Grenada
Remapping of Grenada
By Spicelander.com News
Tue, 7 Nov 2006, 08:37

Source: http://spiceislander.com/pages/local_news/local110406.htm

Friday, November 3rd was a historic day at the Agency for Reconstruction and Development (ARD). A Press Briefing was conducted at which members of the media were updated on the Grenada LIDAR Remapping Project.

In his introductory remarks, ARD Chief Executive Officer Richardson Andrews referred to the occasion as a “high mark’ for the legacy of the ARD, explaining that the remapping of Grenada lays the foundations for opening a host of developmental activities for the next decade.

The ARD contracted TechMap of Georgia, USA to conduct the aerial survey aspect of the Project, which utilises a technique called LIDAR – Light Detection And Ranging. The TechMap team is headed by Dan Burke, Global Positioning System (GPS) Technician; and includes Matt Boone, Aerial Survey Pilot; and Jason Ellard, Senior Camera Operator. The LIDAR survey is scheduled to commence on Monday, November 6. Depending on the weather, the aerial and ground works are expected to take about two weeks

During the Press Briefing, Mr. Burke explained that the twin engine Sesna 401, which is blue and white, will be flying over Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique at a range of 2,000 to 7,000 metres.

The Project involves ground work to set up survey equipment at elevated points throughout the Country. The equipment will be temporarily placed, so members of the public are asked to cooperate with Mr. Burke when he seeks permission from land owners in this regard.

The ARD began developing the Grenada LIDAR Remapping Project* *early* *in 2005, in conjunction with the Physical Planning Unit of the Ministry of Finance. The principal objective is to support the Government of Grenada in its efforts to improve the quality of physical development and hazard mitigation, based on accurate, comprehensive and current mapping information.

The first part of the Project focused on training. In January 2006 the ARD, with support from the United Nations Development Programme, facilitated training for Public Officers on the use of the Geographical Information System (GIS) through satellite technology. The GIS is a data base of all the essential attributes of the land.

The second part involves the aerial survey and ground works. In preparation for this, the ARD had the maps from the Valuation Division scanned, which enabled geo-referencing and digitizing of maps for the Land Use Division. However, the last time Grenada was aerial surveyed was in the 1970s. Therefore, even though some Ministries are using GIS, it based on digitized versions of old maps.

The ARD also held meetings in October with representatives of the National Water and Sewerage Authority, Cable and Wireless, Digicel, Grenada Electricity Services Ltd., National Disaster Management Agency, the Royal Grenada Police Force and the Grenada Ports Authority to update these agencies and companies about the Project and determine what actions they need to take in order to maximize the benefits from the exercise.

Total costs for the Project are approximately $400,000 (US). This includes the application of aerial photography that will yield a wide range of technical details in digital form; additional hardware and software for Government agencies that will use the data, as well as more training for Public Officers.

This major initiative by the ARD will modernize geographical information and provide the base for the establishment of a National Cadastre, which is the official register and record of the ownership, area, land use and value of each parcel of land in the Country.

The Remapping Project is one of the most significant undertakings by Grenada. It will have a substantial impact on the positive development of the Country. The benefits include:

  1. Land use guidelines;
  2. Urban development;
  3. Environmental management;
  4. Accurate assessment of risks and potential hazards;
  5. Disaster preparation and management;
  6. Forestry management;
  7. Mapping of all existing roads;
  8. Ability to assess areas for development and cultivation;
  9. Revenue generation for Government through the sale of maps;
  10. Site selection for human settlements, recreational and other facilities;
  11. Lay the basis for Grenada’s Human Settlement Policy for the next 10 years.