1) GIS was used to create base maps of Epworth Ward 7 in Zimbabwe through community mapping. This involved enumerating households, mapping infrastructure, and digitizing the information. 2) A series of GIS maps were produced, including land use, structures, plot sizes, building orientation, slopes, and reserves/buffer zones. These informed the creation of concept and layout plans. 3) The plans divided the ward into areas for roads, open spaces, institutions, recreation, commerce, and different residential density clusters to guide upgrading of the informal settlement.

1. ROLE OF GIS AND COMMUNITY
PARTICIPATION IN UPGRADING
INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS
Case Study: Epworth Ward 7
Zimbabwe

2. Geographic Information Systems(GIS)
• GIS is defined as a computer aided decision support and planning tool which
integrates spatial data from maps and other auxiliary data (attribute data) for a
geographical area of interest. It combines hardware, software, data and
people to achieve its performance.
People
Hardware
Data
Software

3. Harare Slum Upgrading Profile Map

4. Epworth Profile
• Epworth lies 15km from Harare City Centre
• Its administered by Epworth Local Board
• Its divided into 7 Wards
• It is the largest slum settlement in Zimbabwe
• It was established through the Methodist Church led by John white in
1908.
• Surface Area: approximately 27km2
• Has about 30 000 families with 21000 staying in informal settlements.
• Majority of people have residency period of over 20 years.
• Has a road links to Mabvuku, Chitungwiza and Harare City Centre.
• Sanitation –Majority use pit latrines
• Water - majority use self dug wells and communal boreholes
• Roads – informal dust roads –not all families have vehicular access
• Energy source – majority use wood-

5. Epworth Ward 7
The ward was enumerated and mapped in May 2010.
Enumeration and mapping results
• Occupies about 5km2
of Epworth
• There are over 6 636 households. – 35 000 people
– ‘Landlords ‘=3 388 Lodger =2 898 Other = 350
Sanitation type by households
•
` Pit latrine 3423 (53%)
• Bucket (pour flush) 2901 (45%)
• Bush 64 (0.997%)
• Ecosan 25 (0.03%)
Water source –
• Shallow well
• Deep well
• Borehole

6. Location of Epworth
Google Maps

7. Epworth Image

8. Epworth Ward 7 Image

10. Community Mapping process
•Set up team of community mappers
•Trained by UZ, DoS and SDI
•Comumnity mappers did field identification of ground features to
1. Compare image to existing features
2. Pick important existing that affect re -planning of settlements
3. Identify features that were too small to be seen on the image e.g wells,
poorly constructed toilets
4. updating the features /infrastructure that came in place after the
image was produced.
•Production of base map by digitising the information collected from the field

11. Informal Plots
Ward 7 boundary
Structures
Roads
Streams

14. Land Use Map – Base Map
USES
•Highlighted the existing Land-use pattern and distribution
•Showed the records of land uses in an informal settlement.
•Eased the process of determining the land use classifications necessary for the
design of the layout plan.

16. Base map - Plot Sizes
USES
• To study density of plots.
•As a tool for kick starting community discussions on realistic densities
•Determining the pattern and distribution of informal plot sizes so that plots negatively
affected by the re – planning can be identified.

18. Base map – Structures
USES
• Setting up design parameters appropriate to this settlement
• Used as a tool in making informed decisions if buildings are affected. ( eg
structures that need to be demolished to pave way fro infrastructure)
• Highlighted areas which needs special attention when re - planning.
• Rankings were done with consideration of building material used (bricks,
wood, window panes and roofing sheets) and age
• The ranking were marked from Very good to very poor
Very
Good
Good Fair Poor Very Poor

19. Very Poor
Fair
Very Good

21. Orientation of Buildings Map
• Assist in determining block orientation that conforms
with existing development
• To determine location of sewer and water lines.
• respect street access, activity zones, and urban design
guidelines
• To give an aesthetic value to the settlement

23. Buffers/Reserves/Zones
Uses
1. Showed required catchment areas for public facilities
(schools, shopping centres, bus routes
2. Highlighted Environmental protection zone
3. Market Analysis for commercial uses

24. EPA Buffer Zone

25. Modelling
• A Digital Terrain Model is an example
• Models help bring a sense of reality to the map
• Given the participatory approach used in upgrading where
people at different levels participate, models bring the
picture in laymen’s terms.

26. Base map - Slope
USES
• Showed the gradient of the slum
• Helped in the designing of roads and storm water drains
• Slope also has effect on block orientation
• Sewerage design
• Used also in plot size determination
• Aesthetics (landmarks)

27. THE CONCEPT PLAN

29. The Concept plan

30. The Layout Plan

31. Sequence of GIS maps
1. Satellite image
2. Base maps
• Planning boundary
• Land use Map
• Structures Map
• Plot Sizes Map
• Orientation Map
• Reserves/Buffer/Zones Map
• Slope Map
• Model Map
3. Concept Plan
4. Layout Plan

32. EPWORTH WARD 7 PLANNING BOUNDARY

33. ROAD NETWORK

34. OPEN SPACES

35. INSTITUTIONS

36. RECREATIONAL AREAS

37. CEMETERY

38. ACTIVITY CORRIDORS

39. SHOPPING CENTRES

40. RESIDENTIAL AREAS

41. RESIDENTIAL AREAS- CLUSTERS

42. RESIDENTIAL AREAS- INDIVIDUAL