The document summarizes the student's 8-week industrial attachment at the Kenya Forest Service Headquarters. The student was attached to the Information Center department, which handles GIS and IT functions. During the attachment, the student digitized forest maps, created a spatial database of forest information, helped implement a new Forest Management Information System, and verified data using satellite imagery. The student gained experience applying GIS skills and found the attachment reinforced their interest in pursuing a career in geomatics engineering. Some challenges included learning new software and limited computer access, but these were overcome through observation, participation, and discussion with officers. Overall, the attachment was a success in providing real-world work experience relevant to the student's field of study.

1. JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND
TECHNOLOGY
(JKUAT)
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
EXTERNALATTACHMENT REPORT
ATTACHED AT:
KENYA FOREST SERVICE HEADQUARTERS
(INFORMATION CENTER)
PERIOD:
8 weeks from 2/02/2015 to 27/03/2015
PRESENTED BY:
NAME: NGENO VICTOR KIPKOECH
REG: EN281-0264/2010
DEPARTMENT OF GEOMATIC ENGINEERING AND GIS
(GEGIS)
DATE: 20th
May 2015
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2. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I would like to first to thank God for His protection during the attachment
period. I also would like to thank the following at the Kenya Forest Service office:
– Madam Serah – Head of GIS
– Mr. Richard Mwangi – Geoserver and Database office
– Mr. Anthony and Mr. Wagura – GIS lab
– Martin and Mr. Mark Boitt – Heads TERRA Office
– Francis, Damaris, Ann and Chemu – TERRA Office
– Catering team
I thank all at the Information Center for their welcome and support in any
capacity. Your assistance was of much value. My sincere appreciation goes out to
Mr. Richard Mwangi, my supervisor, for his assistance. Above all, I appreciate the
management of Kenya Forest Service for giving us an opportunity to learn with
them.
THANK YOU.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report contains the details of my industrial attachment at Kenya Forest
Service Headquarters. Industrial attachments are a major factor in the Faculty of
Engineering. It is mandatory and helps a student gain experience in their various
fields of study. Students are required to acquire additional practical experience
to supplement their course of study in the university. They are also exposed to
the real world of work and its challenges which will prepare them towards their
future careers.
I was attached at the Information Center Building. The purpose of my
attachment was any GIS, Remote Sensing or Land Survey related activity. Kenya
Forest Service(KFS) offers the all three. GIS is used to manage forest information
containing a database of all the forests in Kenya with all its data and metadata.
Remote sensing is used to verify information and also to collect more details.
Survey exercises were done in the field to check the truth of any information or
verify anything that is unclear. My attachment period was of 8 weeks.
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3. Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENT......................................................................................................................2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..................................................................................................................2
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................3
1.1 History of the organization........................................................................................................3
1.2 Main functions or core activities of the host organization ........................................................4
1.3 Vision, mission statement and core values of the institution.....................................................4
1.4 Organizational structure of the host institution..........................................................................4
CHAPTER TWO: HOST ATTACHMENT DEPARTMENT...............................................................5
2.1. Key functions/ activities of the department..............................................................................5
2.2. Attache's assigned routine duties and department’s participation forums................................5
CHAPTER THREE: EVALUATION OF THE ATTACHMENT PERIOD ........................................6
3.1 Objectives Of The Industrial Attachment..................................................................................6
3.2 Success/ failure of the attachment exercise...............................................................................6
3.3 Challenges encountered by the student during the attachment period.......................................7
3.4 How the challenges were overcome /solved..............................................................................7
BIBLIOGRAPHY/ REFERENCES.....................................................................................................8
APPENDICES......................................................................................................................................8
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 History of the organization
The roots of KFS can be traced back as far as 1900's when, in 1902 the first
forest department was set up. By 1908, most of the major forest blocks as known
today had been set aside as forest land through gazettement. In 1957, the first
comprehensive forest policy was drawn up. It formed a basis for the protection
of forests and its sustainable exploitation. It had other details of afforestation
issues and conservation of forests, adequate management of private forests all of
which would provide sources of public amenity, recreation and as habitat for
wildlife.
In 1968, the government made a few modifications to contain the growing
population. The shamba system was introduced to aid in reafforestation and to
boost forest management. It was also to allow the locals near the forests access
to the arable land. Core to the modifications were establishment of local
managing authorities, promotion of research and education in forestry.
The Kenya Forest Master Plan(KEMP) was formulated and it centered on
community involvement, conservation and protection, decentralization and cost
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4. benefit sharing. This was meant to counter the widespread mismanagement and
political interference in forest management activities.
Kenya Forest Service in itself was formed in 2007 as a state corporation through
the implementation of the Forest Act 2005. It took over from all the other forests
departments.
1.2 Main functions or core activities of the host organization
• Sustainably manage natural forests for social, economic and environmental
benefits.
• Increase productivity of industrial forest plantations and enhance
efficiency in wood utilization.
• Promote farm forestry and commercial tree farming.
• Promote efficient utilization and marketing of forest products.
• Promote sustainable management of forests in the dry lands.
• Protect forestry resources and KFS properties.
• Develop and maintain essential infrastructure for effective forest
management and protection.
1.3 Vision, mission statement and core values of the institution.
VISION
To be the leading organization of excellence in sustainable forest management
and conservation globally.
MISSION
To enhance conservation and sustainable management of forests and allied
resources for environmental stability and social-economic development.
1.4 Organizational structure of the host institution
The KFS management structure comprises 10 conservancies that are ecologically
demarcated, 76 Zonal Forest Offices, 150 forest Stations, and 250 divisional
forest extension offices located countrywide who are critical in forest
management and surveillance.
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5. CHAPTER TWO: HOST ATTACHMENT DEPARTMENT
2.1. Key functions/ activities of the department.
I was attached at the Information Center where KFS combines the activities of
GIS and IT. The head of the GIS department is Madam Serah and her deputy is
Madam Eunice. Under them were the database administrators, GIS officers and
Technical Officers.
The GIS department collects data from the survey department which includes
map sheets of all forest information. To digitize the processes at KFS the
department uses GIS software to digitize the maps and add related data.
A new dispensation has come to KFS with the introduction of the FMIS which is
meant to manage all forest activities including:
– Planting management
– forest Inventory management
– Operations management and control
– Property and land management
It increases efficiency and transparency in all management levels. It has the
following benefits:
• Improved planning and plantation management
• Improved productivity and lower costs
• Consistent implementation and efficiency in resource allocation
• Improved budgeting and control
• Superior capture of key data during operations.
• Improved data security, quality and corporate governance by compiling,
cross-referencing and managing key data sets from across the company.
As an attache we became part of the implementation process attending trainings
and contributing to the process. It gave us a chance to understand how viscous
such a transition can be like especially in a governmental institution.
The GIS department is also tasked with forecasting forest related matters such as
size, health and percentage of trees on land.
2.2. Attache's assigned routine duties and department’s participation
forums.
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6. Our main duties included being involved making digital maps of all forest blocks
in Kenya, creating a database for the forest blocks with all the forest details,
participate in the implementation process of the FMIS through training and
actual data input and Geo-referencing satellite images and acquired scanned
maps.
We were also required to participate in any departmental meetings.
CHAPTER THREE: EVALUATION OF THE ATTACHMENT PERIOD
3.1 Objectives Of The Industrial Attachment.
The main objectives of the Industrial Attachment includes:
– To assess the interest of the student in the intended career
– To expose the students to work methods not taught in the university and
give access to equipment not usually available at the university.
– To give students an opportunity to apply knowledge learnt in class in real
work environments.
– To aid in giving the student a smooth transition from classroom to work
environment.
– To give students access to industrial contacts for future opportunities.
– To endear the potential employers of the students to the ability of the
students to achieve given duties thereby giving the students of the
university chances in the industry.
3.2 Success/ failure of the attachment exercise
I had much success in my attachment. I had the opportunity to show my
workmanship and apply my class knowledge to solve and accomplish the tasks
that were handed to me. I felt quite at home with the activities that the
Information Center undertakes.
I was given tasks that were quite related to what I had learnt. The tasks
included:
– Digitizing all the forest blocks in Kenya.
– Creating spatial databases of all forests in Kenya.
– Filling in the several data that describes the forest blocks
– Implementing a Forest Management Information System(FMIS) to manage
all the forest activities. This was a new system.
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7. – Verifying given data using ALOS satellite images or ground information by
going to the field or using Google maps background in QGIS.
– Attended discussions on the GIS modeling of charcoal consumption in
Kenya and their impact on forest quantity.
I was able to meet various capable GIS and IT officers who gave me an insight
into the industry. Achieving the tasks given to me gave me more confidence for
any task thereafter. I found out that, I could do the same things experienced
employees were doing. This was an indication that the skills I had acquired in
school were relevant and has set on a path towards a successful career.
All in all, I made an important discovery. Geomatic Engineering & GIS is my
breathe of life.
The only probable failure was that I never had a chance to partake in field
activities. It entailed travelling to the various forest stations to do ground
truthing of information.
3.3 Challenges encountered by the student during the attachment period.
The challenges included:
– Use of open source tools such as QGIS.
– No clear work schedules.
– Performing certain activities such as input of data into the FMIS.
– Access to a computer. They were few.
3.4 How the challenges were overcome /solved.
I utilized the following to overcome the challenges above:
• Observation
Through observation of what the other officers were doing or the methods they
were using to achieve certain objectives. I then used the same to achieve the
similar tasks that I was given.
• Participation
Through direct participation of any office activities such as attending training
sessions. Doing what the officers were doing such as working on different
stations of the same forest station. This while helping colleagues finish their
work in time also gave us the required experiences.
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8. • Discussions
Through discussions I was able to get through any difficulty I had while doing my
duties at the office. I told the officers my problems and they were able to give me
solutions and tricks to ease my work.
BIBLIOGRAPHY/ REFERENCES
Internet source:
1. http://www.kenyaforestservice.org/index.php?
option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=78&Itemid=435#
Information about the core functions of KFS
01/05/2015
2. http://www.kenyaforestservice.org/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=406&Itemid=563
The History of KFS
01/05/2015
3. http://www.uviocorp.com/
Has the FMIS details. The system was made by Australian firm UVIO
01/05/2015
APPENDICES
List of abbreviations:
– KFS Kenya Forest Service
– FMIS Forest Management Information System
– GIS Geospatial Information Systems
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