Guyana observes GIS Day 2019
DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, November 13, 2019
On Wednesday, Guyana joined the rest of the world in celebrating Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) Day.
GIS is a framework for gathering, managing, and analysing data with the use of geography. It integrates many types of data and analyses the spatial location and organises layers of information into visualisations using maps and 3D scenes.
GIS Day is observed annually on November 13 and provides a platform for users of GIS technology to demonstrate real-world applications that are making a difference in our society.
During a forum held at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC), Dean, Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Guyana, Dr. Temitope Oyedotun, emphasised the importance of geospatial information to national development.
“Every aspect of human activities in this world needs geospatial information. It can be benefitting in society, in poverty reduction, in education, in health, the population, employment, gender equality, smart cities, all of this,” he stated.
In this regard, Minister of Public Telecommunications, Hon. Catherine Hughes has placed much emphasis on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and has been actively providing opportunities in this field.
“I know that you, as young people, have an innate instinct for technology, and so we want you to take the lead in the next couple of years and really transform Guyana into a digitised nation… As a government, we are focusing so much on technology,” Minister Hughes stated in her remarks.
The Public Telecommunications Minister highlighted that GIS technologies have transformed the way business and services are being conducted across the globe. She made reference to US company ‘Amazon’, which now performs some of its deliveries with the use of drones. Minister Hughes also noted that drones are also being used in the healthcare sector to deliver medication to remote areas.
The event was attended by secondary school students from Regions 4 and 10 along with agencies who use GIS in their operations.