Integrating Watershed & Coastal Areas Management in the
Caribbean Small Island Developing States [IWCAM]
Capacity Assessment of Geographic Information Systems
Capabilities of the Caribbean:
REGIONAL ASSESSMENT REPORT
Prepared by
The Water Center for the Humid Tropics of
Latin America & the Caribbean (CATHALAC)
Revised September 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1.
INTRODUCTION
1
Background
1
Objectives
1
Methodology
2
Limitations
&
Caveats 2
Report Outline
2
2.
COUNTRY SUMMARIES
3
Antigua
&
Barbuda
4
The Bahamas
6
Barbados
8
Cuba
9
Dominica
11
The
Dominican
Republic
12
Grenada
14
Haiti
15
Jamaica
17
St.
Kitts
&
Nevis
19
St. Lucia
21
St.
Vincent
&
the
Grenadines
23
Trinidad
&
Tobago
25
3.
REGIONAL
SYNTHESIS
27
Software Infrastructure
27
Hardware
Infrastructure
28
Human Resources
29
Data Resources
29
Summary Matrix
31
Recommendations
33
4.
REFERENCES
35
APPENDICES
36
Appendix A: Inventories of Geographic
Data 36
A1:
Antigua
&
Barbuda
36
A2: The Bahamas
38
A3: Barbados
40
A4: Cuba
42
A5: Dominica
44
A6:
The
Dominican
Republic
46
ii
A7: Grenada
48
A8: Haiti
50
A9: Jamaica
52
A10:
St.
Kitts
&
Nevis 54
A11:
St.
Lucia
56
A12:
St.
Vincent
&
the
Grenadines
58
A13:
Trinidad
&
Tobago
60
Appendix B: List of Institutions Consulted
66
Appendix
C:
Survey
Questionnaire
68
iii
LIST OF ACRONYMS
APUA
Antigua
Public
Utilities
Authority
CARILEC
Caribbean
Association of Electric Utilities
CATHALAC
Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America & the Caribbean
CBD
United
Nations
Convention on Biological Diversity
CEHI
Caribbean
Environmental
Health
Institute
CIGEA
Environmental Education, Management and Information Center, Cuba
CNIGS
National Center for Geospatial Information, Haiti
COTS
Commercial
off the Shelf Software
CPACC
Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change Project
CZMU
Coastal Zone Management Unit
DCU
Development Control Unit, Antigua & Barbuda
ESRI
Environmental
Systems
Research
Institute,
Inc
GDP
Gross
Domestic
Product
GEF
Global
Environment
Facility
GPS
Global
Positioning
Systems
GRENLEC
Grenada Electricity Services, Ltd
ICT
Information & Communication Technology
IT
Information
Technology
IWCAM
Integrating Watershed & Coastal Areas Management in Caribbean Small
Island Developing States Project
LAN
Local
Area
Network
LUCELEC
St. Lucia Electricity Services, Ltd.
NEMA
National Emergency Management Agency, Trinidad & Tobago
NODS
National Office of Disaster Services, Antigua & Barbuda
OAS
Organization of American States
OGC
Open
Geospatial
Standards
ONEV
National
Environment
Observatory,
Haiti
PC
Participating Country of the IWCAM Project
PGDM
Post-Georges
Disaster
Mitigation Project, Antigua & Barbuda
RS
Remote
Sensing
SDE
Spatial
Data
Engine
SEMARN
Secretariat on the Environment & Natural Resources, Dominican Republic
SERVIR Mesoamerican
Regional
Visualization & Monitoring System
UNCCD
United Nations Convention on Land Degradation
UNDP
United Nations Development Programme
UNEP
CAR/RCU Caribbean Regional Coordinating Unit of the United Nations
Environmental Programme
USAID
United States Agency for International Development
UWI
University of the West Indies
VINLEC St.
Vincent
Electricity Services, Ltd.
WASA
Water & Sewage Authority, Trinidad & Tobago
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
1. INTRODUCTION
Background
The Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) and the Regional Coordination Unit of the
Caribbean Environment Programme of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP-
CAR/RCU) are co-executing a regional initiative known as the Project on Integrating Watershed
and Coastal Areas Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (IWCAM). The
overall objective of the project is to strengthen the commitment and capacity of the participating
countries to implement an integrated approach to the management of watersheds and coastal
areas.
The project recognizes the important role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology
as a tool for integrated data analysis and management and is seeking to incorporate the use of
GIS in various components of the project. It aims also to expand and improve GIS capacity and
use in participating countries. Mindful of the complexity and cost associated with effective and
efficient use of GIS, the project has commissioned the conduct of a detailed capacity needs
assessment which will inform the process. The Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin
America and the Caribbean (CATHALAC) was been contracted to undertake the assessment.
Objectives of the Study
The capacity needs assessment will examine the functions, procedures, products, data, tools and
human resources available in each agency and use this information to determine GIS and
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) requirements in relation to the performance
of the functions of the agency. The assessment will provide the basis for the conceptual design of
a road map to guide the effective development and use of GIS for IWCAM in the wider
Caribbean.
Within the framework of this assessment, this initiative has had certain specific objectives:
Assess hardware and software needs of PCs in relation to the generation,
maintenance, analysis and presentation of relevant GIS information
Evaluate relevant information sharing protocols in PCs;
Assess the quantity and quality of existing data related to GIS in PCs and estimate the
average cost of acquiring the necessary data sets (whether available or missing) in
each PC;
Conduct information audit to include the evaluation of relevant metadata standards;
Assess relevant institutional infrastructure/administrative protocols in PCs with
respect to the generation, processing/analysis, presentation, sharing and dissemination
of data and information for watershed and coastal areas monitoring and management
with particular reference to GIS data;
Assess relevant human resource capacities and training needs (in relation to basic
usage of GIS platforms and analytical applications in support of technical outputs)
related to GIS in PCs;
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
Identify, evaluate and assess the challenges, constraints and problems with respect to
the use of GIS as a management tool in PCs
Identify, evaluate and assess the challenges, constraints and problems for
mainstreaming the use of GIS as a tool in watershed and coastal areas monitoring and
management in PCs
Methodology of the Study
The study has been conducted in four phases. In Phase I, a survey questionnaire (see Appendix
C) was used to gather information on the status of the use of spatial data and the potential for
spatial analysis and modeling. In Phase II, interviews and site visits were conducted with key
personnel of agencies with mandates that have an impact upon watershed and coastal area
management as well as with external agencies whose activities have an impact on Information
Technology (IT) operations of the key agencies (see Appendix B for agencies consulted). In
Phase III (the current phase), a draft report of the study will be presented for feedback. Phase IV
will entail the preparation and submission of the final assessment report.
As noted, the IWCAM Project's objective in conducting this assessment has been to evaluate
capacity for the application of GIS as a tool for management, planning and monitoring of the
environment. Exhaustive survey questionnaires were developed, producing much input material
per country. However, as the main focus of the project is regional, issues are addressed as a
whole, seeking to synthesize those cross-cutting issues affecting a substantial proportion of the
Project's participating countries. In follow-up to the desktop survey, this report relies not only on
the surveys carried out, but also on other existing assessments (although in many cases such
assessments are outdated). With regard to the definition of `capacity' in GIS, three main
principles are examined: (i) human resources, (ii) data and informational resources, and (iii)
hardware and software resources
Limitations & Caveats
It should be noted that while, of necessity, each country possesses a complexity that cannot be
adequately represented in a synthesis report such as this, focus of this assessment is actually on
assessing what needs are, at the country and at the regional level. In seeking to provide a regional
perspective on GIS implementation in the Caribbean, only summaries of each country's situation
are provided here. Furthermore, it should be emphasized that what is presented in this regional
assessment report pertains to the situation within the region at the time the assessment was
conducted (i.e. in early to mid - 2007). It should, for instance, be acknowledged that the
institutions listed here and their capacities will change with time. As an assessment, this report
merely presents a snapshot in time of the implementation of geographic information technologies
across the Caribbean.
Report Outline
The following parts of this report are divided into three main sections. Firstly, syntheses are
presented of status of national GIS capacities within the thirteen respective IWCAM
participating countries. Secondly, a regional summary of the most outstanding issues is
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
presented, with a particular focus on needs that exist with regard to expanding the application of
GIS as a management tool across the Caribbean. Lastly, in anticipation of the Road Map
document that is going to be prepared, some ideas are presented on exactly how the application
of GIS in the Caribbean might be strengthened.
2. COUNTRY SUMMARIES
The following describes overall geographic information systems (GIS) capacities in countries.
Assessments are presented in terms of the following:
Overall Focus & Current GIS Activities
Data Resources
Information Technology Resources
Summary
That is, for each of the countries, an overview is presented on how GIS is generally being
applied, as well as relevant ongoing activities that were divulged during the survey process. As
this assessment focuses on GIS capacity particularly in terms of data resources, human resources,
hardware and software, these resources are also detailed. Finally, the overall situation in the
country is briefly summarized with some reflections on the way forward for GIS implementation.
The countries examined here include all of the IWCAM Project's participating countries:
1. Antigua & Barbuda
2. The Bahamas
3. Barbados
4. Cuba
5. Dominica
6. The Dominican Republic
7. Grenada
8. Haiti
9. Jamaica
10. St. Kitts & Nevis
11. St. Lucia
12. St. Vincent & the Grenadines
13. Trinidad & Tobago
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
Antigua is the largest of the Leeward Islands with an area of 280 sq. km. It differs from
neighboring islands in that it does not have a mountainous landscape and lush green vegetation.
The island is relatively flat with approximately 70% of the island less than 30m above sea level.
The coastline is undulating and characterized by bays, rocky headlands and a number of coral
reefs. World Bank estimates place the population at approximately 80,000 people at mid-year
2005. Roughly 60% of the population is concentrated in and around the capital city of St. John'
and along All Saints Road which connects St. John's to Falmouth. Most of the remaining
population is distributed in small villages strung out along other roads.
A central feature of the economic development of Antigua is its transformation over the last two
decades from an agricultural to a service economy. Agriculture has declined in relative
importance and in 1994 agriculture accounted for only 4 % of GDP compared with 20% in 1960.
The service, construction and transportation sectors have increased their share of GDP because
of "spin-off" from expansion in the tourism sector, which is one of the major sectors in the
economy.
Summary of Current GIS Capacity
In Antigua & Barbuda, the overall focus of GIS activity is on map production. The limited
spatial analysis and report generation that are conducted are directly related to the availability of
GIS resources. The country's Development Control Authority (DCA) and the National Office
of Disaster Services (NODS) have made some advances in the use of GIS for physical planning
and hazard vulnerability assessment. Additionally, GIS capacity is also present at the Antigua
Public Utilities Authority (APUA) and the Survey Division of the Ministry of Agriculture,
Lands and Fisheries. Otherwise, GIS capacity in Antigua & Barbuda is very limited.
Historically, GIS development in the nation has been driven by projects such as CPACC and
PGDM.
Currently, the two main agencies implementing GIS in Antigua & Barbuda are the Antigua
Public Utilities Authority (APUA) and the Survey Division of the Ministry of Agriculture,
Lands and Fisheries. As noted, GIS is also employed by the NODS and the DCA. Both of these
agencies have adequate hardware and software installed and a complement of staff trained in a
wide range of IT and GIS skills. In other agencies there is a severe need for hardware, software,
qualified staff and training. Survey information suggests that there is very limited sharing of data
and GIS resources between agencies. As a result, agencies are isolated and unable to benefit
from each other.
Where the Development Control Authority was also once the home to a robust GIS unit, its
functions are also worth exploring. The DCA is responsible for the planning and management of
physical development. It performs the following primary functions:
Executing activities related to physical planning, and
Development control
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
In order to perform its functions and activities, the Department relies on the following datasets:
Topographic data
Thematic data
Aerial photographs and
Satellite Imagery
The DCA had a robust GIS unit that was disbanded and this unit is currently being re-assembled.
The Department is in the process of re-building its catalogue of thematic maps that included
physical, hazard and anthropogenic features. There are a number of issues with GIS data. These
issues include problems with data currency, access, inconsistency, accuracy and a lack of spatial
dimension. There are issues with regards to sharing data with other agencies, the adequacy of
storage devices and fragmented data. There is also a lack of historical data, metadata, data
dictionaries and official sanctioning of data. The Department produces maps for government
agencies. DCA facilitates NODS and Agricultural Departments in the plotting of maps. No fees
or charges are applied to data dissemination.
Compared to other IWCAM participating countries, the available data on Antigua & Barbuda is
fairly current. Table 1 below illustrates the characteristics of some of that spatial data currently
available for Antigua. Appendix A1 contains a more detailed inventory of data available at a
national level for Antigua & Barbuda. Complete coverage is available for the island.
Topographic maps are available for 1970 and cadastral for 2005 at very large scales. Aerial
surveys were conducted in 1970, and more recently in 2005. Satellite imagery is available for
1989 and 2001. As such, mapping and imagery is, by and large, available at the scale required to
support GIS activities and development.
Table 1: Selected Spatial Data Available for Antigua & Barbuda
Year Scale
/
Resolution Title
Source
1970 Not
stated
Aerial
photographs
1970 1:2,500
Topographic sheets
UK Directorate of Overseas Surveys
1:5,000
1980
1:50,000
Topographic sheets
US Southern Command
1989
30 meters
LANDSAT
NASA / USGS
2001
1 meter
IKONOS
GeoEye, formerly Space Imaging
2005 1:1,250
Cadastral data
Surveys Division
1:2,500
1:5,000
2005 10
cm
Aerial
photographs
2006
Not stated
Hydrographic
Map Tech
Overall, the island of Antigua is just beginning the development of GIS. The majority of existing
GIS software, hardware and trained staff are concentrated in the Surveys Division and APUA.
The operating systems are Microsoft Windows-based. ArcGIS and ArcView are the GIS
software used. The only database management software indicated was MS Access and its
application is very limited. There is a general absence of IT, GIS and data standards and policies.
Agencies indicated facing the full range of issues and challenges with regards to GIS and data.
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
In summary, Antigua & Barbuda is a nation in which GIS finds limited application but
nonetheless one which does possess potential for greater application. Interviews did indicate that
senior managers of the various relevant government departments were aware of the potential
applications of GIS. Overall, there are particular limitations with respect to hardware, software,
and human resources. Because of the nation's size, the economies of scale concept could be
effected in Antigua & Barbuda, with respect to the development of an integrated national GIS /
ICT plan.
THE BAHAMAS
The islands of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas constitute one of the three areas that the
Caribbean is typically divided into, the others being the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles.
The Bahamas is located in the northeastern part of the Caribbean Sea. The nation forms an
archipelago, with its approximate area of 13,878 square kilometers (5,358 square miles) spread
over roughly two thousand cays and seven hundred islands. In mid-2004, World Bank estimates
placed the population of the nation at 320,000 inhabitants, nearly 70% of whom live in the
capital, Nassau.
Summary of Current GIS Capacity
The Bahamas appears to be relatively advanced in its application of geographic information
systems and related technologies. Because of the Bahamas' particular vulnerability to tropical
storms and hurricanes, agencies interviewed in the context of this assessment indicated applying
related technologies to the monitoring of potentially harmful weather systems. Additionally, in
the Bahamas, GIS is applied to the management of data and information on the general state of
the environment.
It is notable that, as in the case of Jamaica (where GIS implementation is also considered
relatively advanced), the Bahamas' national framework for GIS implementation includes the
introduction of GIS to various levels of the educational system. Perhaps related to the country's
relatively large size, there are a number of agencies implementing GIS in the Bahamas,
including:
The Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology (BEST) Commission
Bahamas National GIS Centre
Disaster Preparedness Office
Department of Land and Surveys
Department of Meteorology
Department of Physical Planning, Ministry of Public Works
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
Department of Fisheries, Nassau
Department of Statistics
As in only a small number of countries in the Caribbean, the Bahamas is actually served by a
national framework for GIS implementation, finding expression in the establishment of a
Bahamas National GIS Centre.
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
That Centre has its origins in the early 1990s when a number of the utility companies decided to
pool their resources to foment GIS implementation. In the late 1990s, the `Bahamas National
GIS Project' received further funding from the Inter-American Development Bank and the
Japanese Government. The Centre, however, was officially inaugurated in March 2004 in the
Office of the Prime Minister. The Centre's mandate is "to serve as the government's technical
focal point for the collection and management of geo-spatial data" on the nation, and "to provide
training and technical support to governmental agencies. The Centre's Mission is to promote,
educate, coordinate and advance the practical and efficient use of GIS technology in the
Bahamas."
From the interviews, it seems that one of the problems with spatial data resources for the
Bahamas is that caused by the fact that the nation is spread across roughly 700 islands (although
the majority of these are uninhabited). As a part of the overall Bahamas Environment, Science
and Technology Commission (BEST Commission), the Department of Meteorology, for
instance, indicated the need for the following GIS-related applications:
Air Pollution tracking and modeling
Flood Management
Hazard Risks Analysis
Non-point pollution Analysis
Hydrological Modeling
In terms of data resources, while it was evident that, as in other Caribbean countries, remote
sensing imagery, aerial photographs, topographic maps, thematic maps, survey plans, and
drawings are available and in use, the availability of updated data was cited as a problem. In
terms of how available information is integrated into decision-making, Table 2 below indicates
some of the information products provided by the Bahamas Meteorology Department to the
general public, for instance, while Appendix A2 includes a more detailed listing of available
data for the Bahamas.
Table 2: Types of Information Products developed by the Bahamas Meteorology
Department
Information
Frequency of Method
Dissemination
Format of
Current and Potential
Product
generation
of access
fee or charges
the Product
Users
Forecasts 4
per
day
None Digital
Public
Weather Summary
Monthly
None
Hardcopy
Public
While GIS is not used as a management tool per se within the Meteorology Department, as in a
number of other departments around the Caribbean, work has been initiated into integrating such
data into a `GIS environment.' As such an overall data / report digitization process has recently
begun since a large amount of data has been collected since 1920 to include rainfall information
since 1918. Most of the data for 26 islands is reflected on spreadsheets and in books. It was
pointed out that data is missing throughout World War II. There are plans to pursue aggressive
digitization of this information. Significantly, the Department indicated plans to mainstream GIS
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
and utilize in their main activities of weather observation and forecasting. However, the
Department does not have any budget for GIS and has not developed any applications.
Operating systems are, for the most part, Microsoft Windows-based. The main GIS software
applications being used include ESRI's ArcView 3.x and ArcGIS platforms. Database
management software was largely limited to MS Access, as well as MS Excel for management of
tabular data.
Where a proliferation of institutions employing GIS in a country generally seems to indicate an
advanced state of GIS capacity, this is true of the Bahamas, where there are several institutions
noted which are implementing the technology, and a number of others which have plans to
mainstream the technology into their operations. Additionally, as in only a few Caribbean
nations, the Bahamas possesses a national coordinating entity for GIS activities in the form of the
Bahamas National GIS Centre. It is therefore recommended that future IWCAM interventions in
the area of GIS interact with the Centre.
BARBADOS
The island of Barbados is one of the Lesser Antilles and is the easternmost Caribbean island. The
nation is a mere 430 square kilometers (166 square miles), and with a population estimated in
mid-2005 by World Bank at 270,000 inhabitants, roughly 53% of which inhabit urban areas.
This makes Barbados one of the most densely populated nations in the world. The island is
relatively flat, with its highest point being Mount Hillaby in the center of the country. Barbados
is divided into eleven (11) administrative parishes, with its capital at Bridgetown on the
southwestern coast of the island.
Summary of Current GIS Capacity
Barbados has traditionally been recognized as one of the more advanced in its application of GIS
technology. This has applied overall to the level of training as regards the available human
resources, the data that is readily available, and the tools that are likewise available for the
management and exploitation of the available data. Nonetheless as is noted later, apparently
lacking in Barbados is an overarching framework for GIS implementation as present in nations
such as Jamaica or the Bahamas.
As with other countries in the region that are assessed as having fairly advanced GIS capabilities,
within Barbados there are a number of institutions which are applying GIS. Institutions applying
GIS include:
Barbados Water Authority
Central Emergency Response Organization
Coastal Zone Management Unit
Drainage Unit of the Ministry of Public Works
Environmental Division, Ministry of Health
Land & Surveys Department
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
Statistics Department
However, within the context of the IWCAM Project's objectives for supporting the application
of GIS as a management tool in the context of coastal and watershed management, the major
institution in Barbados is the Coastal Zone Management Unit.
In terms of institutions consulted, it was indicated that GIS is used as a management tool for all
functions, with senior executives having been introduced to GIS and consulting the technology to
support their decisions. The CZM Unit in particular indicated using GIS to produce maps but
nonetheless requiring resources to obtain more personnel, and access to training to adequately
mainstream GIS and update the software. That lack of human resources (both people and
training) has limited the applications to which GIS has been applied in Barbados.
As indicated in Table 3 below, data resources are fairly updated for Barbados, with fairly recent
and almost complete coverage of the island by aerial photography and high resolution satellite
imagery. Appendix A3 also indicates specific data required but not available.
Table 3: Selected Spatial Data Available for Barbados
IMAGERY Scale
Year
Area
covered
Source
Aerial Photography
1:10,000 2000
West and south coast
Terra Remote
Sensing Inc., Canada
1:10,000 1998
Northeast
and
NERC UK
Aerial Photography
southeast coast
Quickbird satellite
0.6m
2004
Northern part of
Digital Globe
imagery
country
Opadeyi et al (2003) had noted that "the absence of a visible national GIS database is still a
management challenge along with the absence of data dissemination policy." There has been no
indication that this lack of a national GIS database, for instance, has been substantively
addressed. However, as a country in which GIS has proliferated to a number of institutions, the
state of GIS implementation in Barbados must nonetheless be considered relatively advanced
where the Caribbean is concerned. As indicated in the interviews conducted, and as in a number
of other countries, in Barbados there is a desire for further training as involves the use of GIS
technology for environmental management.
CUBA
Located in the northwestern Caribbean Sea, the Republic of Cuba consists of the island of Cuba
largest island of the Greater Antilles and in the Caribbean and a number of other smaller
islands, including the Isle of Youth. The nation's total area is roughly 110,861 square kilometers
(42,803 square miles). According to the World Bank, 2005 mid-year estimates placed the
population at 11.3 million inhabitants, of which approximately 76% was urbanized. The nation is
divided into fourteen provinces and the special municipality of the Isle of Youth. Approximately
2.3 million Cubans inhabit the capital of Havana.
Summary of Current GIS Capacity
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
As can be expected for a country of its size, in Cuba there is a diversity of institutions utilizing
GIS in a variety of applications. In Cuba, there are institutions such as Aguas de la Habana
which utilize GIS in the management of water resources, to others like Plan Maestro which
utilize GIS for management of historical landmarks. Cuba's Environmental Education,
Management and Information Center (CIGEA, in Spanish) is a major user of GIS, although a
number of other organizations also have substantial expertise with GIS.
Cuba stood out as one of the few nations in which the interviews revealed problems with Internet
bandwidth. The organizations consulted indicated having access to very limited Internet
bandwidth, which affected their operations and ability to connect to the rest of the region.
In terms of hardware resources, while the variety of these organizations, for instance, possessed
the use of servers for storing their information, such servers were not always physically located
in these institutions' offices. Additionally, there was an overall lack of software capacity for
satellite image processing, which was in turn viewed as a need by the persons interviewed.
Table 4 below provides a sampling of some of the spatial data available for Cuba. A much more
extensive list is provided in Appendix A4. In terms of the spatial data resources which exist for
Cuba, it is evident that for the most part there is a great variety of data available for the nation of
Cuba. Additionally, the majority of datasets exist in digital as contrasted with analog formats.
Table 4: Selected Spatial Data Available for Cuba
Types of Data
Map Scale
Map Source Year of Production
Last Updated
Base map
1:500
GeoCuba
2004
2007
Land parcels
1:500
Plan Maestro 2006
2006
In Cuba, databases are generally updated annually, but as in a number of the other Caribbean
countries, database management is not generally done using specialized software. This data
structure problem is complicated by an overall accompanying lack of metadata development.
In terms of overall human resources, for a variety of reasons, professionals working in GIS in
Cuba are multidisciplinary. This lack of dedication to GIS has obvious adverse consequences in
terms of the level of skill that can be honed in the use of the tool. Respondents interviewed
indicated a need for training in the use of Global Positioning Systems as well as in remote
sensing.
Financial resources are particularly absent for the acquisition of GIS software, and this is further
complicated by international trade restrictions which limit Cuba's access to American
commercial off-the-shelf GIS software. Hence, open source GIS solutions have proliferated in
Cuba.
Overall, in terms of the available human and data resources, and software and hardware
infrastructure, Cuba's overall capacity in GIS can be considered suitably advanced when
compounding factors are considered. The institutions consulted indicated a strong need for
capacity-building, particularly where it comes to human resources. Specifically, capacities in
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
remote sensing and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) should be addressed, as well as GIS
applications for environmental monitoring. Interest was also expressed in building capacity in
the use of web mapping applications.
DOMINICA
Dominica, a small island developing state, is situated at approximately 15º 25'N and 61º 20'W,
between Martinique to the south and Guadeloupe to the north, in the Eastern Caribbean chain of
islands. With a total area of 291.1 square miles (754km2), this volcanic island is the most
mountainous and rugged island in the Lesser Antilles. Two of the highest peaks in the Lesser
Antilles are found in Dominica, namely, Morne Diablotins 4,381ft (1,447m), and Morne Trois
Pitons 4,221ft (1,394m). The island has one of the highest drainage densities in the world,
having some 365 rivers flowing in deep, narrow valleys over short distances to the sea. Their
significant hydroelectric potential contributes as much as 56% of the island's electricity.
The population of Dominica, estimated at 70,000 (2003), lives mainly on a narrow coastal plain.
Twenty-eight (28) per cent of its people are under 15 years old and the economically active
population makes up 64% of the population. Its per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is an
estimated US$5,400, with the sectors of agriculture, industry and services contributing 18%,
24% and 58% respectively to the GDP (2002).
Summary of Current GIS Capacity
In Dominica, the importance of GIS has been recognized and it is currently being used as a tool.
Maps and reports are being produced and used to support decision-making to some extent. The
most urgent needs appear to be technical support, hardware procurement and software
maintenance. There is a need for training of staff in all GIS related topics, particularly data
conversion. The availability of trained staff would enable the expanded use of GIS. There is a
need to budget for the development of GIS and to produce policies and standards to guide this
development. The Physical Planning Division and the Lands and Surveys Division are leading
agencies for GIS development in Dominica.
Appendix A4 considers the spatial data required for each agency interviewed in Dominica. From
this list, it is evident that the agencies need to have a comprehensive spatial database of physical,
hazard and anthropogenic features. The common requirements of the Divisions are an indication
that efficiencies could be gained by sharing of datasets.
The Physical Planning Division has some of the required datasets in digital and hard copy
formats for Dominica. The Division wishes to have an updated dataset of all data related to
physical and anthropogenic features, and a hazard inventory in one common projection and
coordinate system to facilitate the development of applications.
The Lands and Surveys Division has a fairly comprehensive digital dataset on physical and
anthropogenic features, yet they possess many data quality issues. Required datasets are
hydrogeology, census districts, environmentally sensitive areas and electricity supply lines.
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
Table 5 below shows the characteristics of the spatial data currently available for Dominica,
dating from 1989 to the present (with more detail presented in Appendix A4).
Table 5: Selected Spatial Data Available for Dominica
Year Scale
/ Title Source
Resolution
1989 1:2,500 Topographic sheets
UK Directorate of Overseas
1:5,000
Surveys
1:10,000
1:25,000
1:50,000
2007
1:2,400
Survey plans
Lands and Surveys
Unknown
1:2,500
Cadastral
Lands and Surveys
1992
1:10,000
Aerial photographs
North West Geomatics Ltd.
2000
30m
LandSat satellite imagery
NASA / USGS
The agencies surveyed in Dominica have hardware and software but they require spatial data in
the same projection and coordinate system. The acquisition of a large format scanner by the
Lands and Surveys Division would assist in the production of such data. The only database
management software used is Ms Access and this use is limited. As would be expected there are
significant problems and issues with regards to the use of database software and an absence of
database standards, policies and procedures. There is a need for the implementation of database
management software to make better use of the data the agencies already possess. This will
require training and technical support.
In Dominica, in terms of overall planning for GIS for instance, the Lands and Surveys Division
has a GIS / ICT plan. Mainstreaming GIS into the roles and responsibilities of the Divisions
could be done through the development of a data automation plan, improvement in database
management, training of staff, procuring relevant equipment and establishing data standards and
policies.
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
The Dominican Republic shares the Caribbean's second largest island of Hispaniola along with
the Republic of Haiti. The Dominican Republic occupies approximately 48,442 square
kilometers (18,810 square miles) or approximately two-thirds of Hispaniola, on the eastern
portion of the island. According to World Bank mid-year estimates, in 2005 the Dominican
Republic's population stood at approximately 8.9 million inhabitants. Sixty percent of the
population was likewise estimated to inhabit urban areas. The nation is divided into thirty-one
(31) provinces, with the capital of Santo Domingo located in its own province, the Distrito
Nacional ("National District"), with approximately 2.3 million people inhabiting the capital in
2006.
Summary of Current GIS Capacity
In the Dominican Republic, the major institution implementing GIS in an environmental
management context is the Secretariat of the Environment & Natural Resources (SEMARN, in
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
Spanish). As can be found in a number of environmental ministries across the region, the use of
GIS is not centralized to a single unit or department within SEMARN. A number of SEMARN's
divisions use GIS to some extent, and the utility of the tool is at least well recognized across a
dispersed audience. Divisions within SEMARN utilizing GIS include the Environmental
Information Division, the Environmental Quality Division, and the Climate Change office.
Evidence suggests that while GIS capacity should not necessarily be fully centralized within
SEMARN, that GIS implementation might nonetheless benefit from more central operations (i.e.
it was clearer that certain divisions were making more use of the technology than others). It
should be noted that the use of GIS in a variety of divisions within a single ministry goes against
the norm but is nonetheless promising for the application of the technology.
Table 6 below is a sample of spatial data available for the Dominican Republic, with an
elaborated version in Appendix A6. These tables indicate significant data needs. For instance,
the nation's current land use data, while at a fairly detailed scale of 1:25,000 was updated over
ten years ago, making such data inadequate for assessment of the current state of the
environment. Likewise, Appendix A6 indicates the absence of a number of key datasets. Full
coverage of these datasets of the entire country is complicated by the fact that after Cuba, the
Dominican Republic is the second largest nation (area-wise) in the Caribbean.
Table 6: Selected Spatial Data Available for the Dominican Republic
Types of Data
Map Scale
Map Source Year of Production
Last Updated
Land Use
1:25,000
1984 aerial 1986 1996
photos
Watershed
1:50,000 Cartographic
1989 2001
boundaries
institute
Census divisions 1:20,000 National 1992 2002
(analog)
Statistical
Office
One of the limitations expressed, for instance, was the regular occurrence of electricity blackouts
which limit ability to work uninterrupted.
As noted, GIS is used in a variety of institutions within the Dominican Republic. GIS is fairly
well recognized and widely used. While much of the country's environmental information exists
digitally in GIS format, lacking is suitable infrastructure for sharing of information between
institutions, as well as a well-defined data structure. Database management is accomplished
using Microsoft Access. Metadata does not exist for a large amount of the available spatial data.
As in many of the other countries surveyed, there has generally been a lack of funding
specifically for the development / application of GIS. As such, the application of the tool has
generally been project-driven.
In terms of human capacity, there is a need for overall training in technologies related to GIS, but
there is (as in the majority of other countries in the Caribbean) a lack of funding for development
of the tool. Specific areas of need include database management, remote sensing and
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
development of web mapping applications. Interest was also expressed in professional
development for strengthening of human capacity in the use of GIS technology.
GRENADA
Grenada, with its dependency of Carriacou and Petit Martinique, is a small island developing
state, situated at approximately 12º 07'N, 61º 40'W in the Eastern Caribbean chain of islands.
With a total area of approximately 344km2 (132.8 square miles), Grenada is the most southerly
of the volcanic islands in the Lesser Antilles. The highest peak in the island is the volcanic centre
of Mount St. Catherine standing at 910 meters (2,757 feet).
The population of Grenada, including Carriacou and Petite Martinique, is estimated at 102,632
from the 2001census. 35.1% of its people are under 15 years old and the economically active
population makes up 61.3% of the population. Its per capita GDP is an estimated US $5,000
(2002), with the sectors of agriculture, industry and services contributing 7.7%, 23.9% and
68.4% (2000) respectively to the Gross Domestic Product. (Source of statistics: Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA) Fact Book, 2003 found at:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gj.html.)
Summary of Current GIS Capacity
In Grenada, though the importance of GIS has been recognized, it is currently not being used to
any great extent in the agencies surveyed. Maps and reports are being produced and used to
support decision-making. The most urgent needs appear to be technical support, hardware and
software maintenance. There is a need for training of staff in all GIS related topics. The
availability of trained staff would enable the expanded use of GIS in the agencies. There is a
need to budget for the development of GIS and produce policies and standards to guide this
development. The Land Use Division appears to be a major source of spatial data on the country.
Appendix A7 considers the spatial data required for each agency interviewed in Grenada. From
this list, it is evident that the agencies need to have a comprehensive spatial database of physical,
hazard-related and anthropogenic features.
The Land Use Division appears to be a major source of spatial data on the country while
GRENLEC has some data but requires data on census districts and administrative/political
boundaries. As no information on digital data was available from the Physical Planning Unit, the
data required is unknown.
The main data source is from topographic maps of 1982, though the Land Use Division has
access to aerial photographs of 1992 and 2005 IKONOS satellite imagery, which covers
Grenada.
Table 7 shows the characteristics of the spatial data currently available for Grenada.
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
Table 7: Selected Spatial Data Available for Grenada
Year Scale
/
Title Source
Resolution
1982 1:25,000 Topographic
Directorate of Overseas Surveys,(DOS),UK
1992
1:13,000
Aerial photographs
Information not available
2005 1m
Satellite
imagery IKONOS
Due to the low level of completion of the questionnaire, it is difficult to ascertain the needs of the
agencies surveyed. The Land Use Division needs data of higher quality and a budget for GIS
hardware, software upgrades and training. The only database management software used is Ms
Access. As would be expected there are significant problems and issues with regards to the use of
database software and an absence of database standards, policies and procedures. There is a need
for the implementation of database management software. This will require training and
technical support.
HAITI
The Republic of Haiti occupies the western third of Hispaniola, sharing the second largest
Caribbean island with the Dominican Republic. The Republic also includes a number of smaller
islands adjacent to Hispaniola. Haiti's terrain is extremely rugged, with the nation occupying
approximately 27,750 square kilometers (10,714 square miles). Haiti is divided into ten (10)
administrative Departments. Mid-year estimates for 2005 from the World Bank place Haiti's
population at approximately 8.5 million inhabitants, with 39% inhabiting urban areas, and
roughly 1.2 million people inhabiting the capital of Port-au-Prince.
Summary of Current GIS Capacity
Currently in Haiti, a great deal of effort is being invested in the fine-scale mapping of the entire
nation. The nation is being re-mapped at the detailed scale of 1:20,000 and finer, in an effort to
update existing topographic base data from the late 1970s when the second aerial survey of the
country had been undertaken. In addition to this fine scale re-mapping of the country, which
appears to be overall unique in the Caribbean, a relevant GIS initiative that has been planned is
the development of a National Environmental Observatory (ONEV, in French) in conjunction
between Haiti's national GIS center and the Ministry of the Environment. Representatives from
the Ministry of the Environment indicated that the goal of the National Environment Observatory
will be to make use of GIS and remote sensing in particular to monitor the state of Haiti's
environment, providing data which can also meet the needs of international environmental
conventions such as the United Nations' Conventions on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Land
Degradation (UNCCD).
While it is noted that in a number of Caribbean countries, GIS activities are project-based (i.e.
projects drive priorities), it seems that in the case of Haiti, while GIS activities are financed
substantially with external project resources, because of the existence of a national framework,
such funding is being channeled according to already-established national priorities for GIS.
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
In Haiti, as in only a few other of the countries evaluated, there exists a central entity with
responsibility for coordinating the nation's activities in the area of GIS. In 2006, political support
led to the passing of legislation for the creation of the National Center for Geospatial Information
(CNIGS, in French). The predecessor to the CNIGS was the Remote Sensing and GIS Unit
(UTSIG, in French) which had been established in 1996 in the Ministry of Planning and Foreign
Affairs.
The CNIGS has a legally established mandate for coordinating the GIS activities across Haiti. It
collaborates with the few other national entities which have GIS capacity. For instance, and as
noted earlier, the CNIGS will be collaborating with Haiti's Ministry of the Environment for the
development of the National Environment Observatory which will make much use of remote
sensing for the regular monitoring of environmental changes. For their part, representatives from
the Ministry of the Environment indicated that the Ministry did not itself yet have GIS capacity
but would be working with the CNIGS to train at least one technician, who would be dedicated
to the ONEV.
As indicated in Table 8 below, it is evident that the nation of Haiti is well-served by strong data
resources. The island has been mapped in high resolution aerial photography and satellite
imagery fairly recently. Appendix A8 also shows that a great deal of data is available for Haiti at
suitable scales.
Table 8: Selected Spatial Data Available for Haiti
Year Scale
/
Title Source
Resolution
1978
1:20,000
Aerial photographs
N / A (only available in analog format)
2002
1:20,000
Aerial photographs
N / A
1978
1:100,000
Topographic maps
N / A
2000+
1m
Satellite imagery
IKONOS (partial coverage)
N / A
30m
Satellite imagery
LandSat (partial coverage)
1998 10m
Satellite
imagery SPOT
Because of the implementation of a national plan for GIS, which had led to the acquisition of a
large quantity of data at a fine scale, Haiti was one of the few countries in this assessment that
did not indicate the need for data as one of their more significant needs. In fact, it is apparent that
Haiti has the necessary inputs for developing or acquiring its own data rather than relying on
external sources. This includes, for instance, staff expertise in areas such as photogrammetry and
digital image processing.
In addition to substantial project support for GIS development in Haiti (channeled to the
CNIGS), the Government of Haiti also dedicates substantial resources (estimated to be US
$920,000 for 2007) for the national GIS focal agency. Additionally, resources for that center's
operations are also obtained through the center's provision of services and products. The end
result of such investment in GIS in Haiti is the existence of substantial information technology
resources for GIS implementation. Specifically regarding GIS software applications, ArcGIS 9.1,
ERDAS Imagine, GeoConcept, GeoImage and MapInfo are in use in Haiti. Database
management software in use includes Oracle Spatial as well as MS Access, and considerable
server resources (i.e. a 5TB disk array exists for management of spatial data).
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
JAMAICA
As the third largest island in the Caribbean, Jamaica is one of the island nations of the
Caribbean's Greater Antilles (the other islands being Cuba, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico). The
country's approximately 10,991 square kilometers (4,244 square miles) are divided into fourteen
(14) parishes. World Bank mid-year estimates for 2005 place the population of Jamaica at
approximately 2.7 million inhabitants, with some 52% of the population inhabiting urban areas.
The nation's capital is located at Kingston, and according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica,
approximately 660,000 people inhabited the greater Kingston area at the time of the last census
in 2001.
Summary of Current GIS Capacity
In Jamaica, there is a multitude of institutions employing geographic information systems in their
operations. Additionally, Jamaica possesses a national framework for GIS implementation which
includes the introduction of GIS at various levels within the educational system. This supports
the assessment by King et al (1998) that GIS implementation in Jamaica was advanced,
compared to other Caribbean nations. With regard to the institutions employing GIS, government
institutions implementing the technology at present include:
Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
o Forestry Department
o Rural Physical Planning Unit
o Mines and Geology Division
o National Land Agency
o Spatial Data Management Division
o National Irrigation Commission
o Sugar Industry Research Institute
o Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA)
Jamaica Bauxite Institute
Ministry of Local Government and Environment
o Meteorological Services
o National Environment & Planning Agency
o Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management
o National Solid Waste Management Authority
o Parish Councils
o Portmore Municipality
Ministry of Housing Transport, Water and Works
o National Work Agency
o Jamaica Urban Transit Company
o Water Resources Authority
Ministry of Finance and Planning
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
o Planning Institute of Jamaica
o Statistical Institute of Jamaica
o Office of the Prime Minister- Ministry of Development
Electoral Office of Jamaica
Ministry of Education, Youth
o Institute of Jamaica
Jamaica National Heritage Trust
University Of Technology
University Of The West Indies (Mona)
Ministry of Health
National Water Commission
Jamaica Public Service
Ministry Of National Security
o Jamaica Constabulary Force
o Jamaica Defense Force
Urban Development Corporation
A National GIS Coordination body was established in 1991, and is still in operation (Land
Information Council of Jamaica LICJ). This body has the following objectives:
1. Maximize the use, distribution and creation of publicly funded data products and
services.
2. Create and maintain a highly skilled, relevant and innovative geoinformatics workforce to
build the infrastructure through education, skills formation, and research and
development initiatives.
3. Form stronger coordination arrangements and communication with users of spatial
information.
4. Coordinate the development and adoption of a minimum set of geospatial standards
focused on data quality that enables integration with other data sets.
5. Spatial data users are able to find and access existing data sources and services with
minimum impediments.
6. Facilitate all geospatial data providers acting on accord on policy issues such as access
and pricing, copyright and privacy.
7. Facilitate the creation of innovative, strong and high value-added geoinformatics sector.
From both the interviews conducted and the available publications on the different institutional
web pages, it is evident that there is a large collection of spatial datasets at several organizations.
However, little information was provided on the update status and other characteristics of the
datasets. In terms of data available, high resolution digital imagery is available for the whole
country for a fairly recent period (2001). Additionally, detailed cartography at scales of 1:12,500
and 1:50,000 are also available in vector format, although many of these have not been updated
since 1981.
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
Table 9: Selected Spatial Data Available for Jamaica
Year Scale
/
Title Source
Resolution
2001
1:2,000
Aerial photographs
Spatial Innovision (partial coverage
Kingston, St. Andrew, Portmore, Spanish
Town, Montego Bay)
2001
1m
Satellite imagery
IKONOS (full island coverage)
While it was indicated that both software and hardware tools are available, a point commonly
expressed during interviews was that resources are limited for regular upgrades. Additionally, it
was expressed that although human resources needed to accomplish activities are at times
inadequate in terms of number of staff, personnel do possess relatively advanced levels of
training and expertise. Responding agencies pointed to insufficient capital and resources as
major challenges in the performance of their primary activities, but did not provide estimated
cost for such activities.
In terms of the overall software infrastructure for GIS implementation, a substantial proportion
of the agency representatives interviewed mentioned that there were no plans to upgrade to the
latest software versions because of the high cost of such upgrades. Software has generally been
acquired through projects or donations, and software maintenance fees are not paid regularly
after initial acquisition. The hardware infrastructure for GIS implementation apparently faces a
similar fate in a number of agencies. Replacement of obsolete equipment happens only when
additional resources become available to supplement regular budgets. While in some cases a
regular budget is contemplated for GIS hardware, software and training, it seems to be very
limited.
Overall, the staff operating the GIS and IT departments is highly skilled, and major efforts are
made to keep them up to date, in spite of limited resources. Another challenge noted was the lack
of staff in required numbers for the implementation of organizations' primary activities. Inter-
agency coordination has effectively produced policies and standards for almost all of the topics
asked in the questionnaire (Appendix C), and they have been adopted and implemented at most
organizations working with GIS in the island.
IT personnel and high speed internet access were identified as some of the more pressing needs.
Relational Database Management Software is used in several institutions to manage their
datasets, with a number of them implementing spatial database engines such as ESRI's SDE
within their database servers. Other institutions indicated publishing their spatial information
through web map servers (both Open Source and proprietary), though OGC standards are not
widely used.
ST. KITTS & NEVIS
St. Kitts and Nevis is a twin island federation in the northeastern Caribbean. St. Kitts is the larger
island and has a total area of 168 sq km. The island is shaped like a baseball bat and separated
from Nevis by a three-km-wide channel called The Narrows. Nevis operates under a system of
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
self government administered by the Nevis Island Administration. The island is 3 km to the south
east of St. Kitts and is 93 sq km square. St. Kitts has a rugged topography with large areas of the
island being inaccessible. These uninhabitable areas include mountain ranges, water bodies and
rocky bluffs. The island's topography is dominated by Mount Liamuiga, a live volcano, which
rises to a height of 1,156 m. The island of Nevis is a single volcano. It has a round shape with an
average radius of 5.5 km. Nevis Peak sits in the center of the almost circular island and rises to
985m. The population of St. Kitts was estimated to be 34,930 by the population census of 2001.
A 1998 estimate puts the population of Nevis at 10,080.
Summary of Current GIS Capacity
In St. Kitts and Nevis, GIS is currently being used as a tool. Maps and reports are being
produced and used to support decision-making. The importance of GIS has been recognized. The
most urgent needs appear to be technical support and software maintenance. There is a need for
training of staff in all GIS related topics. The availability of trained staff would enable the
expanded use of GIS. There is a need to budget for the development of GIS and produce policies
and standards to guide this development. The Physical Planning Departments in St. Kitts and
Nevis are the focus of GIS development and the islands depend heavily on these units.
Appendix A10 considers the spatial data required for each agency interviewed in St. Kitts and
Nevis. From this list, it is evident that the agencies need to have a comprehensive spatial
database of physical, hazard and anthropogenic features. The common requirements of
departments are an indication the efficiencies could be gained by sharing of datasets. The
Department of Physical Planning and Environment has almost all required datasets available in
digital format for St. Kitts. The landslide inventory and erosion data are the only datasets
required that are not available digitally. Electrical supply lines data is incomplete and the water
supply data requires updating. Currently, there is a great demand for a forestry map.
The Water Services Department has a very limited digital map dataset. Most of its maps are
available in hardcopy. The Department indicated that a number of maps required are unavailable
(refer to Appendix A10). It is instructive that all these maps are available at the Department of
Physical Planning and Environment and most are in digital format. The two departments have a
close relationship and as such it is unlikely that the lack of information is caused by
unwillingness to share data. The issue is more likely one of limited data dissemination. The
Department of Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Environment of Nevis has produced a
number of thematic map layers as indicated in Table 10. 51% of the data indicated as required is
available in digital format. 49% of the datasets are not available.
Table 10 shows the characteristics of the spatial data currently available for St. Kitts and Nevis.
Complete coverage is available for St. Kitts. The Physical Planning, Natural Resources and
Environment Department of Nevis is in the process of completing topographic and thematic
mapping for the island at 1:2,500.
Table 10: Selected Spatial Data Available for St. Kitts and Nevis
Island
Year
Scale /
Title
Source
Resolution
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
St. Kitts
2007 1:2,500 Topographic
Lands and Surveys
1:25,000
2001 1:25,000 Aerial
photographs
2000/2001
Satellite
imagery
Infoterra
Nevis
1991 1:10,000 Aerial
photographs
2001 1m
IKONOS
2006 1m
Quickbird
Panchromatic
SII
N/A 30m LANDSAT
The islands of St. Kitts and Nevis have hardware but they require network technical assistance
and maintenance support. The GIS software is concentrated in the Physical Planning
Departments and there is a need for software upgrades. The only database management software
used is Ms Access and this use is limited. As would be expected there are significant problems
and issues with regards to the use of database software and an absence of database standards,
policies and procedures. There is a need for the implementation of database management
software. This will require training and technical support.
The Department of Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Environment in Nevis did indicate
that the major weakness experienced was the maintaining of database currency. This Department
indicated that the establishment of a multi-Environment GIS would further the mainstreaming of
GIS into the functions of the department.
ST. LUCIA
Saint Lucia is a small island developing state in the Eastern Caribbean chain of islands. It
possesses a total area of 238 square miles (616 km2), this volcanic island is mountainous and
rugged, with numerous rivers flowing in deep, narrow valleys over short distances to the sea.
The highest peak, Mount Gimie (3117ft or 950m), is in the southwestern part of the main north-
south trending axial ridge.
The island has a tropical marine type of climate, being affected by the prevailing Northeast Trade
winds throughout the year. The dry season is from January to May and the wet season from June
to December. Saint Lucia is affected by tropical storms and hurricanes, mainly from June to
November, during the wet season. Roughly 20% of the island is covered by tropical rainforest
vegetation that provides habitats for a wide range of flora and fauna. The population of Saint
Lucia is estimated at 162,000 (2003), with 31% of its people under 15 years old and 64% being
the economically active population. The country is actively diversifying its economy from
bananas to tourism and offshore banking. Its per capita GDP is an estimated US $5,400, with the
sectors of agriculture, industry and services contributing 7%, 20% and 73% respectively to the
GDP (2002) (CIA Fact Book 2003).
Summary of Current GIS Capacity
In Saint Lucia, the importance of GIS has been recognized and it is currently being used as a tool
to undertake analysis, support decision-making and in the preparation of maps and reports. The
most urgent needs appear to be IT support and software maintenance. Though many of their staff
have been trained in GIS, there is still need for training of staff in all GIS related topics,
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
particularly in rectifying data quality issues. Senior executives' exposure to the usefulness of GIS
would enable the expanded use of GIS throughout the agencies surveyed by budgeting for its
development and supporting the establishment of policies and standards to guide this
development.
The Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Mapping
Section of the Ministry of Physical Planning, Environment & Housing and the St. Lucia
Electricity Services Ltd. in Saint Lucia are major agencies that use GIS to support many of their
activities.
Appendix A11 considers the spatial data required for each agency interviewed in Saint Lucia.
From this list, it is evident that the agencies need to have a comprehensive spatial database of
physical, hazard and anthropogenic features. The common requirements of GIS data by these
agencies are an indication that efficiencies could be gained by sharing of datasets.
The Forestry Department has almost all required datasets on Saint Lucia available in digital
format. Data that is not available are on water bodies, hydrogeology, aquifers, rainfall, flood
hazard zones, erosion, government buildings, recreational parks, and waste management sites.
The Department does not have data on electrical and water supply lines.
The Mapping Section has a limited spatial digital dataset, as shown in Appendix A11. It
possesses data on elevation, roads, water courses and some anthropogenic features. A more
comprehensive list of digital data is available at the Physical Planning Section with which the
Mapping Section works closely.
The Table 11 shows the characteristics of the spatial data currently available for Saint Lucia.
Coverage ranges from 1:500 to 1:50,000.
Table 11: Selected Spatial Data Available for St. Lucia
Year
Scale
Type of data
Source
1992
1:10,000
Aerial photographs
Surveying and Mapping Sections
1984
1:25,000
2004
1:25,000
1982 /1995
1:1,000
Topographic maps
DOS
1:2,500
UAM
1:25,000
2007 1:500
Survey plans
Surveying and Mapping Sections
1:2,500
1992
1:25,000
Forest Management Plans
Forestry Department
1984 1:
50,000
Thematic
maps
OAS
1968 1:
25,000
Soils
UWI
The agencies surveyed in Saint Lucia have hardware and software but they require budgets for
network technical assistance and maintenance support. The only database management software
used is MS Access and this use is limited. As would be expected there are significant problems
and issues with regards to the use of database software and an absence of database standards,
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
policies and procedures. There is a need for the implementation of database management
software. This will require training and technical support.
None of the agencies interviewed had a GIS / ICT plan. The agencies surveyed experienced
numerous issues with data quality. Some suggestions on actions to be taken toward the
mainstreaming of GIS into the roles and responsibilities in the Mapping Section are that all
existing data on parcels and plans be in digital format and placed in a database for easy query
and analysis. The database should be organized via a LAN and all data should be archived. GIS
was seen as integral in the production of tourist and road maps of the island, among others.
Mainstreaming of GIS in the roles and responsibilities of the Forestry Department can be through
the exposure of the entire staff to the usefulness of GIS in decision-making. At LUCELEC,
mainstreaming of GIS into the roles and responsibilities are ongoing seminars for senior level
management and obtaining certification for GIS technicians prepared by CARILEC and from an
approved educational institution.
ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a small island developing state in the Lesser Antilles and
comprises 30 islands, inlets and cays, with a total combined area of 150.2 square miles (389 sq
km). The volcanic island of Saint Vincent, with an area of 132.8 square miles (344 sq km), is
mountainous and rugged, with numerous rivers flowing in deep, narrow valleys over short
distances to the sea. The highest peak, Mount Soufrière standing at 3,952 ft (1,234 m) in the
northern part of the island, is associated with a stratovolcano, the Soufrière volcano. The islands
of the Grenadines stretch over a distance of 45 miles to the south of the main island, St. Vincent.
They are much smaller than the island of St. Vincent, less rugged and possess white, sandy
beaches.
The population of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is estimated at 116,812 (July 2003 est.) with
28.2% of its people under 15 years old and 65.5% making up the economically active population.
85% of the population lives on the narrow coastal strip below 5m and less than 5 km from the
high-water mark. 80 % of its infrastructure and 90% of its economic investment lie within this
narrow zone (OAS, 2000). Roughly 90% of the population lives on the main island of St.
Vincent.
The country's economy is based mainly on agriculture from bananas and arrowroot,
manufacturing industry, construction and mining, tourism and services. Its per capita GDP is an
estimated US$2,900 (2002 est.) with the sectors of agriculture, industry and services contributing
10%, 26% and 64% respectively to the GDP (CIA World Factbook 2003).
Summary of Current GIS Capacity
In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, GIS is currently being used to a limited extent as a tool by
some agencies. The most urgent needs appear to be technical support and software maintenance.
There is a need for training of staff in all GIS related topics. The availability of trained staff
would enable the expanded use of GIS. There is a need to budget for the development of GIS and
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
produce policies and standards to guide this development. Relevant agencies include the Physical
Planning Unit and the Fisheries Division.
Appendix A12 presents the spatial data required for each agency interviewed in St. Vincent and
the Grenadines. From this list, it is evident that the agencies need to have a comprehensive
spatial database of physical, hazard and anthropogenic features. The common requirements of
departments are an indication the efficiencies could be gained by sharing of datasets.
The Physical Planning Unit has most of its data for St. Vincent and the Grenadines in digital and
hard copy formats. The source of their spatial data is over 15 years old, coming from aerial
photographs, topographic maps and survey plans. There are many issues with data quality at this
agency. Their staff has received limited training in GIS and there are plans for mainstreaming
GIS into the agency. They do not have database management software for effective management
of their data. This may be as a result of lack of a budget for IT at the agency.
The Fisheries Division requires digital data on physical and anthropogenic features, and
hazardous phenomena. It does not possess any GIS software and their staff has limited training
in GIS. However, the Division will soon be using GIS for resource mapping but it recognises
that a lack of expertise may hinder the rapid development of GIS within the Division.
VINLEC has very limited data for use in GIS. It has a budget for IT and possesses numerous
hardware and database management software. Its senior executives have been introduced to GIS
techniques and the agency has plans for mainstreaming GIS into its operations.
Table 12 shows the characteristics of the spatial data currently available for St. Vincent and the
Grenadines. The country does not possess comprehensive digital data for use in GIS. Their
source of data comes mainly from topographic maps of the country, which are at least 30 years
out of date, and aerial photographs and survey plans of more recent vintage.
Table 12: Selected Spatial Data Available for St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Year Scale
Title
Source
1983 1:2,500
Topographic
Scanned maps from Forestry Division
1:25,000
Not
1: 2,500
Survey plans
Lands and Surveys Division
known
1999
1:10,000
Aerial photographs
Lands and Surveys Division
The islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines have some hardware but do not have updated GIS
software. There is need for more up-to-date data on physical, anthropogenic and hazard-related
phenomena so that full use can be made of GIS when it is introduced fully into these agencies.
There is a need for the implementation of database management software in the Physical
Planning Unit and the Fisheries Division. The agencies surveyed indicated that training and
technical support, improved interagency connectivity, and an annual budget for IT are in urgent
need. Although no plans for mainstreaming of GIS into these agencies were articulated, they
recognize that GIS would be useful in the decision-making process.
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern most Caribbean.
The country covers an area of 5,128 square kilometers (1,979 sq mi) and consists of two main
islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and 21 smaller islands. Trinidad is the larger and more populous
of the main islands; Tobago is much smaller, comprising about 6% of the total area and 4% of
the population. Unlike most of the English-speaking Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago is a
primarily industrialized country whose economy is based petroleum and petrochemicals.
(Source: World Factbook)
Summary of Current GIS Capacity
Overall, the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago is traditionally recognized as one of the
powerhouses in the Caribbean where the application of GIS technology is concerned.
In Trinidad, the importance of GIS has been recognized. Agencies indicated that GIS could
support and improve the efficiency of functions. Agencies generally have adequate hardware and
software installed and a complement of staff trained in basic GIS skills. There is a need for GIS
training particularly in advanced topics. Survey information suggests that there is very limited
sharing of data and GIS resources between agencies. As a result, agencies are isolated and unable
to benefit from shared experiences. There is considerable duplication in effort, cost and data.
Currently, there are a number of agencies using GIS to varying degrees, however, the focus of
GIS activity is on map production. The limited spatial analysis and report generation is directly
related to the level of GIS skills available. GIS needs to be integrated into agency functions and
used more widely as a decision making tool. Agencies need to budget for GIS and produce
policies and standards to guide this development.
Appendix A13 considers the spatial data required for each agency interviewed in Trinidad. From
this list, it is evident that a comprehensive spatial database of physical, hazard and anthropogenic
features is being developed in Trinidad. There are some common data requirements between
departments, which indicate that efficiencies could be gained by sharing of datasets. In order to
facilitate this, a policy on data sharing must be developed by the Government.
Table 13 shows the characteristics of the spatial data currently available for Trinidad. Complete
base map coverage at a range of scales is available for the island. Considerable spatial data is
available. Mapping and imagery is available at the scale required to support GIS development.
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
Table 13: Nature of the spatial data currently available
Year Scale
Title
Source
1994
Topographic map of East Port of Spain
Lands & Surveys
Division
2002
1 meter
IKONOS
Town and Country
Planning Division
2002
30m
LANDSAT
Town and Country
Planning Division
1977
1:25,000
Topographic map of Trinidad and Tobago
Lands & Surveys
Division
1:10,000
Arima Topographic Map (3)
1995 1:75,000 Disaster Response Maps (8)
NEMA
1:150,000
1985
Tobago Reef localities (6)
NEMA
Topographical plans of an area at Wallerfield (6)
1:9,000
Ward of La Brea (2)
1972
1:25,000
Contour Map of Trinidad
1:10,000
Aerial photograph of Point Lisas Industrial Estate
1995
1:5,000
Point Lisas Industrial Estate Layout Plan
1:115,000
Provisional Hazard Map for M.T.B.E
WASA
Contamination of Groundwater in Trinidad
North East Trinidad WASA Facilities
WASA
1999
1:150,000
Watershed Boundaries in Trinidad
1986
1:7,000
Trinidad Aerial photographs
Min. of Agriculture
1991
1: 150 000
Trinidad showing Electoral Areas of the Municipal
Corporations and the Regional Municipalities
1992
Synthesis map: Indigenous Forest of Trinidad (2)
Forest Division
1982
1: 150 000
Planning Regions and Settlement Areas in T&T
TCPD
1998
1: 100 000
Geological Map of Trinidad and Tobago
Ministry of Energy
1980
Tobago National Parks and other Protected Areas
Ministry of Agriculture
1986
1: 75 000
Trinidad Aerial photographs
Lands & Surveys
Division
1986 1:2500
Scarborough
(Aerial)
(3)
TCPD
1994
1: 150 000
Land Use Classification for Trinidad and Tobago
KAIRI Consultants
(Aerial)
1979
Caroni Swamp National Park Site Layout
1989
1: 5000
Hydrogeological map of (1) Trinidad and (2)
WASA
Tobago
1996
Network of World Network of Biosphere reserves
UNESCO
1992
1: 150 000
Trinidad Central Sewered Areas and STPs within
WASA
their wards and hydrometric areas
1992
1: 50 000
Tobago Functional & Non-Functional STPs and
WASA
productive animal farms within Hydrometric Areas
2001
Offshore areas under exploration showing licensed
Ministry of Energy
and open areas
1997
1: 25 000
County of St. Patrick Ward of Cedros
Lands & Surveys
(Topographic Map) (3)
Division
2001
Victoria Mayaro Forest Reserve (GIS)
Geometrics Surveying
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
Consultants Limited
1986
1:10,000
Aerial photography
Lands and Surveys
1994
1: 25,000
Aerial photography
Lands and Surveys
2003
1: 10,000
Aerial photography
Lands and Surveys
2004
1m
IKONOS of Maraval area
Trinidad has been involved in the development of GIS for a considerable period of time and a
number of agencies are using GIS to various extents. Most agencies use GIS to produce maps
and there is limited emphasis on either database development or spatial analysis. There is GIS
software, hardware and trained staff scattered throughout agencies. The operating systems are
Windows based. ArcGIS and ArcView are the dominant GIS software used. A mix of database
management software is used but Microsoft Server and MS Access dominate however, there is
limited spatial database development. There is a general absence of IT, GIS and data standards
and policies. As a result agencies indicate the full range of issues and challenges with regards to
GIS and data.
None of the agencies interviewed indicated having a GIS / ICT plan. There is an obvious need to
develop these plans for agencies in Trinidad. The EMA completed the SWOT analysis. It was
apparent that skilled staff exists but there is a need for additional resources and training.
3. REGIONAL SYNTHESIS
It goes without saying that there are multiple ways to sift the wealth of information provided on
the snapshot of the state of GIS capacity and implementation in the Caribbean. As in the case of
the country summaries, this regional summary will examine GIS capacity from the multiple
angles of human resources, software and hardware resources and data resources.
While this regional assessment does not benefit, for instance, from benchmarking the IWCAM
Project's thirteen participating countries with countries from another related region (for instance,
Central America), it can nonetheless be concluded that overall GIS implementation in the
Caribbean is at an intermediate stage of development. This likewise means that there exists
significant potential across all of the participating countries for further application of the
technology for improved coastal areas and watershed management, as is the overarching goal of
the IWCAM Project.
Without recounting the individual cases, it can be said quite generally that capacity varies across
the region (i.e. from country to country), and within countries (i.e. from institution to institution).
The reasons for these differences in development can no doubt be generalized as having been
caused by different social, economic, and institutional conditions, among others.
Software Infrastructure
In GIS application software being employed, it should be noted that in the case of at least one of
the countries (i.e. the largest and most populous nation in the Caribbean), trade restrictions have
greatly impacted the choice of analytical software available to that country. Where most of the
nations of the Caribbean are utilizing software applications developed by the Environmental
Systems Research Institute (ESRI), the nation of Cuba stands out as one which for the most part
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
does not take part in that standardization of the software which is being employed. This is, of
course, not to place a premium on commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS) but merely to state
the reality that the glaring majority of the institutions surveyed across the 13 PCs were making
use of commercial software such as ESRI's ArcGIS ® 8.x 9.x and ArcView ® 3.x software
applications.
If the region is almost standardized in the GIS application software being used, it would seem
that the countries are also, for the most part, standardized in the lack of use of certain software,
namely database management software for managing data structures. That is, the vast majority of
the institutions surveyed did not, for one, appear to be utilizing much in the way of database
management software for their data holdings. Rather, most of the institutions surveyed seemed to
be simply employing Microsoft Access to a limited extent for database management, although
other options such as ESRI's Arc Spatial Data Engine (ArcSDE) ® and ArcGIS Server exist.
In various interviews the respondents pointed out that while funds for software upgrades (as well
as for hardware upgrades) were often sparse, it was also recognized that the technical personnel
were not, in any event, making full use of the GIS software applications already available to
them. Obtaining the latest versions of software in order to exploit newly-added functionalities
was therefore not considered crucial to performance of daily activities. In fact, many
organizations responded that GIS application software had only been acquired through projects
or donations. Most organizations consulted indicated that they did not have budgets for obtaining
new software.
Additionally, the information received indicates that satellite image processing software such as
ERDAS Imagine ® are utilized to a far lesser extent than standard GIS software applications.
This has implications in terms of the analyses being conducted. If lack of access to satellite
image and raster processing software is indeed a reality, this would mean, for instance, that the
ability to conduct change analyses using satellite imagery or digital aerial photography would be
limited. Information received seems to corroborate this in that many of the countries indicated
having outdated vegetation and land cover maps which are generally the products of
classification of remotely-sensed data such as aerial photography or satellite imagery. In addition
to a potential need for such types of software, this might point to a need for building of human
capacities in that area.
Across a number of countries, the field of web mapping enticed the interest of a number of
survey respondents. Where the technology is relatively new, a number of institutions expressed
interest, for instance, in developing up web map services and hence being able to serve their
content over the Internet.
Hardware Infrastructure
It is difficult to really characterize whether existing hardware resources are adequate for the
implementation of GIS activities. It is difficult to make such a judgment call partly because of
the ever changing state of technology. For instance, the hardware resources required just five
years ago to run ESRI's ArcView 3.2 software, for instance, have radically changed compared to
the resources required to run ArcGIS 9.2. Virtually no institution indicated that hardware was the
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
limiting factor for why it had not implemented a GIS (though of course no institutions without
GIS had been consulted).
It should nonetheless be noted that while institutions are by and large making do with current
hardware resources, perhaps tasks could be performed more efficiently with access to greater
hardware resources. For instance, certain institutions have found it more effective to manage
their data resources using servers and formal data management software, while other institutions
without such resources are forced to make do with desktop computers and external storage on
portable hard drives. Overall, it seemed that most institutions did not have hardware upgrades
budgeted and that upgrading of hardware was hence sporadic.
Human Resources
The main human resource issues encountered seemed to be that in some cases, institutions
simply do not have the numbers of technical personnel necessary for the performance of tasks.
This goes beyond GIS-related activities per se as a number of institutions are simply strapped for
personnel overall, not just information scientists. The other main issue encountered seems to be
the level of training and expertise of current technical personnel. This second issue, however,
varied from country to country. Representatives from countries such as Jamaica emphasized the
high level of skill of their current base of professionals. Domain expertise is related to the level
of GIS training and expertise, however, as many of the responding organizations indicated
interest in utilizing GIS in the range of applications noted in the survey questionnaire (e.g. water
pollution modeling, air quality monitoring, etc.). This apparent lack of advanced application of
GIS therefore points to a need to strengthen human capacities.
It bears noting that in the Caribbean there are a number of institutions such as the University of
the West Indies which have made great strides in strengthening human capacity in GIS across the
region.
Data Resources
In terms of available data resources across the region, it is a mixed picture. The annexed survey
questionnaire, for instance, lists the range of problems with data. Of these, a number of issues
with data resources stand out, largely pertaining to the lack of updated data and to the absence of
documentation of existing data.
For example, in almost every single country examined, the tracking of land use change is limited
by the lack of updated data. It bears reminding that multilateral environmental agreements such
as the Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention to Combat Desertification and the
Framework Convention on Climate Change to which virtually all thirteen PCs are signatories
all require regular updating of land use change and related data, for instance. While many
countries possessed fairly high resolution satellite imagery and / or aerial photography, this data
was usually outdated or in the process of becoming obsolete.
Related to such data, in the case of the topographic sheets which are based on such data, almost
all countries were relying on topographic sheets developed at latest in the early 1990s (i.e. data
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
more than 15 years old). With project funding from the European Union, Haiti seemed to be the
only country in the entire region attempting to recreate its topographic sheet series.
Most countries also exhibited a lack of documentation of their data (a data management issue).
Metadata (i.e. data about data) are simply not being developed for existing spatial data. This is
problematic for a variety of reasons. For one, lack of data documentation usually leads to
inappropriate use of data because analysts were unaware of certain characteristics of the data.
Additionally, combined with staff turnover, lack of metadata also leads to the loss of knowledge
about data and loss of the data's history. Presence of metadata has the positive effect of leading
to data discovery. In a few cases, the lack of data documentation led to institutions interviewed
asserting that certain types of data did not exist, only to be contradicted by other institutions
which asserted having possession of such data.
Further regarding data resources, following from the data that most institutions indicated was
available to them, it seems that a number of institutions are unaware of a number of data
resources available on the Internet, particularly as it relates to satellite imagery. Sites such as the
Global Land Cover Facility (www.landcover.org), for instance, offers 30m LandSat satellite
imagery of the entire world (including all of the Caribbean) for the periods circa 1980, circa
1990 and circa 2000. There are also a number of other data resources on the Internet that perhaps
institutions are unaware of. Through the Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP
DAAC: http://edcdaac.usgs.gov/main.asp), daily satellite imagery from the MODIS sensor can
be downloaded, which allows for monitoring of a number of atmospheric, terrestrial and marine
environmental variables, such as:
Aerosol concentrations
Atmospheric profiles
Dissolved organic matter concentrations
Fires
Ocean chlorophyll concentrations
Sea surface temperature
Vegetation indices
While MODIS data are available at only coarse resolutions (between 250m and 1km), in other
parts of the world (e.g. in neighboring Central America see www.servir.net), the data is being
used for daily environmental monitoring, complementing data being collected by in-situ sensors.
Furthermore, it should be noted that there is a great variety of data available, particularly
remotely-sensed data, which might be used to strengthen GIS capacity in the Caribbean.
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
Table 14: Summary of GIS Capacity in IWCAM Participating Countries
COUNTRY
Antigua & Barbuda
The Bahamas
Barbados
Cuba
Area (sq. km)
442
13,878
430
110,861
Population
74,000
321,000
272,000
11,353,000
Bahamas National GIS
Key institution(s)
APUA
Centre
BWA, CZMU
CITMA, CIMAB
GIS software
ArcGIS
ArcGIS
ArcGIS
Open source
Database software
MS Access
ArcSDE
MS Access
MS Access
Updated topographic
sheets?
No
No
No
No
Last update
1980
Most recent detailed
Imagery
2005
N / A
2004
N / A
Source
Aerial
Ikonos imagery
Overall level of GIS
implementation
Low
High
Medium
High
COUNTRY Dominica
Dominican
Republic
Grenada
Haiti
Area (sq. km)
751
48,671
344
27,750
Population
79,000
8,998,000
80,000
8,549,000
Lands & Surveys
Key institution(s)
Division
SEMARN
Land Use Division
CN IGS
GIS software
ArcView
ArcGIS
ArcGIS
ArcGIS
Database software
MS Access
ArcSDE
MS Access
ArcSDE
Updated topographic
sheets?
No
No
No
In process
Last update
1989
1982
1978
Most recent detailed
imagery
1992
N / A
2005
2002
Source
Aerial
Ikonos imagery
Aerial
Overall level of GIS
implementation
Medium
Medium
Low
High
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
COUNTRY
St. Vincent & the
Trinidad &
Jamaica
St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Lucia
Grenadines
Tobago
Area (sq. km)
10,991
261
539
388
5,130
Population
2,701,000
42,000
152,000
121,000
1,311,000
Key institution(s)
Ministry of
Agriculture &
Dept of Physical
Physical Planning
Buccoo Reef
Lands
Planning & Envt.
Forestry Dept.
Unit
Trust, IMA
GIS software
ArcGIS
ArcGIS
ArcGIS
ArcView
ArcGIS
Database software
ArcSDE
MS Access
MS Access
MS Access
MS Access
Updated topographic
data?
No
In process
No
No
No
Last update
1992
1995
1983
1977
Most recent detailed
imagery
2001
2001
2004
1999
2002
Source
Ikonos
Aerial
Aerial
Aerial
Ikonos imagery
Overall level of GIS
implementation
High
Low
Medium
Low
High
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
Recommendations
The previous sections have provided a general review of the state of GIS capacity across the
Caribbean in the IWCAM Project's thirteen PCs. As a follow-up to this rapid assessment, a
"Road Map Towards Effective Mainstreaming of GIS for Watershed Management in the
Caribbean" document has been developed which outlines the framework for how capacity can
be built in the utilization of GIS as a management tool for coastal areas and watersheds.
It should be noted that within the context of the overall IWCAM Project, the Road Map
document itself presents in detail the substantive recommendations on the way forward in
addressing the issues identified in this regional assessment. Nevertheless, in excerpting and
referring back to the Road Map, eight areas for developing overall GIS infrastructure have been
identified. These include:
1. Comprehensive needs assessment This assessment has served as a `rough and ready'
assessment of overall GIS capacity across the thirteen PCs. For capacity to be
strengthened, a more in-depth and comprehensive assessment of individual country and
institutional needs must be undertaken. The survey questionnaire utilized in this survey
attempted to tease out some of the needs of the various responding institutions.
2. Acquisition and management of data and databases Significant issues identified
through this assessment include that (i) institutions often do not have access to the data
they require to conduct their work, and (ii) overall, institutions exhibit limited capacity to
manage their data resources. As such, significant attention has to be given to how
institutions might acquire the data that they do need. Additionally, capacities in data
management (through databases, for instance) must also be strengthened.
3. Acquisition and management of technological resources It goes without saying that
without the tools (i.e. software and hardware) to perform spatial analyses institutions
cannot have GIS capacity. Attention must therefore be given to ensuring that institutions
have the appropriate technology resources for conducting their spatial analyses.
4. Development and management of human capacity Perhaps the most important
element in the entire picture of `GIS capacity' is human resources. As mentioned, more
pressing issues in human capacity include the absence of trained personnel in large
enough numbers, and to a certain extent, the lack of training and expertise of existing
human resources. Where the availability of suitable numbers of trained technical
personnel available to work in various institutions will be a function of budget,
nevertheless the level of training is something that can be addressed fairly easily. In the
Caribbean there exist resources such as the University of the West Indies which has
trained the scores of GIS analysts currently working across the region.
5. Development and management of institutional environment As noted, in a small
number of countries in the Caribbean, significant advances have been made in the
development of national frameworks to facilitate GIS implementation. These include the
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IWCAM Regional GIS Capacity Assessment (Sept. 2007 revision)
frameworks in place in the Bahamas, Jamaica, Haiti and other nations of the region. In
order to support the mainstreaming of GIS as a management tool, institutional
frameworks must be addressed. For instance, the roles of various institutions with respect
to this theme will likely have to be figured out.
6. Development of products and services In terms of GIS capacity, a distinction must be
made between information products (for instance, statistics, maps and reports) and raw
data itself. One of the key areas which must be addressed is how GIS can be used to
produce various information products as well as services for the spectrum of decision-
makers. For instance, a number of the institutions identified already provide products and
services to both the public and the commercial sector.
7. Continuous monitoring and evaluation of the system A key need that has to be
addressed is how GIS can be applied for monitoring and evaluation. This extends to the
related technology of remote sensing in which information can be extracted, say, from
regularly updated satellite imagery to provide estimates of environmental change.
8. Funding mechanisms and political support It must be emphasized that GIS
technology can only be utilized for environmental management if there is both financial
and political support. As noted earlier, in many cases there is limited financial support for
the maintenance of GIS systems within organizations. Additionally, in a number of
organizations, there is little support for the application of GIS because managers are
simply unaware of the technology's potential.
In conclusion it must be reiterated that according to this rapid assessment of GIS capacity in the
Caribbean, the state of GIS capacity varies across the Caribbean, from country to country, as
well as within each country. At the regional level, different countries vary in their experiences
with and applications of GIS.
34