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TitleDe-mystifying geospatial technology : a case study on capacity building in GIS and GPS, Kibera (Nairobi) : paper presented at the East Africa practioners workshop on pro-poor urban sanitation and hygiene, Laico Umbano Hotel, Kigali, Rwanda, march 29th - 3
Publication TypeConference Paper
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsWaterkeyn, M
Pagination15 slides; ill.; fig.; photographs; tab.
Date Published2011-03-31
PublisherIRC
Place PublishedThe Hague, The Netherlands
Keywordscapacity building, geographical factors, kenya nairobi, poverty, urban areas
Abstract

This photo essay discusses capacity building for geographic information systems (GIS) and global positioning systems (GPS) for technical and managerial level staff from Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC), Water Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP), and the Umande Trust. GIS allows practitioners to collect key information and represent it as a map while GPS is a very quick and relatively accurate way to collect coordinates and to navigate in the field. Traditional maps produced by WSUP, Umande and NCWSC were found to have no scale, legend and few labels of existing and proposed features; they did not illustrate the mapped WASH schemes clearly. A capacity building for GIS and GPS was hence proposed to help the project WASH staff to create and update new maps that clearly illustrate any planned/new WASH project. A mapping capacity building workshop was carried out in one intensive week. It included an overview of GIS and GPS applications and limitations; class demonstrations and tutorials in ArcGIS specifically on a current WASH project; as well as learning how to collect and verify GPS data collected on a site visit to Kibera. Trained staff learned how to navigate and collect data using a GPS; understand the limitations of the technology and the risks involved in ‘blindly’ using secondary sources of geospatial data. They made clear project maps with all the features a reader needs to independently orientate himself and identify key features. For example, one map created by the team from the Umande Trust represented health data geospatially, allowing them to track health indicators in their project area. [authors abstract]

This three-day workshop aims to identify proven good practices in the sanitation and hygiene sector, as well as drawing lessons from failures to enter into the policy dialogue. It focuses on urban sanitation with an emphasis on learning and innovation in the sector. It was organised by : UNICEF, GTZ, WSSCC, WaterAid and IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, and hosted by the Rwandan Ministry of Health.

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