Geography plays a vital part in our everyday lives because many things happen in locations around us even when we are not paying attention. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a type of software that captures geographic data which can then be manipulated, viewed and analysed in a desired context. It generally involves compiling information in a database about geographic features such as roads, buildings, rivers, etc. from maps, aerial photos and people. GIS helps us to understand the geography around us and our interactions with the environment. Though we may not always be aware, our daily lives rely heavily on GIS.
Every year, on the third Wednesday of November,Geographic Information Systems (GIS) users around the world unite to celebrate the real-world applications of GIS. This special day falls within the Geography Awareness week of the National Geographic Society. This international forum was first held in 1999 and was founded by ESRI, a GIS company. Indeed GIS applications have benefitted many aspects of society and GIS Day presents a fun day to: celebrate GIS with everyone; discover and explore the benefits of GIS; showcase the uses of GIS; and build and nurture GIS communities.
GIS is no longer an application familiar only to cartographers. Over the years, GIS technology has become much cheaper and offers new and exciting possibilities in a range of disciplines.Some popular applications of GIS include disaster management, crime statistics, archaeology, urban and rural development, health/ medical resource management, and transport. GIS is also a valuable tool to environment agencies and professionals. As such, it is usually a core module in environmental science education. It can provide several cues and analyses including the prediction of new oil pockets based on existing survey data, landscape features, identification of resources, sources of pollution and trends, environmental impact assessments, and geographic distribution of biodiversity including endangered plants and animal life.
GIS technology also supports many of the functions of the EPA. GIS data allows the EPA to manage reports of pollution to see where it is occurring and the sources. It also helps us to map complaints to respective areas and identify key areas for intervention. We can also analyse the distribution of permitted and non-permitted operations, protected areas management systems, coastal zone resources and activities, and other important features of environmental management.
This year GIS day is on Wednesday, November 16 and will be celebrated under the theme ‘Discovering the World through GIS.’
Share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O EIT Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com or you can contact the Agency on 225-5467-9.