INTRODUCTORY TRAINING IN APPLICATIONS OF GEOGRAPHIC

INFORMATION SYSTEMS & REMOTE SENSING

INTERNAL REPORT 10 February 2001

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CommunityPartnerships forSustainable Resource Management inMalawi

Introductory Training inApplications of Geographic

Information Systems & Remote Sensing

November 28-30, 2000

Prepared by:

Mesheck L.M. Kapila

Development Alternatives, Inc. COMPASS7250 Woodmont Ave., Suite 200 Phekani HouseBethesda, MD 20814 Glyn Jones RoadUSA Private Bag 263

BlantyreTel: 301-718-8699 MalawiFax: 301-718-7968e-mail: dai@dai.com Telephone & Fax: 622-800

Internet: http://COMPASS-Malawi.comIn association with:

Development Management Associates USAID Contract: 690-C-00-99-00116-00

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Lilongwe Activity: 612-0248

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Acronyms ii

Introduction 1

Objectives of the GIS and Remote Sensing Training 2

Objectives of the Introductory Phase 2

Summary of Participants’ Pre-Course Knowledge and Skill Assessment 3

Instructional Sessions 3

Introductions: 3

Fundamentals of GIS 3

Potential Applications of GIS 4

Overview of Raster & Vector GIS 5

Vector Geo-referencing 6

Introduction to ArcView GIS 7

ArcView Practical 7

Overview of Applied Remote Sensing 7

Satellite Imaging 9

Global Positioning System 9

Course Evaluation 10

Recommendations 10

Follow-On Activities 10

List of Participants 11

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ACRONYMS

CBNRM Community-based Natural Resource ManagementCOMPASS Community Partnerships for Sustainable Resource ManagementDANIDA Danish International Development AssistanceDn Digital NumberEAD Environmental Affairs DepartmentEDO Environmental District OfficerFEWS Famine Early Warning SystemGIS Geographic Information SystemsGPS Global Positioning SystemIRS Indian Remote sensing SatelliteLIS Land Information SystemMEMP Malawi Environmental Monitoring ProjectNOAA National Oceanographic and Atmospheric AdministrationNRM Natural Resource ManagementPC Personal ComputerPROSCARP Promotion of Soil Conservation and Rural ProductionRS Remote SensingSPOT Systeme pour I’Observation de la Terre (French satellite)WGS84 World Geodetic System 1984 (global reference spheroid)

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INTRODUCTORY TRAINING IN GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS) AND REMOTE SENSING

INTRODUCTION

Researchers, scientists, practitioners, technocrats, and resource users world-wide have realised the need to develop methodologies and a cadre of human resources that can focus on increased sustainable use of natural resources. One of the major problems confronting natural resources management is locating and quantifying natural resource attributes adequately and timely enough to make rational decisions about their sustainable utilisation. Geography is the key to helping governments and commercial entities monitor the environment more efficiently and cost-effectively. It is also the key to helping organizations comply with the multilateral environmental regulations that are the result of growing global markets. Carl O. Sauer in The Education of a Geographer (1956) had this to say “Maps break down our inhibitions, stimulate our glands, stir our imagination, loose our tongues. The map speaks across the barrier of language; it is sometimes claimed as the language of geography”. Visualization is a strong analytical tool for better understanding of our multivariate environment and its facets.

With the more increasing use of PC-based computers geographic information systems (GIS) provide the analytical capabilities that form the hub of a successful and precise spatial information system. GIS can simply be defined as a system for acquiring, storing, analyzing, and displaying environmental data for decision making. GIS deals with inventory of geographical data, integrated data sets, automation and easy access of meta-data, customized maps and selective database query. In simplest terms, GIS is a forum for thought that allows us to see our data and spatial relationships in new ways and encourages us to explore the spatial aspects of the problem being addressed. GIS enables us to see things from different perspectives. By so doing it allows us to consider a range of alternative solutions and simulate the impact of decisions prior to implementation. Since the inception of the technology, GIS has been an integral component in environmental management. A GIS links geographic and attribute data, such as lab and field data, which allows one to do predictive modeling for planning and compliance purposes. GIS technology reduces the cost of doing environmental business while giving the organization that uses it a competitive advantage in an ever-evolving marketplace.With GIS, those in public service can now analyze all types of issues with geographic data, supporting policy decisions. Fore example, GIS lets farmers perform site-specific spatial analyses of agronomic data. The results identify the interactions between physical, chemical, and crop data that can be the cause for variations in yield. This data can even be presented in three dimensions for in-depth analyses.

This report is an outline of the Introductory GIS and Remote Sensing (RS) Course held at COMPASS Offices between 28th and 30th November, 2000. The course was attended by Environmental District Officers (EDOs) from COMPASS target districts and lecturers from Chancellor College of the University of Malawi. It was a result of the usual collaborative effort between COMPASS and its key partners in trying to build skills for developing digital data infrastructure appropriate for natural resources management in Malawi.

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The work presented in this report is based on how the participants went through some critical steps that could help them understand the basics of GIS and RS, and appreciate the role these computer-based technologies can play in natural resources inventory and baseline data collection. The report is presented in simple language, tailored towards easy understanding and wide readership and therefore will act as a resource document, analytical enough to provide guideline for future courses of similar objective.

OBJECTIVES OF THE GIS AND REMOTE SENSING TRAINING

Knowing where things are and why change occurs is essential to rational decision making. Natural resource attributes have a spatial dimension: that is they can be precisely located in space. Inventory of natural resources is a key to careful planning for sustainable management and monitoring changes in the quality and quantity of the natural resources provides insight to understanding the resource-state-pressure-response pattern necessary for determining the impact of change. Geographic information systems and remote sensing are powerful tools in identifying “hot-spots” or “red flag” areas necessary for prioritizing NRM efforts. GIS can also facilitate sharing of spatial data and locating sites for NRM best-practices and small grants projects in electronic form.

COMPASS is geared to complement efforts made by some projects and donors such as Malawi Environmental Monitoring Project (MEMP), Promotion of Soil Conservation and Rural Production (PROSCARP) and DANIDA to promote use of Geographic Information System (GIS) tools in Malawi. Having synthesized the findings of various consultancies and identified critical gaps that require intervention, COMPASS visualizes support for human resources development efforts in the use of GIS and RS skills through hands-on training. Preliminary findings indicate that limited knowledge and skills in desktop mapping technology coupled with lack of awareness of the potential of GIS for decision-making are hampering GIS development in Malawi. COMPASS targeted 9 EDOs, one staff from Environmental Affairs Department (EAD) and two staff from the University of Malawi, to be trained in ArcView GIS and use of Global Positioning System technology. The program is scheduled to run in three phases i.e. Introductory Phase, Intermediate Phase, and Advanced Phase. The three-tier training program will enable participants integrate real life issues from their workplace, into the course problem-solving atmosphere. This step-by-step skill development scheme builds on the adaptive strategy that strengthens the reflection phase of training.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INTRODUCTORY PHASE

As has been already said, the GIS and RS course has been designed such that at the end of each training phase, participants should be able to reflect on the content and strongly associate it with their problems and potentials. This adult learning is built on the principle of learner-centered, problem posing, self-discovery, and action-oriented training.The objective of the introductory phase was to orient participants to some basic principles, practices and approaches of GIS and remote sensing. Having seen the potentials of the GIS technology participants would want to do something so that they develop new skills for natural resource inventory and base-line data collection.

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SUMMARY OF PARTICIPANTS’ PRE-COURSE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL ASSESSMENT

Participants on the GIS and remote sensing course were drawn from a diverse background. In order to have a level training ground, the facilitator set a baseline indication of knowledge of computer applications. This helped to build on what is already known. A summary of pre-course knowledge and skill evaluation indicated that 100 per cent of the participants had some exposure to PC-based computer applications. 50 per cent of the participants were skillful and proficient in computer applications for word processing. From the same evaluation 100 per cent of the participants indicated that they had little or no knowledge of GIS, remote sensing, ArcView or global positioning system. At this point it was evident that some simple definitions and explanations were necessary for the basic understanding of the subject. INSTRUCTIONAL SESSIONS

1. Introductions:

i) GIS Defined: systems to acquire, store, analyze, and display environmental data for decision making. GIS can take an inventory perspective, a research perspective or a decision support perspective. The inventory perspective focuses on the database and database query while the research perspective, in addition to database, emphasis is on project-level activity with much focus on analysis, suitability mapping, process modeling and what-if scenarios. The decision support perspective focuses on utility whereby data collection responds specifically to decision-making needs. Analyses are iterative, allowing exploration of a range of decision alternatives. Dialogue between decision-makers and GIS technicians is ongoing. Emphasis is on producing results in a timely, cost-efficient manner, with explicit reporting of uncertainty in the results.

ii) Components of GIS: the core of GIS is the spatial database and the attribute database. Sources for GIS data can be maps, images and statistical tabular data. Outputs from GIS can be in form of maps, statistical tabular data or statistical reports. Six major systems make up the GIS components i.e. map digitizing system, image processing system, statistical analysis system, database management system, cartographic display system, and geographic analysis system. All in all, GIS takes software, hardware, data and people.

2. Fundamentals of GIS:

Fundamentals of GIS highlighted six main tenets.

i) Map Data Representation

1. Vector: Points, lines, polygons

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2.

Raster:

Cells, pixels(picture elements)

ii) Space and features

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1. Raster: Space: Matrix, all space represented Features: Independent cells, no concept of “objects” in

space

2. Vector: Space: Bounding rectangle, no space exists in-between inside objects

Features: Object oriented

iii) Representation of Attribute Data

1. Raster: Attribute information used to create spatial matrix

2. Vector: Spatial and attribute information stored separately

iv) GIS Analysis

1. Raster: Strong in analyses requiring information about neighborliness (e.g. slope)

2. Vector: Strong for information storage and analyses that are feature-oriented (network analysis along roads)

v) Spatial Database Concepts

1. Raster: Layers

2. Vector: Coverages

vi) Summary: Vector vs. Raster.

3. Potential Applications of GIS

A few potential applications of GIS were run down. These served as examples of how GIS has been regarded as a useful tool in decision-making. i) Land Utilization Studies: The recent Land Utilization Studies carried out in

Malawi to determine the land balance useful to guide the development of policy on Land Reform, all extensively used skills of GIS and remote sensing. Locating parcels of land in each of the three categories (Public, Estate and Customary) and determining current land use, capitalized on the powers of aerial photography, satellite imagery and use of global positioning system. Determining spatial distribution and temporal changes of various land use/land suitability categories was done with high-level accuracy using

GIS and remote sensing technologies because they both rely on computer capabilities.

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ii) Agriculture: A GIS provides the analytical capabilities that form the hub of successful precision agricultural systems. Area-Frame Sampling conducted by Land Resources Conservation Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation is one such statistical approach to estimate crop yield that aimed at developing a reliable, timely and cost-effective way of agricultural planning.

iii) Forest Inventory, Planning and Management: Forest inventory and biomass assessment in 1992 by the Department of Forestry used satellite remote sensing and aerial photo-interpretation. Results obtained from this exercise have been used extensively in various endeavors to assist forest planning and management. Forest Fire Risk Modeling can be done by integrating forest biomass sub-model, slope sub-model and social risk sub-model. The strength of the management strategy would depend on the highest score amongst the sub-models. This multivariate analysis can be best achieved through use of GIS and RS technologies.

iv) Famine Early Warning System: Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping in 1996 by FEWS utilized satellite data to characterize vegetation indices. Green vegetation absorbs solar energy in the red band of the visible range of the spectrum. Conversely, more solar is reflected in the Infrared band. A ratio of Red and Infrared can be used to determine vegetation index of a crop. Vegetation indices of cereal crops show direct relationship to actual grain yield. Therefore vegetation index can be used to predict crop yield from any particular cropping season.

4. Overview of Raster & Vector GIS

Definitions of GIS

GIS a system to acquire, store, analyze, and display environmental data for

decision-making

GIS inventory of geographical data integrated data sets easy access (automation) customized maps selective database query

GIS…a forum for thought allows us to see our data and spatial relationships in new ways encourages

us to explore the spatial aspects of the problem being addressed allows us to consider a range of alternative solutions allows us to simulate the impact of decisions prior to implementation

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Perspectives on GIS

Inventory Perspective

Emphasis on the database

multipurpose large enduring strong geo-referencing (tied

into a national or regional grid system)

mainframe / minicomputers

Research Perspective

Emphasis on Project-Level Activity specific small ephemeral simple geo-referencing (not

necessarily tied into a national or regional grid system)

microcomputersEmphasis on Database Query

Land Information System (LIS)

Multipurpose Cadastres Municipal Applications

Emphasis on Analysis

Suitability mapping Process modeling What-if scenarios

Decision Support Perspective

data collection responds specifically to decision making needs analyses are iterative, allowing exploration of a range of decision

alternatives dialogue between decision makers and GIS technicians is ongoing Emphasis is on producing results in a timely, cost-efficient manner, with

explicit reporting of uncertainty in the results.

5. Vector Geo-referencing

The module outlined some basic features of vector and raster geo-referencing. Understanding these features is fundamental to correct positioning of pixels in an image as well as locating specific feature attributes on the earth’s surface.The significant difference is that vector geo-referencing originates from the bottom left corner of the grid, with maximum x and y position at the top right whereas raster geo-referencing originates from top left, with maximum column and row at bottom right corner.

6. Introduction to ArcView GIS

People have used maps for thousands of years to present and analyze geographic information. ArcView is the latest extension of this ancient tradition. It gives one the power to visualize, explore, query, and analyze data

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geographically. ArcView comes with useful set of ready-to-use data that one can use immediately to create hundreds of different maps.

This module enabled participants appreciate potentials of ArcView GIS in desktop mapping. This was more so when they dealt with relational data and metadata. This provided them opportunity to work with geographic data in a completely new way, seeing patterns that they couldn’t see before and gaining insights to visualizing multi-layer spatial attributes.

7. ArcView Practical

This module was designed to guide participants on how to go about starting to use ArcView. Basic features of Views, Tables, Charts, Layouts and Scripts were covered. The highlight of this module focused on working with ArcView projects. A project is a file in which you store the work you do with ArcView. A project contains all the views, tables, charts, layouts, and scripts that you use for a particular ArcView applications or set of related applications. In this way, work is stored in one convenient place. Project file names have a .apr extension.

8. Overview of Applied Remote Sensing

i) Definitions

1) Remote Sensing: Gathering of information from a distance

2) Sensors: Detectors of electromagnetic energy

3) Electromagnetic energy: Solar radiation that enters the earth’s atmosphere—traveling as waves

4) Electromagnetic spectrum: Ordered array of electromagnetic energy from short to long

wavelengths

5) “Window” or “Band”: Range of electromagnetic wavelengths detected by a

single satellite sensor

ii) Interaction Mechanisms

1) Defined What happens to electromagnetic energy as it passes through earth’s

atmosphere.2) Types:

Transmitted Absorbed

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Reflected Scattered

iii) Spatial Response Patterns

1) Defined How a particular object reflects a range of electromagnetic

wavelengths

2) Relationship between spectral response patterns and color

iv) Satellite Imagery

1) Defined A recording of how land covers in alandscape reflect a single window of electromagnetic energy

2) Bands of Imagery: blue, green, red etc.

3) Calibration of reflectance values into digital numbers (Dn values) ranging from 0-255

v) Instantaneous Field of View

1) Defined Ground area viewed by a sensor at any moment in time. Sensor records a

single value, which is the average reflectance of all objects in that area.

vi) Satellite Systems

1) Attributes to consider when buying satellite imagery(a) Spatial resolution(b) Temporal resolution(c) Spectral resolution

2) Attributes of particular satellites(a) Landsat(b) SPOT(c) NOAA(d) IRS

9. Satellite Imaging

Beside aerial photography, satellite imaging is the source of remote sensing data most commonly known to resource managers, development planners, and scientists. Basic knowledge of applied remote sensing provides useful tool in

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understanding image interpretation. Every object interacts with incoming solar energy by absorbing, reflecting, transmitting, and emitting the radiant energy at different rates and in different portions of the spectrum. The resulting spectral response (pattern of reflected and emitted energy that varies according to wavelength) can be used to characterize the object. The past three decades have seen dramatic changes in remote sensing capabilities with very advanced, high-resolution satellite imaging.

This module outlined some of the commonly used satellite images in resource inventory.

10. Global Positioning System

Within digital cartographic data, map elements are stored as a series of X, Y coordinates that represent a location on the Earth’s surface. While it is possible to locate a point on Earth with great accuracy, representing the same point on a map is still an approximation. When attempting to use a flat surface (a map) to represent a curved surface (Earth), distortion is inevitable.

Geographers have developed a number of map projections to reduce distortion. Each projection strives to resolve the distortion problem in a manner that satisfies the needs of a particular group of users. Some projections are very accurate over short distances, while others are suited for long distances or representing large areas of the planet.

In Malawi, digital spatial data is stored in Latitude/ Longitude and/ or Plane Coordinates.

In addition to needing map projections that fit the earth’s surface to a flat map, there is also need to compensate for the fact that the earth is not a true sphere. The establishment of a network of precisely located points with respect to both location and elevation (i.e., horizontal and vertical) is referred to as geodetic control. With geodetic control, the accurate location of points on the earth’s surface is accomplished with the aid of a datum that accurately describes the shape of the earth. In Malawi, the most generally used datum is WGS84.

This module outlined the World Geodetic System, using the Universal Transverse Mercator grid. Participants were exposed to mapping exercises that use global positioning system (satellite) survey units. A Magellan GPS 320 was used to determine coordinate points. All points located using GPS were tied to the WGS84 datum.

COURSE EVALUATION

At the end of the introductory session a brief questionnaire was administered, capturing the following training components: relevance to individual participants needs, usefulness of the knowledge gained, technical content in addressing individual participants’

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knowledge and skill gap, facilitation, quality of training facilities (e.g. audio-visual aids etc.), organization and overall assessment.

The average participants’ rating indicated 4.5, meaning that the course was good to excellent. The majority of participants expressed the following general comments:

i) The period for the introductory training was short. There was need to go into more details in certain aspects e.g. having more time on hands-on-the art. Future courses should seriously consider the time element in order for participants to fully grasp the knowledge and develop relevant skills.

ii) COMPASS should facilitate acquisition of GIS software (ArcView) for participants so that data capture, archiving and analysis could be meaningful.

RECOMMENDATIONS

At the end of the course participants recommended the following:

i) COMPASS should continue to facilitate development of GIS skills. GIS skills are required for spatial data development in natural resources management.

ii) Not long in the future, COMPASS should organize an intermediate training session to consolidate skills already developed and work with specific project needs necessary for developing project indicators of CBNRM.

iii) COMPASS and Environmental Affairs Department should facilitate dialogue with other relevant stakeholders such as the Donor Community to promote use of GIS skills for sustainable use of natural resources and environmental management.

FOLLOW-ON ACTIVITIES

The following are some follow-on activities to the introductory training:

i) One week intermediate training in GIS and remote sensing

ii) Archiving of secondary spatial data.

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

NAME DESIGNATION ADDRESSHelmon Kamanga EDO P.O.Box 140, DedzaMartin E. Palamuleni (Dr.) Lecturer Chancellor College, Box 280,

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ZombaJohn Mfune (Dr.) Lecturer Chancellor College, Box 280,

ZombaClement Tikiwa EDO P/Bag 1, NtcheuJacinta Chipendo EDO P.O. Box 23, ZombaBiswick Mlaviwa EDO P/Bag 1, MachingaWezi Gausi EDO P.O. Box 224, RumphiM.G. Kawerama EDO P/Bag 1, ChikwawaSuzgo Gondwe EDO P/Bag 48, NkhotakotaVictor Nyirongo EDO P/Bag 1, Nkhata-Bay

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