By layering data spatially on a map, GIS applications help improve, enhance, and enable a wide range of activities. In this post, I will highlight a number of GIS applications and technology improvements that demonstrate the power of combining maps with spatial data.
- Keeping the food supply safe. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released a report on how well it is implementing its Food Protection Plan. Part of the agency’s long-term strategy for the plan is to “enhance the data collection, incident reporting and emergency response mapping capabilities of FDA’s Emergency Operations Network Incident Management System.” Just five years ago, the threat of food-borne illness was not nearly under control as it is now with the help of GIS systems. This comes at a time when our news is woefully full of negative stories about contamination in hard to control channels of supply.
- Saving whales. Marine organizations and communities around the world seem to be improving their operations, goals, and overall efforts with GIS. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has funded GIS technology for use off the Florida and Georgia coasts by New England Aquarium researchers to track endangered whales and cargo ships in order to help avoid collisions between the two. Collisions with cargo ships are the leading cause of death for the endangered species and kill about a whale per year.
- Making better fisherman. Fishermen may now use GIS to build a more solid relationship and conversation with policymakers and the marine community. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation recently awarded Ecotrust, an environmental advocacy group, $50,000 for Open OceanMap, an open source, Web-based ocean mapping technology. This effort will provide habitat data for fishermen to help them achieve their goals and objectives in fishing.
- Helping make better decisions and policies. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) recently implemented SERVIR-Africa, a solution that integrates the satellite resources of the United States and other countries into a Web-based Earth information system. This type of data — for example, about climate change, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks — will be valuable information to leaders in scientific communities, government, and other groups and organizations. SERVIR-Africa will use Earth science satellite data from many of NASA’s missions and other information. The information will allow them to predict areas at risk for severe flooding and map regions hit by floods and give an early warning about the spread of diseases such as Rift Valley Fever. By mapping the location of climate change projections, the system will allow people to see impacts on such things as Africa’s diverse ecosystems.
- Improving the water supply. In Honolulu, Hawaii, managing the drinking water supply is greatly enhanced with mapping software. Recently, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply brought on a new accelerator for its enterprise GIS system. The board’s GIS coordinator commented on the importance of managing day-to-day decisions that help the board to run smoothly, and GIS and an accelerator helps them do just that.
- Improving emergency response. In Rhode Island, 911 will now have a visual dimension to it. Recently, the state’s Department of Public Safety implemented Pictometry software to greatly improve emergency operations for first responders. The system will allow select communities’ first responders to access a digital library of images of local landscapes so they can see buildings, street lights, fire hydrants, and other landmarks from both high- and low-level angles. The software layers the images with data geographically linked to locations. This capability is extremely important for not just first responders but also for those who rely on GIS mapping and those involved with transportation and community planning. The new technology was funded by grants from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and a grant from the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency.
