In supported by IOM-USAID, Karst Aceh has implemented GIS Traning to Bener Meriah district

Geographic Information System (GIS) is a crosscutting theme for IOM goals, and these specialists provide support to all of the component teams, with special attention given to Disaster Management and Technical teams. In order to support IOM, the GIS and technical team must be able to effectively operate GIS software; develop, implement, and communicate with spatial planning tools; and monitor and report on project activities and results. In order to help the team fulfill all of these tasks, this consultancy provided training in GIS open source software, an introduction to some spatial planning methods used by Karst Aceh, and an introduction to project activity risk analysis using Ground Check mapping systems.

The GIS training and technical team has Quantum software and training requirements that should be addressed in the short term. First, the GIS training require a GIS Concept, Coordinate System, Survey, introduction to GPS and QGIS 1.8 Lisboa software packages. QGIS 1.8 Lisboa has been used on IOM projects and will meet the needs expressed by the Karst Aceh team. Second, this GIS training provided Georeference, spatial data (tools and how to add), so that imagery can be used for spatial planning, development map, and program analysis. All team members have different levels of experience in creating and implementing spatial data, and a practical exercise in implementing development map lead by a QGIS 1.8 Lisboa will strengthen the team’s skills and confidence. Third, the team could benefit from the review and direction of a GIS training and technical team member on the methods for the ground check mapping exercises that already conducted.    With ongoing support from the GIS team, we look forward to seeing them become a strong group of spatial planners and analysts in disaster management.

Karst Aceh uses QGIS 1.8 Lisboa software for vector based data processing. All of the GIS team members have some previous experience using similar GIS software, but none have experience with this newer version. A basic training was conducted with all GIS team in Bener Meriah. The training covered basic functions necessary for map production, including: GIS Concept, Coordinate System, Georeference, Edit data spasial and atribut, Test Case.

These topics were selected based on needs of curricula via discussion conducted in Banda Aceh. Discussion was centered how to implement these processes using the new version of the software. It was an exercise in mapping the processes that are used daily for map production from the old versions of ArcView with which some participants are familiar.

Outstanding QGIS 1.8 Lisboa training issues also centered on advanced uses of spatial data. The team has received a great deal of data from GPS sources developed by downloading and using Microsoft Excel software. This data will be of use to the team for the task of assisting with the development of GIS systems for analysis. Specifically, the GIS training will follow up with the BNPB on the issues of initial Risk Map that developed in advanced training. An advanced training was conducted with all GIS team in Bener Meriah. The training covered advance functions necessary for map analysis, including Advance Editing, Spatial Analysis, DEM, Terrain Analysis, and Test Case.