Overview of the Eastern Cape GIS Clearinghouse

It is the Government of South Africa’s stated intention to provide water for all of its citizens. To this end the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) has been mandated to facilitate water service delivery to the rural poor and others who have not previously had access to water services. Hence, the Government of South Africa has embarked upon an extensive multi-faceted water services sector support program to provide water and sanitation services to improve the quality of life of poor rural communities.

In the development of the overall strategy, spatial information systems were identified as a key enabler in terms of achieving the sustainable delivery and operation of water services in the region. An integrated Geographic Information System (GIS) model was proposed and implemented that recognised the existing state of preparedness of each of the Water Services Authorities (WSAs) and the provincial departments, in using information as a resource to plan for, manage and operate water services. At the centre of this model is a GIS Clearinghouse whose job it is to implement the core system as well as enhance and maintain it.

The main features of this model are: ( Download Diagram)

• The system design makes use of the latest internet GIS technology and incorporates a very pragmatic yet effective strategy of empowering DM’s to have access to a broad spectrum of water services information.

• The system design is based on an open architecture that will enable any stakeholder in the water services industry (Catchment Management Authorities, Water Services Providers, Consulting Engineers, Ward Councillors, etc.) to use information stored in the central database, in a manner customised to his or her own particular requirements.

• The system proposed is a scaleable solution, which means that the system can be built on over time as the needs of users change and evolve.

• Data maintenance procedures will be implemented to ensure that the central database is updated as soon as changes affecting water services or customer profiles occur.

• Arrangements are made with the main data owners (Statistics South Africa, Department of Rural Development, Municipal Demarcation Board, etc.) to ensure that updates to the base data sets are supplied as soon as these updates are completed.

• The organisational structure designed to manage the system will ensure strong organisational learning within the DWA Regional Office in terms of data management and technical GIS skills; training and mentoring of DM GIS staff; and guidance of consulting engineers and water service providers in the use of GIS technology.

• The GIS technology fits with the existing enterprise GIS architecture within the Department.

The main benefits of implementing the GIS can be summarised as follows:

1. The model provides a readily accessible information framework that will enable DM’s to efficiently implement their Water Services Development Plans (WSDP) for their areas. The model also provides for the facility, by virtue of the spatial component of the database, to integrate Water Services Development Plans into a provincial view for access by the regional office of DWAF and by other stakeholders. This facility is in line with DWAF’s national information strategy of integrating WSDP’s at a local, provincial and national level.
2. The spatial database has been designed at logical level using internationally accepted standards and open GIS principals. This will enable the transfer of information to be customised to the requirement of particular interest groups, for example, Catchment Management Authorities, Water Service Providers, etc.
3. The model provides for timeous maintenance of the spatial database, whenever updates occur, as a result of construction of new works, maintenance or maintenance of assets.
4. DM’s will, immediately on implementation, have access to spatial information relevant to their water services and will have the facilities to properly plan for, manage and operate their water service facilities. The level of interaction with the system is initially graded from a relatively limited Internet browser application to full GIS capability. At all levels, users of the system will be able to produce their own maps and reports on information of interest to them.

The GIS Clearinghouse is fully equipped to edit, store, analyse, print and serve GIS information to the Eastern Cape using ESRI ArcGIS, ArcIMS and ArcSDE software together with its servers, plotters and printers. It is situated at the DWA offices in King Williamstown and essentially comprises high end GIS hardware and software, a large GIS database, and trained GIS staff. A DWA GIS Manager and three GIS technicians render the GIS service.