Highlighting the use of GIS in Climate Change Studies

Mr. Nikolai Thomas

HIGHLIGHTING THE USE OF GIS IN

CLIMATE CHANGE

UWI CLIMATE CHANGEJUNE, 2007

Overview of presentation

• What is GIS• Associated tools

– Remote Sensing– Global Positioning System

• Web publishing of maps/data• Application at ODPEM

What is GIS?Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a spatial database management systemspatial database management system that can analyze, query and display analyze, query and display datadata using digitized maps and tablesdigitized maps and tables for planning and decision-making planning and decision-making (Anonymous)

Remote Sensing

Remote sensing is the short or large-scale acquisition of information of an object or phenomenon, by the use of either recording or real-time sensing device(s) that is not in physical or intimate contact with the object (such as aircrafts, satellites).

Remote Sensing allows for:

• Image interpretation & classification• Time-series image analysis• Drought analysis• Tracking of hurricanes

Global Positioning System

GPS is a satellite navigation system used to determine ground position (coordinates) a worldwide satellite navigational system formed by 24 satellites orbiting the earth and their corresponding receivers on the earth.

GPS devices allows you to:

• Gather accurate spatial data– Flood extent– Sea level rise– Storm surge runup– Heights above sea level

WEB PUBLISHING

Web delivery of geographic data and maps.Allows you to:

– Publish high-quality interactive maps that can be accessed by thousands of people simultaneously over the Internet.

– Integrate data from multiple sources (Internet or local) and serve it on the Web.

GIS allows for:

• Data capture• Data integration• Analysis• Projection • Data modeling• Display• Attribute table which forms a

database

Possible effects of Climate change in the Caribbean

• Sea level rise– Increased saline intrusion of

groundwater– Expansion of wetlands– Loss of beach– Damage to coastal infrastructure– Increased severity of floods

• Increase in the number and severity of hurricanes – 2005 Hurricane Season

Application at ODPEM

• JAHGIS– Create and Manage associated Database

• Remote Sensing– NASA Whirlwind (Servir)– Hurrevac– UN Space Charter

• Data Analysis– Vulnerability Assessment

Application at ODPEM

• Collect damage assessment data•Storm surge run up•Flood area

• Data Modelling •Preparation of Hazard Maps•Landslide and Flooding susceptibility

Application at ODPEM

• Map preparation– Portmore Evacuation Map

• Publishing of spatial data over the web– Collaboration with the Ministry of

Agriculture

THE END

“GIS SAVES LIVES”