GIS in planning, decision making

 By MOSES ROBBY Lae

EXPERTS say that geographical information systems (GIS) technology can be integrated into any enterprise information system framework. 

This is true in a sense that GIS tools are the basic implementers of geographic data collected from GPS equipment and base maps from various sources. 

Various professionals use GIS tools to convert field data into geographic data that allows them to view, understand, question, interpret, and visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports, and charts. 

They also use GIS tool to answer questions and solve problems by looking at the data in a way that is quickly understood and easily shared.

Industry experts use GIS system to derive useful information for planning and decision making. 

Ever since man started living in a society, he has been interested in collection and compilation of information pertaining to his surroundings in the form of maps, for use in development of his region, build township, locate ports, forts, palaces, lakes and other civic amenities.  

From traditional gathering of information to civilised methods of gathering information, maps have dominated the modern society for decision making process. 

Without maps decision making process in dynamic disciplines such as mining, petroleum, agriculture and forestry projects would have not sustained to any positive feedbacks. 

It was through maps that planning and decision making process becomes much more efficient and effective.

Former NARI director general Dr Raghunath Ghodake, in one of his speeches, said: “Partnership and integration drives the development path of any projects”. The path to a good planning and decision making process is derived through a cohesive approach using the GIS tool that is applicable to map out changes and development paths. 

When it comes to partnership and integration, NARI GIS has become the focal point to address the scientific role of the institution by providing valued GIS information to its client. 

It has since addressed a lot of scientific and research problems, hypothesis of research papers, providing end results for best decision making process and providing a much dynamic and robust outcome for on-going research problems.

The application of the two common GIS databases will give an indication of where, what and how it is integrated into the work programmes and sub programmes to strategically meet NARI’s strategic and results framework. 

GIS plays a very vital role in defining the scope of NARI’s direction in its research and development activities to meet its motto to serve the needs of smallholder farmers through scientific innovations for a better sustainable development in agriculture.

NARI’s planning and decision making process is driven by the results stemmed from the MASP and PNGRIS databases. 

The result of the integrated database system derived what is known as  Agriculture Development Domains (ADDs). 

ADD is a coding system that depicts spatial similarities and differences in the potential for agricultural development in a geographic area. 

NARI identified eight ADD clusters that are influenced by the bio-physical (agricultural potential) and the socio-economic (access to services and population density) environment in PNG. 

These clusters are proxy measures for challenges and opportunities in the highly diverse landscape of farming community in PNG. 

By which NARI’s mandate is to create impact on smallholder farming and rural community. 

Using ADDs, NARI programmes are based on a constraints and objective analysis of ADDs to identify possible areas of Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) interventions and adaptations through NARI Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) technologies. 

The NARI technologies through AR4D are to improve food crop, livestock production and marketing in the local communities.

This example shows the innovative potential in using GIS tools as the catalyst to drive and influence decision making processes on agriculture impacts to local communities.