GIS

Administration

Geographical Information System

	What is GIS?
	Good decisions are based on good information. Government, non-profit, and private organisations use Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to integrate data about people, places and things important to decision making. GIS is an effective tool to evaluate and visualize relationships between features and occurrences that can be mapped, e.g. roads, parcels, natural features, development corridors and municipal boundaries. A GIS is a computerized database management system for the capture, storage, retrieval, analysis, and display of data defined by location. It is with the aim of improving service provision within the Ehlanzeni district and the realisation of a truly integrated development planning process that the Ehlanzeni District Municipality has established a district wide GIS.
	Who are the GIS clients and why do they use GIS?
	The Ehlanzeni District Municipality (EDM) through the Office of the Municipal Manager is responsible for the Geographical Information System (GIS) and its development and expansion to allow direct usage by other EDM departments, the local municipalities of the district, as well as any other stakeholder with internet access. Through its GIS website, which can be found on: http://www.ehlanzeni.org.za users are able to navigate their way around the district in great detail, finding places of interest, developments in the area and directions to specific places using the street level data.
	*A View of the GIS website main page and the map application window showing land parcels in Umjindi Local Municipality*
	Capability of the system
	The district’s Geographical Information System gives municipal administrators the capacity to conduct a variety of functions to aid in planning and management of municipal services, a few examples include: Financial management – aiding trend analysis for usage of water and electricity as well as rates versus revenue collection Integrated Development Planning - the GIS allows spatial planners to bring SDFs to life by clearly showing areas planned for development as well as specific locations of planned projects for each financial year. Town Planning - Zoning/re-zonings, consolidations and development applications can be updated as part of the process and maps produced with all updated information For Technical/Civil Services - service backlog analysis, transport planning and asset management capabilities of the system offer a useful decision support tool Local Economic Development & Tourism – the web portal allows access to information by investors and potential investors, with information such as the towns, industrial zones, tourist attractions and tourism related facilities *Department of Education offices in Barberton Extension 3*
	How the project is assisting the municipality?
	Currently the EDM is utilising the GIS to produce information products for use in the district activities as well in supporting projects conducted within the local municipalities and provincial departments. The access to the site is password controlled and local municipality staff members have access rights that allow them to update and input a host of information relating to town planning, development control, infrastructure projects and asset condition information. Official link to the GIS Website: http://www.ehlanzeni.org.za/
	Management Contact Details