Nakuru Planners, and Surveyors Showcase various Technologies on GIS Day

Nov 16, 2023 - 15:52

Nakuru County Surveyor Dennis Wanjohi, takes Survey students through the operations of a Total Station, during the County exhibition at Nyayo Gardens to mark the GIS Day. [Photo by Anne Sabuni].

Nakuru

Thursday, November 16, 2023

KNA by Anne Sabuni

Nakuru Deputy Governor David Kones has called upon County Departments to embrace the Geographic Information System (GIS) technology for informed evidence-based decisions in project implementation.

Kones, who led the County’s Planners, Surveyors, and Geo-Spatial Planners in showcasing the various technologies as they marked the GIS Day, noted that the system was better placed to advise policymakers including planners, and the community on where to set up schools, health centers among other land use needs.

GIS Day is an annual event that celebrates the advancement of GIS Technology, while uniting the GIS community of professionals and students to showcase the diverse applications of spatial technology in storing, visualizing, analyzing, and interpreting geographic data.

“With mushrooming grabbing of public land the GIS technology will also help in securing public land, planning the urban areas, improve revenue collection and allocation,” added Kones.

Nakuru is among the few counties that have launched the Spatial Development plan, whose speedy adoption of GIS technologies, Kones said, will help in its implementation.

“This blueprint for resource management is GIS-based, in compliance with constitutional requirements and swift adoption of the Geo-Information System marks a significant milestone as the County embarks on its implementation,” he added.

The members of the public had a chance to learn from various departments that have used these technologies including UN-FAO, Kenya Institute of Planners, Kenya Institute of Surveyors, Kenya Urban Roads Authority, Kenya National Highways Authority, and Nakuru Water and Sanitation Company among others.

Nakuru County assembly chair to the Lands and Planning Committee Peter Palang’a, highlighted the need to harmonize data on land for planning purposes.

“We will support the moves by the county to digitize all information in the county to inform the timely implementation of plans while controlling development in various towns,” calling on the county to pool funds towards setting up a GIS Centre.

Palang’a noted that the county spatial plan needed to be cascaded downwards, to inform annual plans as well as the County Integrated Development Plans, for speedy implementation.

Courtesy; KNA