Getting started with GIS: Geographical Information Systems

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Getting started with GIS Geographical
Information Systems

• Claire Davis
• Climate Change, CSIR

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What is GIS?

• GIS is a technological field that incorporates
  geographical features with tabular data in order
  to map and analyze assess real-world problems
• Two major ways of representing data
• Raster
• Vector

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What makes GIS unique?
Climate Change Downscalings

• Spatial analysis
• Database Query
• Overlay
• Proximity Analysis
• Network Analysis
• Digital Terrain Model
• Statistical and Tabular Analysis
• Recently used in assessment
• of global change

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The advantages of climate change data in GIS
format

• Kruger to Canyons Case Study
• Biosphere Reserve in 2001
• UNESCOs Man
• and Biosphere
• Programme

Excellent subject for considering how climate
change impacts might be successfully managed in a
diverse landscape.
Large climatic and topographical range
Diverse array of land-use and economic activities
Multiple different stressors across a range of
scales
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K2C Case Study

• Aim investigate and communicate the latest
  climate change predictions, impacts and research
  to key stakeholders within the diverse landscape
  of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region
• Stakeholder engagement key component
• Climate Change Handbook
• www.rvatlas.org/k2c

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Stakeholder responses
Sector Impact of concern Time frame of concerns Responses able to undertake
Agriculture Increase of extreme heat events Immediate Erect protective shelters e.g. shadecloth for livestock and vulnerable crops
Agriculture Reduction in crop suitability and productivity Medium long Crop switching in the long term Subsidies for subsistence/emerging farmers Improved agricultural extension network
Conservation Species range shifts Long Expand the protected area network through formal and informal conservation efforts Assisted plant movement for endangered plants
Conservation Impacts on ecosystem services Medium Translate scientific findings and information into policy and law
Conservation Alteration of key ecological process drivers Short-medium Alter key management strategies Introduce clearly defined adaptive management
Conservation Increased extent of malaria and heat stress will impact eco-tourism Short-medium Increase malaria control programs Intensify marketing strategies for cooler winter times when malaria risk is lowest Enforce clean energy requirements
Water Variability in water quantity Short-medium term Set up drought committees to disseminate information and make decisions for the long and short term
Water Reductions in water quality Short-medium Invest in existing efforts e.g. Working for Water
Provincial and local Municipality Disaster management increases in extreme events Short - long Regulate and enforce developments that will buffer against disasters e.g. water storage Improve disaster management plans based on future predictions
Provincial and local Municipality Risks require improved facilities Immediate Maintain and develop existing infrastructure e.g. maintain sewage works and waste facilities
Local community Food and economic security threatened by climatic extremes Immediate Encourage sustainable harvesting and use of plants by community Need to explore alternative energy sources
Forestry Health of work force malaria, heat stress and respiratory / immune conditions Immediate More research and development of hybrids
Forestry Species site matching Immediate Unknown
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Stakeholder responses cont.
Cross-Sectoral Concerns Uncertainty of the extent of change and the lack of baseline data Immediate Increased capacity and budget for baseline monitoring More precise models and accurate information More directed research and development
Cross-Sectoral Concerns Increased presence of pests, pathogens, alien plant invasion and bush encroachment Immediate Use existing resources e.g. Working for Water and Working for Fire Research into land management plans to reduce tree cover
General adaptation options Capacity, funding and knowledge dissemination Increased awareness and climate change education in local communities Local adaptive capacity (e.g. municipalities) needs to be strengthened Input short term climate predictions into existing management strategies and promote scenario planning Capacity, funding and knowledge dissemination Increased awareness and climate change education in local communities Local adaptive capacity (e.g. municipalities) needs to be strengthened Input short term climate predictions into existing management strategies and promote scenario planning Capacity, funding and knowledge dissemination Increased awareness and climate change education in local communities Local adaptive capacity (e.g. municipalities) needs to be strengthened Input short term climate predictions into existing management strategies and promote scenario planning
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Disadvantages and to do list

• GIS accuracy depends upon the source data
• Inter-conversions between ArcGIS 9.1, ArcGIS 9.2,
  Edrisi Kilamanjaro/Taiga, and various freeware
  options
• Finding the best way to communicate climate
  change information to a range of stakeholders

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Tutorial and exercise

• Been provided with
• GIS Manual (with background information on GIS)
• K2C Handbook
• Provinces of South Africa
• Towns of South Africa
• Kruger National Park
• Rainfall and temperature projections from 2
  models
• Hawths Tools
• 3 free GIS programs
• Use this time to work through the tutorials
  (no/limited GIS background) and exercise
  (advanced)