A GIS or Geographical Information Systems captures, stores, analyzes, manages, and presents data that is linked to a location. A GIS is a method by which specialist mapping software  is applied to the areas of remote sensing, land surveying, aerial photography, photogrammetry, and many tools can be used together to make up the specific GIS solution that is needed for a specific project.

A GIS is an information system that integrates, stores, edits, analyzes, shares, and displays geographic information. GIS applications are tools that allow the user to create interactive queries, analyze spatial information, edit data, maps, and present the results of all these operations.

GIS is a powerful tool for collecting and collating datasets enabling consistency and continuity.  GIS is able to process varying types and amounts of data.  It allows the import of various monitoring data sets and statistical analysis of the data.

GIS technology can be used for resource management, asset management, archaeology, environmental impact assessment, urban planning, cartography, criminology, geographic history, marketing, logistics and other purposes. For example, GIS might allow emergency planners to easily calculate emergency response times (i.e. logistics) in the event of a natural disaster, GIS might be used to find wetlands that need protection from pollution, or GIS can be used by a company to site a new business location to take advantage of a previously under-served market.

I have over ten years experience working with the application of Geographical Information Systems and remote sensing for environmental assessment, monitoring and research,  GIS management, training and consultancy in the UK and in developing countries.

• Patterns of loss of biodiversity: Kenya forests
• Deforestation and land use change: Kenya forests
• Distribution patterns of flora and fauna
• Storing and querying large data sets
• Calculating home range and habitat use
• Mapping and modelling spatial phenomena (eg species distributions, deforestation risk etc)
• Working with communities to map resources and land-use

• Spatial Analysis
• Information Management
• Remote sensing and image processing technique
• 3D Digital Terrain Modelling
• GIS project life cycle and Management
• Training

• Threat maps i.e dangers to human settlements, poaching activities in the Masai Mara
• Spatial analysis of wildlife census data
• Wildlife sightings were transferred into GIS
• Migration corridors clearly identified
• Wildlife densities mapped in wet and dry season.
• Cluster analysis performed on poaching activities to show hotspots

Geography can inform decision makers about important challenges in their projects they had not seen before because of the visual nature of GIS. Decision makers can get an overview or a detailed look, they can exclude certain parameters or include a new possible site location. A GIS can ensure the correct decision has been made. For anyone trying to evaluate information, the best way to view it is on a map. For more read

• Land use classification of satellite imagery called LANDSAT 7 - land use types were identified and quantified for further analysis and decision making.
• Protected areas, Forestry and National Reserves were represented on maps, along with species and habitats, coastal processes and geomorphology

Dupoto Forest and Wildlife Association

The Dupoto Forest and Wildlife Association is a community based organisation in the Transmara district of Masai Mara, formed in 1997 with the aim of managing an ecotourism project that was started to both protect the Nyakweri forest as well as benefiting the community around it. It has more than 300 members and work in partnership with ESOK, the Ecotourism Society of Kenya, Transmara Development program and recently the Mara Conservancy who are all providing technical support. Dupoto Forest & Wildlife Association has empowered the community due to the benefits accrued from the ecotourism project, which are managed and shared among members. The world famous Masai Mara National Reserve, depends entirely on this forest as it forms an eco-system with animals like elephants moving in to the forest during dry seasons in September to  December, and lions, leopards and other cats migrate to the forest during rainy seasons when there is long grass in the park, making hunting difficult. Dupoto community are promoting eco-tourism activities e.g forest walks and camping in this forest, with the aim of generating some income to its members who are affected by human wildlife conflicts. Researcher and Trainer, Deidre Luzmore, visited the fantastic Nyakweri Forest. She was guided by a Dupoto member through the forest on a trail walk identifying wild boar spoors, numerous bird species and inspecting hyena sleeping quarters deep within one of the last indigenous pockets of tropical Forest in Kenya. Using GIS and
satellite technologies, she was able to estimate the size of forest remaining and the extent of deforestation in the last 30 years. She also assisted with marketing material for Dupoto Forest and Wildlife Association.

GIS as a technology can be used as a framework for sustainable development. A GIS database can begin at the baseline and with the addition of new data, changes in once overlapping data sources can be monitored and mitigated against. GIS allows the user to measure assets and understand patterns of change so as to better understand the use of resources. A GIS database can ensure better utilisation of resources by leveraging geographic information with analysis tools that support planning as well as operational activities.