District leaders learn how to make better use of the WebGIS for effective land use |06 October 2017

All district administrators (DAs) have learnt how to better make use of the website for Geographic Information Systems to know the topography and other features and characteristics of land available in their districts when considering projects for development.

This was through a one-day training session which the Ministry of Local Government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Habitat, Infrastructure and Land Transport (MHILT) organised earlier this week at Oceangate House.

The website for Geographic Information Systems (WebGIS) and data launched in 2013 is an essential tool as it makes it possible for people to access basic GIS data on any part of Mahé from the comfort of their homes and offices. It also makes it possible for foreigners to get spatial information about Seychelles before they visit us.

Marie-Celine Vidot, the principal secretary for local government, said the DAs as community leaders need spatial information when discussing and planning with their different partner ministries projects such as roads, housing and other community infrastructure. As a result, they need to know the size of the land that they have available, its topography and how best to proceed with proposed developments.

Mrs Vidot also noted that geographic information is also crucial in order to mitigate the impacts of climate change and this through properly calculated risk reduction strategies.

“This training to make better use of the WebGIS has come at the right time to equip DAs with additional technical tools which would allow them to better assess the different terrains in the districts in order to measure risks, difficulties and other challenges when considering projects to better address the needs of their community,” Mrs Vidot said.

She added that this is but only the first of such training as her ministry is considering to organise similar session for the management as well as project officers who work directly with the districts.

The training was led by Francis Coeur de Lion, the director for GIS and IT Support Services in the MHILT.

He said since its launch the WebGIS has been used online mostly by draughtsmen, architects and other learned individuals and DAs were not necessarily a group who often make use of this essential tool.

“They were missing out on a tool which is very useful in their work. Now they have learnt the importance of the site and how it can help them and they are very much interested,” Mr Coeur de Lion said.

He noted that the MHILT has a broader project to create a platform on which the DAs can themselves upload information about their districts but for the time being they are keen to know and learn how to better make use of the WebGIS.