ICIMOD and
GIS Capacity building
In
Maung
Maung Than, Assistant Director, Remote Sensing and GIS Section,
Forest
Department, Ministry of Forestry
Preface
This
paper is a reproduction and detailed document of the presentations given in Awareness Workshop on
Technology, Tools and Best Practices for Sustainable Mountain Development on 11th November 2005 , Yangon , Myanmar 25th May 2006 . Most people look upon
Remote Sensing and GIS section of Forest Department as a model case for
successful GIS performance. The author analysed the capacity building it has
come across while ICIMOD plays most of key parts.
1. Concepts of GIS Capacity building
The author has a capacity building
concept in the following stages of development
1.
Starting from zero stage
2.
Awareness trainings, policy
makers
3.
Professional trainings,
professional people
4.
Technical trainings, technical
staff
5.
Pilot projects
6.
Contribution to planning
operations
7.
Fully operated GIS section
8.
Technical Transfer to other
institutions
Also
before going into detail about the history of Forest Department's Remote Sensing
and GIS section the author would like to quote a practical view of GIS
principles from a book "GIS for Ecology" by Roger Wordsworth.
Nine
principles of the IAAO and URISA (Huxhold and Levinsohn, 1995)
Principle
1: A GIS is a data- driven data- based information
system.
Making
maps is only one capability of GIS technology. GIS is based upon database
management concepts that allow flexible access to data, interrogation of data
from different sources and manipulation and analysis of data in ways that are
not possible with other techniques or technologies.
Principle
2: GIS data and maps must be maintained.
Because the GIS is designed for use in
the operating environment of the organisation for specific service delivery,
management and policy- related activities the
data and ultimately the system will not be used if they are out of date or if
they are inaccurate.
Principle
3: A GIS is most useful when geographic references
are registered on a consistent, continuous co-ordinate system.
A
GIS is not merely a collection of computerised map sheets. Its use demands that an entire geographic area be accessible in
order that the spatial relationships between features in different parts of an
area can be identified and displayed. This requires locating each map sheet in
its proper place within the geographic area. It is accomplished by setting co-ordinates
for each map sheet that come from a consistent, continuous co-ordinate system.
Principle
4: A GIS has topology.
Because
a computer cannot see a map as a human can, additional definitions of the
relationships between points, lines and areas must be established. This topology allows a GIS
to perform certain spatial analysis functions, including (but not
limited to) network analysis and optimal path determination, polygon overlay,
geo-coding and area calculations and shading.
Principle
5: A GIS has many uses and should be shared by many
different functions.
Because the value of information
increases the more it is shared and used by others who need it, and because GIS
requires significant resources to develop, a multi-use, shared system can
prevent duplication of common data and the effort to maintain them and can also
reduce the cost of the system to any single user.
Principle
6: A GIS contains hardware and software that are
constantly undergoing change, which improves its functionality over time.
A
delay in acquiring GIS hardware and software in anticipation of future price
reductions or technological breakthrough is not prudent, because existing
technology is fully adequate to develop GIS applications. The benefits of the
system cannot be realised until the database is built and implemented on the
system, so a delay in implementation only creates a delay in realising its
benefits. Future improvements to technology will enhance the use of the data –
not restrict it.
Principle
7: A GIS grows incrementally in terms of
technology, cost and administrative support needed. Therefore, a long-term
commitment is needed to assure success.
The large amount of time required to
build the databases and the large number of potential users and applications
prevent a GIS from becoming fully functional within a short time frame. Given limited resources and an ambitious
plan for GIS implementation, priorities must be established and commitments
maintained over a multi- year time frame.
Principle
8: A GIS causes changes in procedures, operations
and institutional arrangements among all users.
The common databases accessed by many
different users eliminates the compartmentalisation of data storage and
individualisation of data-coding schemes. This will result in changes in
responsibilities, procedures, security measures, standards and even
organisational structures and laws in order for GIS to function for the benefit
of all.
Principle
9: A cadre of trained, educated, motivated and
dedicated people is crucial for a successful GIS program.
Without exception, organisations that
have successful systems have been able to assemble, and retain for a long time,
the appropriate level of staff with technical and communication skills who
have, as well, a shared vision of the potential for the technology. Technical
problems can be resolved with money and time, but staff without motivation,
dedication, creativity and a willingness to accept new ideas are likely to
scuttle the project. Most successful systems have a 'champion' – a high-level
official who is willing to push the project forward and motivate and educate
those whose support is needed. However, increasingly, successful
organisation-wide GIS implementation is being led by a dedicated team, rather
than a single champion.
History
Status 0 or Conventional mappings
In terms of Remote Sensing application,
the Myanmar Forest Department is one of the foremost organisations which used
aerial photographs for assessing the vegetative cover of the Ayeyarwady Delta
Mangroves back in the 1920s.
Since then Forest Department occasionally
use remote sensing data in compiling data for her periodical forest management
plans (10 year cycle). In 1957 Cornwell
University Myanmar
The first introduction of satellite
imagery to the Forest Department was in 1980. Under a FAO / UNEP project
(Tropical Resources Assessment Project) a quick appraisal of the forest cover
of the whole country was carried out using 1: 1,000,000 scale Landsat imagery
of the 1972-1979 period.
The objectives of the UNDP funded project
BUR/79/011 “National Forest Survey and Inventory” 1981-1986, included the
covering the whole of Myanmar by aerial photography; and as such, two sets of
Landsat MSS imageries for the period 1974-1980 at 1:1,000,000 and 1:250,000
were acquired. The Aerial photography and Mapping section was formed to
implement the objective. The follow up project (MYA/85/003) “National Forest
Management and Inventory” provided a set of Landsat TM imagery for the period
1989-90 at 1:500,000 scale and a countrywide landuse map was produced by visual
interpretation.
The two projects provided training for
the project staff in the fields of satellite remote sensing, cartography and
printing.
Going digital
Then an important step was taken here by
ICIMOD International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development for GIS
development in Myanmar Myanmar Myanmar Myanmar
The Digital Image Processing system was
installed in the Forest Department in early 1996 with financial assistance of
the “Watershed Management for Three Critical Areas Project (MYA/93/005)” for
its landuse mapping component. Landsat digital data of 5 TM scenes were
acquired along with the digital image processing system PCI EASI/PACE. The system
incorporates with the GIS system to produce landuse maps for sustainable
development of the critical areas. A modest, but at that time modern, RS/GIS
laboratory was established together with very important on-the-job training in
the 3 S technology, namely Remote Sensing, GIS and Global positioning system
(GPS). The training gave very important combinations of biophysical and
socio-economical data in GIS. After the completion of the exercise, the Forest
Department has acquired the capacity to launch practical applications of
satellite imageries on its own.
During this time ICIMOD also support with
6 PC Arc/Infor hardware keys, two personal computers and one digitizers to
Forest Department. These came along together with Professional and Technical
trainings done in Myanmar
One important contribution from the
Japanese Government is also critical in the development of space technology
applications in the Forest Department. The Department together with the Japan
Forest Technical Association (JAFTA) mapped a large part of the country
starting from 1996 up to 1999, under the Information System Development Project
for the Management of Tropical Forest funded by JICA. 68% of the country was
covered during 4 successive years. The Forest Department and JAFTA staff worked
together in the field, learning from each other. The most important experiences
gained were in planning, purchasing and acquisition of materials and equipment,
field reconnaissance survey and actual field survey work for forestry mapping.
As the digital processing was done back in Japan Myanmar Mon State
So far
the trainings and materials coming from so many sources and so many diverse
organisations. But it actually need field testing for an army after it has been
equipped and trained.
During
1996 January Forest Department has been assigned to produce the landcover map
of Ayeyarwady. The Myanmar Myanmar
Delta
mapping is sort of matriculation examination for RS/GIS section. After that there
came a little test for dryland mapping in the Central
Dryzone .
Sometimes
development opportunities also need the play of chance. However you must be
ready to take the opportunity when it comes suddenly. During that time Mr Choi
of the FAP dryzone greening project, after seeing the outputs of maps and
planning data in GIS/RS format produced for the three critical watershed, has
enquired whether the Forest Department RS/GIS section can produce such kind of
statistics for his project area. When confirmed he set aside a considerable
amount of money to purchase the necessary additional Landsat TM scenes plus the
production of 1:50,000 scale photographic enhanced hardcopies for an area of
21.5 million acres.
Dr
Choi's project is under the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation and when the
data finally arrived they are kept in UNDP/FAP project office because Dr. Choi
has already moved and no one knows what to do with this sophistic data. Forest
Department RS/GIS section then negotiated with UNDP/FAO to produce land cover
maps for their three township (UNDP project area covers only 3 out of actually
53 townships) and got them.
It is
either by chance or by work, no one can say. At the moment after all this
valuable data has reached RS/GIS section the authorities called on the Director
General of Forest Department to establish a separate department called Dry Zone
Greening Department, and also for the present moment to take care of
everything, manpower (to be divided from Forest Department), plantation
programme, plans etc.
So
Remote Sensing and GIS Section of Forest Department has to perform landuse
mapping, erosion susceptibility mapping and regeneration plan mapping for the
new department. for 12 Districts of Dryzone. Official mandate is given by
Meeting Minutes on April 30th
1997 meeting at the meeting room of DG’s office. The area is
comprised of 3 Divisions, 12 Administrative Districts and altogether 53
townships covering a total area of 20.12 million acres. Output data will be
used in drawing of a 20 years master plan. Time allowed to finish the
assignment or project is if possible 2 months starting from May and if not a
maximum target of 3 months. Later Gangaw District has been added to the list.
Following Pie Chart shows
the overall Dryzone situation.
Class 1
|
Areas not feasible or
unnecessary for regeneration
|
||||
Class 2
|
Areas requiring
regeneration but on steep slopes
|
||||
(> 36%) suitable for
watershed plantations and natural regeneration
|
|||||
Class 3
|
Areas requiring
regeneration but on gentle slopes (< 36%)
|
||||
suitable for fuelwood
plantations and commercial also
|
|||||
Class 4
|
Agriculture areas over
27% slope which require
|
||||
special treatments and endangering to
erosion
|
|||||
Source
|
GIS Overlay of Landsat
Satellite Data and Slope Maps
|
||||
Remote Sensing and GIS
Section
|
|||||
Planning and Statistics
Division
|
|||||
Forest Department
|
|||||
Finished on
|
|||||
This is the basic data of
Dryzone Greening Department's Thirty Years Plan. As the data has been generated
in township level all planning concerning manpower, machinery, plantation
targets etc. are made feasible.
Now during 2006 this year a whole set of
Landsat 7 ETM data has been acquired by all means and a re-assessment is going
to be performed together with the DZGD staff.
This whole operation is like a bachelor
degree (BSc) examination for the Remote Sensing Section. The technologies
supplied by ICIMOD, UNDP/FAO, JAFTA etc.and also all their supplied equipment,
softwares, resources have been essential for the success of this assignment.
Support has been also very good, DG gave the section his office computer for
more computing power.
After the dry zone assignment, RS/GIS
section has following essential equipment and software. About 12 personal
computers. 9 PC/arc/info hard keys (6 from ICIMOD, 2 from Watershed project)
and one from old National Inventory project). Three digitizers (on from FAO,
one from Watershed and one from ICIMOD. One large format printer (Old girl HP
650, but it has been like the first one in the country and we take a lot out of
her).
Here it needs to be recorded the
institutional advantages at that time. RS/GIS section has been housed under the
premises of former National Management and Inventory Project's computer centre.
It is a central air-con building for mini-computer (VAX 11-750) environment,
has a 25KW UPS and a diesel Generator capable of supplying 270KV ( but consume
5 gallons per hour).
Main software has been Arc/Info 3.4 for
all GIS work, and PCI for Remote Sensing Applications, mainly for tape
downloading and enhancement and plotting. The best computer of 1997 has 1
Gigabyte hard disk and 32 mb RAM. However it also is the standard for that
time. Methodology is working with manual interpretation and digitising on
digitizers. Data analysis is greatly helped by that Excel software method which
enable large databases to be easily handled.
During 1998 a turn of another fortune
happened to the section. The ISDP project has left 32% of our country
unsurveyed. After discussion with JAFTA and also our Minister, the authorities
agreed to continue the project to cover whole of Myanmar
RS/GIS section started packaged trainings
mostly with ICIMOD and AIT of Thailand
Then an unexpected responsibility has
been put to RS/GIS section starting from 2000-2001 growing season of poppy
cultivation. UNDCP (then United Nation Drug Control Program) together with
CCDAC (Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control) of Ministry of Home Affairs of
Myanmar has been fighting poppy cultivation for a long time. During 2000-2001
growing season UNDCP tried to introduce GIS and Remote Sensing techniques for Myanmar Shan
State
Academic works has also been initiated in
RS/GIS section. The first Master of Arts paper which utilised the RS/GIS
techniques have been Changes of Urban Area and Land Development for Yangon City
The effect of academic contributions has
been two ways. While helping the academicians for their specialised works
RS/GIS section staff also learn a lot on various fields such as urban
geography, bio-diversity, ecology, ethnic botany, etc. to archaeology.
The training has been successfully done
and now the Department of Archaeology has incorporated GIS and Remote Sensing
in their Archaeology
School
Current activities
Currently RS/GIS section is involved in
latest land cover mappings for Bago Yoma Green projects and Western Yoma
Planning projects and also updating of Central Dry Zone database. The section
has acquired 23 Landsat ETM scenes (out of 45 for whole country) and hope to
produce not only to fulfil the current needs but also to prepare a 2005
complete appraisal of the country's forest cover.
Discussion
Following diagram is the well know
structure of a GIS system.
15-6-2006
This five components of a GIS system
needs complete harmonization for a successful GIS unit. Almost all people
believe GIS to be a combination of software and hardware. Few know the
importance of data, and fewer know about the harmonization between people
(professional and technician), and last very few people know about the
importance of policy mandates, the most important item for a successful GIS
unit.
Hardware and software
If to be discussed on the hardware and
software component RS/GIS section has the chance to get the appropriate
softwares and hardware in time with the projects it has been demanded upon. The
existence of a complete set of software and hardware (PC Arc/Infor key,
computer, digitizer and line plotter of NFMI project) when the technical
training from ICIMOD has just finished in 1993 has enable the FD technicians to
completely understand the software. The contribution from additional digitizer
and two computers plus six hardware keys has enable the impossible task of Dry
Zone mapping finished in time. When the digital age comes the full laboratory
of FAO Watershed project with tape drive, PCI software and large format plotter
also enable the first digital maps to be produced ad the decision makers fully
aware of the GIS/RS potentials. As the screen digitising methodology replaced
the old digitizer a timely purchase (by Forest Department) of a large format
scanner revolutionize whole process of works and also digital storage of all
important topographic maps in all available scales and he section becoming as a
source of national achieve. The
contribution for UNODC has enable the section equipped with latest equipment in
server technology, GPS technology and field surveys.
People (Humanware?)
The people component, it is to be
recorded here the skills and efforts of technicians of Forest Department
Computer Centre (Computer section of NFMI project) has enable the professional
people (mostly BSc(Forestry) graduates) of GIS section to focus more on the
application side of the projects. The computer section has trained all staff,
both from computer section and also all people of the then cartography and
mapping printing section on GIS software, and take care of the maintenance and
welfare of the whole system for a long time. The harmonic approach of
professional people, computer technicians and hardware and system engineers,
not withstanding electricians is very essential for a successful GIS,
especially for Myanmar
Data, yes data, we are very
fortunate because our GIS has been
always populated with important data from is inception stage. Original data of
former aerial photo, cartography and mapping section itself is formidable.
Added with new data from satellite remote sensing and all other projects,
planning operations the data and database of current GIS/RS section is also
lead and important and successful unit.
The policy and procedure for resource management.
Richard Wordsworth has written;
"There is no
such thing as a 'GIS project', only 'projects that need GIS'. In other words,
do not be led by the technology, use it as a tool."
Then you can argue
if so there are no GIS sections. Only sections that need GIS.
Yes, you are true.
Actually our section although named "Remote Sensing and GIS section",
is a planning section. It is the technical arm of the Planning and Statistics
Division of Forest Department.
This is very
important because a GIS unit however efficient they can be, without a policy
drive, mandate, and the ability to fill the planning initiatives of that
particular institution, is almost non-functioning in a real sense. Because the RS/GIS section
has been involved with planning activities and planning needs even before GIS
has been introduced; this problem (of other institutions in Myanmar
Conclusion
Here the author
likes to conclude with the already cited statement of Richard Wordsworth.
"There is no
such thing as a 'GIS project', only 'projects that need GIS'. In other words,
do not be led by the technology, use it as a tool."
And also vote of
thanks to every people and organisations who have been instrumental in all
these achievements and also to ICIMOD, initiator of GIS technology for Myanmar
Maung Maung Than
Assistant Director
Forest Department
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