ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, May 3rd, 2012 – Public officers of the National Geographical Information System (GIS) Committee are enhancing their skills with training in both GIS and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to fulfil Government’s agenda to achieve coordinated physical development.
The training sessions are being facilitated by the Town and Country Planning, with training for officers from the National Parks Trust beginning yesterday, May 2, and which ends later today.
Acting Information Manager in the Town and Country Planning Department Mr. Kyron Adams, also the facilitator, told the Department of Information and Public Relations, “The training will allow officers to truly appreciate the impact that GIS and GPS can have on planning. For instance, both systems allow for better informed decision making on Government’s part, enhanced communication between agencies who use the systems, in addition to improved recordkeeping.”
The information manager said the Town and Country Planning Department have been mainly responsible for Government’s GIS function, and are now training officers from several other departments, adding, “We are equipping other agencies with the knowledge and skill necessary to achieve coordinated physical development. This way, planning is the remit of every Government department associated with the planning process; hence achieving a more informed process and establishing a well coordinated approach.”
According to Mr. Adams, “GIS and GPS work hand in hand; in that GIS is a combination of hardware and software, that takes real life features or objects and uses coordinates to map them; while GPS is a navigational system involving satellites that is used to find those features or objects that have already been mapped.”
Specifically, Mr. Adams noted that the Town and Country Planning Department uses the GIS in locating development application sites, creating development plans for various communities and general planning analysis.
Mr. Adams also indicated that the training is a major benefit to those officers involved in rescue services, because officers will be able to locate buildings quickly using both the GIS and GPS; hence increasing their efficiency.
The first GIS and GPS training session this year began on April 18 with officers from the Environmental Health Department. Also in April, Planning Technician Mr. Kahrim Skelton used GPS technology to assist the Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue Services Department in mapping the locations of fire hydrants throughout Tortola.
The Survey Department, Land Registry, National Parks Trust, Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue Services Department, Environmental Health, Conservation and Fisheries Department and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force are included in the National GIS Committee.
For more information, please telephone Mr. Kyron Adams at the Town and Country Planning Department at 468-3701 extension 2158.
Training in both the Geographical Information and Global Positioning Systems are in keeping with Part III of the Physical Planning Act and its goals which are to bring about orderly and coordinated physical development of the community and its surrounding areas.
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