GIS: More than just a place on a map

You might not know it, but you’re already a global citizen, and geography is a part of your everyday life.

Geography is more than maps. It is about knowing what’s where, why it’s there and why it matters. In other words, geography opens doors.

One of the hottest fields today is Geographic Information Systems (GIS) which uses computers and software to leverage the fundamental principle of geography – that location is important in people’s lives. “It helps a retail business locate the best place for its next store and environmental agencies to track environmental degradation. It can even help route delivery trucks and manage road paving. It helps marketers find new prospects and farmers increase production and manage their land more efficiently,” says Environmental Science Division (EMSO) manager , Eddie Appathurai.

“What makes this software special is that it not only shows information, it allows you to understand, question, interpret and visualize your data in ways simply not possible in the rows and columns of a spreadsheet,” says GIS/RS Specialist, Environmental Science Division, EMSO Ltd., Nadika D. Senadheera. “It helps to integrate data in various formats and from many sources.”

To raise awareness on the importance of GIS, the Environmental Science Division of EMSO Ltd, the authorized distributor in Sri Lanka for the Environmental Systems Research Institute Inc., Redland California will hold an exhibition on November 15 at the British School in Colombo. GIS Day is a global event, and this is the first time it is being marked in Sri Lanka.

GIS Day provides an opportunity for those curious about GIS to see its applications in action. ‘The ability to see geographic features on a map gives users a better understanding of a particular location, enabling planners, analysts and others to make informed decisions about their communities, said Mr. Appathurai. He also explained that GIS is used throughout the world to solve problems related to the environment, healthcare, land use, business efficiency, education and public safety.

“Most recently we have seen how GIS technology can be used to aid disaster management in tsunamis, cyclones, floods and terrorist activities. This method was used by Homeland Security Initiatives to map out the debris field following the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy and monitor the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS),” says Mr. Appathurai.

EMSO Ltd. introduced this powerful technology to Sri Lanka over 15 years ago and now supports many Government, non-government, UN organizations, research institutions and universities to use GIS technology effectively for better planning and increased productivity, says Mr. Appathurai.

A distinguished panel including A.L.S.C. Perera, Superintendent of Surveys (GIS), Survey Department of Sri Lanka; Dr. A.J. Sathrasinghe, Deputy Director of Census & Statistics; Dr. P.S. Kariyawasam, Chief Medical Officer of Health at the Public Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council; Dr P. Thenkabell, Principal researcher and head of the RS GIS unit and S. Jayatilaka, GIS Consultant will share their experiences on how GIS impacted in their areas of focus and work.

For more details contact Nadika Senadheera, on 2316174/5 or email emsoesd@slt.lk