Dear Editor,
Jamaica celebrated the 14th annual observance of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day on November 16, 2016.
GIS is a very useful tool which generates suitable maps, in a matter of seconds, which can be used to make better decisions. Maps are among the most useful documents of human civilisation. Applied geography, in the forms of maps and spatial information, has served discovery, planning, cooperation, and conflict for at least the past 3,000 years. Stone Age hunters anticipated the location of their quarry, early explorers lived or died by their knowledge of geography, and current societies work and play based on their understanding of who belongs where.
Current societies further demand increased awareness of the social, physical and economic environment in which we interact and live. GIS enables us to do that and equips us to better understand and address the major issues and problems that our modern world now faces including climate change, energy dependence, and local and regional conflicts — including crime.
Jamaica has started using this technology in recent years. GIS is being used by the Forestry Department in Jamaica to map our forest cover and to ascertain areas of greatest loss, with a view to carrying out reforestation exercises. GIS technologies have been used to create fundamental datasets and applications in health, land administration, climate change, security, and natural resources management in Jamaica. Latest GIS technologies can strengthen the core business processes and functions in various Government of Jamaica entities, such as the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, the National Water Commission, the National Land Agency, and the Child Development Agency.
GIS is fitting to current trends because the rapidly expanding user market is growing geometrically as the Internet and free Web browsers are evolving to connect people to GIS viewers. The most common one is Google Earth. GIS, 10 to 15 years ago, was a market where specialised people with software had access. Now companies like Google are putting their data and services online, often with free GIS browsers, so users can access and view their data in the form of a map.
In the next five to 10 years we are going to see a rapid growth in the number of GIS users as software using GIS data be more accessible. The celebration of GIS Day is an opportunity where all of us can learn something new about GIS and how it can be incorporated in our field. Happy 14th Geographic Information Systems Day, Jamaica!
Tashfeen Ahmad
mrtashfeen@hotmail.com
Jamaica celebrated the 14th annual observance of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day on November 16, 2016.
GIS is a very useful tool which generates suitable maps, in a matter of seconds, which can be used to make better decisions. Maps are among the most useful documents of human civilisation. Applied geography, in the forms of maps and spatial information, has served discovery, planning, cooperation, and conflict for at least the past 3,000 years. Stone Age hunters anticipated the location of their quarry, early explorers lived or died by their knowledge of geography, and current societies work and play based on their understanding of who belongs where.
Current societies further demand increased awareness of the social, physical and economic environment in which we interact and live. GIS enables us to do that and equips us to better understand and address the major issues and problems that our modern world now faces including climate change, energy dependence, and local and regional conflicts — including crime.
Jamaica has started using this technology in recent years. GIS is being used by the Forestry Department in Jamaica to map our forest cover and to ascertain areas of greatest loss, with a view to carrying out reforestation exercises. GIS technologies have been used to create fundamental datasets and applications in health, land administration, climate change, security, and natural resources management in Jamaica. Latest GIS technologies can strengthen the core business processes and functions in various Government of Jamaica entities, such as the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, the National Water Commission, the National Land Agency, and the Child Development Agency.
GIS is fitting to current trends because the rapidly expanding user market is growing geometrically as the Internet and free Web browsers are evolving to connect people to GIS viewers. The most common one is Google Earth. GIS, 10 to 15 years ago, was a market where specialised people with software had access. Now companies like Google are putting their data and services online, often with free GIS browsers, so users can access and view their data in the form of a map.
In the next five to 10 years we are going to see a rapid growth in the number of GIS users as software using GIS data be more accessible. The celebration of GIS Day is an opportunity where all of us can learn something new about GIS and how it can be incorporated in our field. Happy 14th Geographic Information Systems Day, Jamaica!
Tashfeen Ahmad
mrtashfeen@hotmail.com