Transcript Getting started with GIS - University of Cape Town

Getting started with GIS:
Geographical Information Systems
Claire Davis
Climate Change, CSIR
What is GIS?
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GIS is a technological field that incorporates geographical
features with tabular data in order to map and analyze
assess real-world problems
Two major ways of representing data:
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Raster
Vector
Introduction to GIS, CSAG Winter School, July 2010
What makes GIS unique?
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Spatial analysis:
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Climate Change Downscalings
Database Query
Overlay
Proximity Analysis
Network Analysis
Digital Terrain Model
Statistical and Tabular Analysis
Recently used in assessment
of global change
Introduction to GIS, CSAG
Winter School, July 2010
The advantages of climate change data in
GIS format
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Kruger to Canyons Case Study
Biosphere Reserve in 2001
UNESCO’s Man
Excellent subject for considering how climate
and Biosphere
change impacts might be successfully managed
in a diverse landscape.
Programme
Large climatic and topographical range
Diverse array of land-use and economic activities
Multiple different stressors across a range of scales
Introduction to GIS, CSAG
Winter School, July 2010
K2C Case Study
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Aim: investigate and communicate the latest climate change
predictions, impacts and research to key stakeholders
within the diverse landscape of the Kruger to Canyons
Biosphere Region
Stakeholder engagement = key component
Climate Change Handbook
www.rvatlas.org/k2c
Introduction to GIS, CSAG
Winter School, July 2010
Stakeholder responses
Sector
Impact of concern
Increase of extreme heat events
Agriculture
Reduction in crop suitability and
productivity
Responses able to undertake
Time frame of concerns
Immediate
Medium – long
Species range shifts
Erect protective shelters e.g. shadecloth for livestock and
vulnerable crops
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Crop switching in the long term
Subsidies for subsistence/emerging farmers
Improved agricultural extension network
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Expand the protected area network through formal and
informal conservation efforts
Assisted plant movement for endangered plants
Long
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Impacts on ecosystem services
Conservation
Alteration of key ecological
process drivers
Increased extent of malaria and
heat stress will impact ecotourism
Medium
Short-medium
Short-medium
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Translate scientific findings and information into policy and
law
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Alter key management strategies
Introduce clearly defined adaptive management
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Increase malaria control programs
Intensify marketing strategies for cooler winter times when
malaria risk is lowest
Enforce clean energy requirements
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Water
Variability in water
quantity
Reductions in water quality
Disaster management; increases
in extreme events
Provincial and local
Municipality
Local community
Forestry
Risks require improved facilities
Short-medium term
Short-medium
Short - long
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Set up ‘drought’ committees to disseminate information
and make decisions for the long and short term
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Invest in existing efforts e.g. Working for Water
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Regulate and enforce developments that will buffer against
disasters e.g. water storage
Improve disaster management plans based on future
predictions
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Immediate
Maintain and develop existing infrastructure e.g. maintain sewage
works and waste facilities
Food and economic security
threatened by climatic extremes
Immediate
Encourage sustainable harvesting and use of plants by community
Need to explore alternative energy sources
Health of work force; malaria,
heat stress and respiratory /
immune conditions
Immediate
Species site matching
More research and development of hybrids
Immediate
Unknown
Introduction to GIS, CSAG
Winter School, July 2010
Stakeholder responses cont.
Uncertainty of the extent of
change and the lack of
baseline data
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Immediate
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Cross-Sectoral Concerns
General adaptation options
Increased presence of pests,
pathogens, alien plant
invasion and bush
encroachment
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Immediate
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Increased capacity and budget
for baseline monitoring
More precise models and
accurate information
More directed research and
development
Use existing resources e.g.
Working for Water and
Working for Fire
Research into land
management plans to reduce
tree cover
Capacity, funding and knowledge dissemination
Increased awareness and climate change education in local communities
Local adaptive capacity (e.g. municipalities) needs to be strengthened
Input short term climate predictions into existing management strategies and promote scenario planning
Introduction to GIS, CSAG
Winter School, July 2010
Disadvantages and ‘to do’ list
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GIS accuracy depends upon the source data
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Inter-conversions between ArcGIS 9.1, ArcGIS 9.2, Edrisi
Kilamanjaro/Taiga, and various freeware options
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Finding the best way to communicate climate change
information to a range of stakeholders
Introduction to GIS, CSAG
Winter School, July 2010
Tutorial and exercise
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Been provided with:
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GIS Manual (with background information on GIS)
K2C Handbook
Provinces of South Africa
Towns of South Africa
Kruger National Park
Rainfall and temperature projections from 2 models
Hawths Tools
3 free GIS programs
Use this time to work through the tutorials (no/limited
GIS background) and exercise (advanced)
Introduction to GIS, CSAG
Winter School, July 2010