Technical teams and volunteers are trained in Geographic Information Systems

The Regional Network for Risk Management in Central America held a workshop «Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)» from August 6 to 8 of this year, in the city of Choluteca of the Republic of Honduras.

The purpose of this training process was to provide the attendees with initial knowledge about methodologies and technological tools, which are used for the management and representation of geospatial data and to promote the development and implementation of basic skills for the development of maps that facilitate the management and decision making of the national tables that are members of the Regional Network for Risk Management, in their different activities.

For Rodrigo Hernández Regional Humanitarian Action Officer of the CRGR, Geographic Information Systems are very useful instruments for decision making in the field of research and for responding to an emergency, since apart from the management of technology, it is a methodological tool that allows technicians and volunteers from different fields to process and analyze spatial information associated with different variables.

“The knowledge that we have acquired in this workshop will serve to strengthen the capacities of the technical teams and volunteers of the CRGR and National Network for Risk Management. Likewise, we can use technological tools to achieve effective communication and improve monitoring systems through maps and information associated with the territories where we have a presence” explained Rodrigo Hernández.

This capacity building process introduced the participants in the knowledge and management of the latest technologies in Geographic Information Systems, from a theoretical and practical perspective. Likewise, I provide the space to review the basic concepts of the two main models of cartographic representation (raster and vector), spatial databases and the application of methodologies for the capture, processing, storage, analysis, recovery and updating of information georeferenced.

This workshop was carried out within the framework of the project “Strengthen the capacities of the CRGR for a higher quality Humanitarian Action and contribute to improving resilience in Central America. Phase III “, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

On this day, 17 people representing the National Network for Risk Management and the CRGR participated, including national officials and the regional reference for Humanitarian Action and Communications and technical and volunteer staff working with member organizations of this network of networks .

Photo gallery