BASSETERRE, St Kitts, 20 November 2024 – The Department of Physical Planning which
functions under the Ministry of Sustainable Development celebrates Wednesday 20 November
2024 as GIS Day under the theme “Empowering a Sustainable Island State through GIS”,
through its Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Unit.
GIS are digital tools that capture, store, analyze, and visualize spatial data, providing powerful
insights into everything from natural landscapes to human-made infrastructure. GIS plays a vital
role in guiding sustainable development, and here in St. Kitts, the Department of Physical
Planning is leading this effort, integrating GIS into various government sectors to build a
resilient, sustainable island state.
At the Department of Physical Planning, the GIS team collaborates with departments across
government, offering expertise in spatial data management and analysis. Some of the services
offered and products developed include:
- Digital and physical maps
- Management of spatial data
- Data collection (including the use of drones)
- Data Analysis
- Database management
- Creation of 3D models
From helping students create maps for their SBAs to empowering departments like the Water
Department to monitor assets, the GIS team provides crucial support. Additionally, the
Department of Constituency Empowerment uses GIS digital tools to gather community data,
while the Climate and Environment teams rely on GIS for visualizing environmental changes.
Another government agency, the Public Works Department uses GIS to track road infrastructure
while the Ministry of Sustainable Development manages land use with these tools, allowing for
strategic planning.
Support is also extended to critical stakeholders such as the National Emergency Management
Agency (NEMA) with disaster response planning while national security teams benefit from
GIS’s insights to improve safety.
The GIS intends to collect all relevant data to monitor and assess its progress as it aims to
achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Josiah Burkett, Senior GIS Officer said GIS is not just essential for today’s needs, but it is also
an exciting field for tomorrow.
He said, “Young professionals interested in technology, data, and the environment should
consider GIS as a promising career path. In the coming years, GIS will create new job
opportunities across the Federation, opening doors for local talent to lead our nation into a more
informed and sustainable future. GIS is a truly cool tool that makes a difference, and we
encourage everyone to celebrate the ways it is shaping a sustainable St. Kitts and beyond.”
A story map titled Sweet Sugar City was crafted with GIS tools by Chezon Tuckett, an officer in
the Department of Physical Planning. The story map journeys through the history of St. Kitts and
Nevis, exploring aerial images, maps, and stories that capture both the past and present.
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