The document describes a three-day workshop on practical GIS applications. The workshop aims to guide attendees in understanding GIS concepts and software. Day one covers GIS fundamentals and case studies. Day two introduces GIS software skills through hands-on exercises with open source software. Day three focuses on developing a GIS application through a group project using the participants' organizational needs and data. The goal is for attendees to learn how to analyze spatial data and make informed decisions through GIS mapping and analysis.

1. Can your organization take decisions by making
use of maps?
Practical GIS Workshop
- Geographical Information System (GIS) -
Many organisations have new and legacy data sets, which is stored in a variety of
formats across the organisation. By adding a mapping (or spatial location) to these
data sets organisations are able to make more informed decisions through the analysis
of these data sets.
Through the use of a GIS (Geographical Information
System), powerful information can be created to
not only show how things are, but further how they
will be in the future, based on changes you apply to
the data sets.
A GIS can
be used for
various
applications, which could include:
• Predicting criminal behaviour by
analysing current crime hot-spots;
• Optimising route planning and
distribution networks to bring the freshest produce to market;
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2. • Increase revenue within Local
Government by mapping outstanding
payments and optimising focussed
revenue collection programmes;
• Assessment and planning of agricultural
planting and harvesting to optimise soil
characteristics and crop yield.
The objective of the workshop
The objective of the three-day workshop will be to guide attendees through a
systematic process in understanding:
• The information and knowledge environment organisations and business operate
in;
• An introduction to Geographical
Information Systems (GIS);
• GIS data formats, software and concepts.
• GIS data analysis – database and spatial
data analysis
• Practical, hands-on GIS problem solving, by
making use of Free and Open Source GIS
Software.
Each day will also end with a discussion session, where attendees can share their own
experience and comment on the topics covered that particular day. The workshop will
further culminate in a final day hands-on problem solving using local GIS data.
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3. Who should attend the workshop?
Delegates from organisations or businesses that already, or intend to, make use of GIS
technologies in their organisation or business. As the workshop will also make use of
practical GIS exercises, attendees are encouraged to have at least a basic level of
computer literacy.
The facilitator of the workshop will be Mr. Nico Elema, Managing Director, GIS Global
Image Consultants, South Africa (www.globalimage.co.za)
For further information about this course, please contact:
Mr. Nico Elema
GIS Global Image (PTY) Ltd
Tel: +27 21 880 1891
nico@cpt-globalimage.co.za
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4. PROPOSED PROGRAMME
Day I:
This session will focus on understanding what GIS is and how it can be
used. Case studies and examples of successful implementations. The
Day I: Fundamentals of Mapping and Geographic
session would also explore the other geo-technologies (map reading
and analysis, remote sensing, GPS, digital cartography) which are
related to GIS.
Official opening and welcome
Session I: Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Content: The knowledge economy. The growing importance of GIS;
What is GIS?; Characteristics of GIS; A holistic approach to GIS; 21st
Century challenges; Why GIS is important to the concept of
development; GIS in practice; The future of GIS
__________________________________________
Session II: GIS Project management and understanding your
organisation’s GIS needs.
Content: What is Project Management? The importance of project
management. The importance of understanding your organisation’s
GIS needs. The importance of understanding different user needs, and
Information Systems
how it relates to a successful GIS implementation.
___________________________________________
Session III: Data and data sources
Content: The aim of this session is to discuss the importance of data;
metadata and to further discuss the availability of GIS data in the
Region.
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5. DAY II:
This session should provide direct access to GIS software skills, by introducing
an industry standard GIS package(s). By the end of this course the student is
ready to begin applying the software to mapping and analyzing their
environment. Due to licensing issues on proprietary software, the session will
utilise open source GIS applications for demonstration.
Session I: GIS software
Content: What GIS Software is available to users of a GIS. Different users in the
organisation and how their GIS software needs differ. The future of GIS
software.
___________________________________________
Session II: Practical GIS Software skills
Day II: Introduction to GIS Software
Content: Loading GIS data; GIS data capture techniques; map creation
(changing map styles – map rendering);
___________________________________________
Session III: Practical GIS Software Skills (Continue)
Content: GIS database analysis; GIS Spatial analysis (includes spatial data
buffering); preparing maps for printing
___________________________________________
Session IV: Discussion
Content: Relate issues in first three sessions to the work environment.
___________________________________________
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6. DAY III :
This session should be an exploration of various, more advanced GIS
techniques and concepts though an active learning project-based
approach. Students work with the instructor and each other to define,
propose, design, and execute a project that incorporates GIS skills and
knowledge. The project could be introduced to the class well in advance and
students start working in groups from the first day of the training.
Day III: GIS Applications - Project Development
Session I; II & III: Activity – Practical GIS application
Content: Participants are grouped in “Birds of a Feather” groupings and are
taken through the steps of developing a Geographical Information System
using their own experiences from their organizations. By the end of the activity,
the participants should have at least an outline of their GIS.
___________________________________________
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