelling.
6. Create a query for the environmental attributes.
7. Compute summaries for the qualitative and quantities attributes of the
environmental data.
8. Utilize existing sources to exemplify EIAโs-related applications using GIS tools.
9. Develop a GIS environmental map.
Training Approach:
The training will be a combination of short lectures, practical exercises, group work and
discussion.
The training is supported with training dataset on GIS and practical exercises, structured so
as to incorporate participantsโ relevant experience and lessons application to their local
context. i
Target Trainees:
Environmental Scientists, Environmental Trainers, EIA Experts, Environment Officers
(Reviewers), County NEMA officers, Field Officers, GIS Officers.
Registration and Cost
The tuition cost of the course is Ksh 50,000.00 which will include refreshments and lunch.
Participants will cater for their own accommodation.
Ensure you register before Tuesday 29th July 2014 to enable planning for the course.
To register you send a request to the email below and you will be sent a registration link.
For more information contact:
Eric K Wamiti
dwamiti@gmail.com
0722477771
