GIS UNIT
PDP’s GIS Unit produces GIS-based maps of informal areas and helps develop innovative ways of integrating participatory-based GIS practices into urban development policy and governance.
The Geographic Information System (GIS) is a suitable tool to support the provision of accurate information on any community. It also enables all the stakeholders – community members, NGOs, business people, and governmental institutions – to have equal access to the same accurate information.
GIS is an applied information technology which contributes to participatory development in different ways. GIS benefits:
- to share available information among all stakeholders,
- to visualise and document the existing situation,
- to recognise, determine and present problems,
- to support the decision making process in urban planning.
- Through sharing this accurate information, GIS enhances communication, coordination, and integration among stakeholders.
PDP’s GIS unit has made the following achievements:
- Identification of informal settlements in the Greater Cairo Region and Alexandria
- Implementation of GIS in the daily practice of the district administration staff
- Enabled local community to read maps and visualise their problems and needs to participate in planning procedures
- Establishment of detailed GIS-databases in some areas of Alexandria, Helwan, Manshiet Nasser, Boulaq El Dakrour and in a lot of other districts of the Governorates of Giza and Cairo
- Creation of database for NGOs in Giza and providing on-the-job training for Ministry of Social Solidarity