Lagos flags-off digital mapping, geographical info system
By Sonny Aragba-Akpore and Adeyemi Adepetun
FOR Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, the state should score many firsts before 2011 when his tenure expires.
Besides a good number of roads networks, rehabilitation of others, bridges and drainage systems, Lagos should be digitally mapped and provide geographical information systems to create ready access to every part of the state.
It sounds novel in this part of the world, but Fashola thinks it is a way of life elsewhere.
Recently, when he hosted the 2nd stakeholders forum in Alausa, Ikeja, Fashola said that his plan was to truly make Lagos a mega city and the geographical information system (GIS) and digital mapping would make this possible.
Land is an instrument of prosperity if properly managed, Fashola explained saying "we are on the right track as the digital mapping is 75 per cent ready."
Digital mapping and GIS will enhance coverage of the entire landscape of Lagos, Fashola added.
Digital mapping is the process by which a collection of street data from a location is compiled and formatted into a virtual image. The primary function of this technology is to produce maps that give accurate representations of a particular area, detailing major road arteries and other points of interest that would be invaluable to a user mapping the distance from one place to another. Though digital mapping can be found in a variety of computer applications, such as Google Earth, the main use of these maps is with the Global Positioning System, or GPS satellite network, used in standard automotive navigation systems.
The roots of digital mapping lie within traditional paper maps such as the Thomas Guide. Paper maps provide basic landscapes similar to digitised road maps, yet are often cumbersome, cover only a designated area, and lack many specific details such as roadblocks. In addition, there is no way to "update" a paper map except to obtain a new version. On the other hand, digital maps, in many cases, can be updated through synchronisation with updates from company servers.
Early digital maps had the same basic functionality as paper maps-that is, they provided a "virtual view" of roads generally outlined by the terrain encompassing the surrounding area. However, as digital maps have grown with the expansion of GPS. technology in the past decade, live traffic updates points of interest and service locations have been added to enhance digital maps to be more "user conscious".
Traditional "virtual views" are now only part of digital mapping. In many cases, users can choose between virtual maps, satellite (aerial views), and hybrid (a combination of virtual map and aerial views) views. With the ability to update and expand digital mapping devices, newly constructed roads and places can be added to appear on maps.
Digital maps heavily rely upon a vast amount of data collected over time. Most of the information that comprises digital maps is the culmination of satellite imagery as well as street level information. Maps must be updated frequently to provide users with the most accurate reflection of a location. While there is a wide spectrum on companies that specialise in digital mapping, the basic premise is that digital maps will accurately portray roads, as they actually appear to give "life-like experiences."
Fashola noted that the essence was to impact positively on members of the society as well as provide basic amenities, especially power in the state.
He explained that it became necessary to do a comprehensive digital survey and mapping of Lagos especially when it was included as one of the mega cities in the world. Aside, he noted digitalising Lagos was intended to ensure that information users and producers could technologically access every street in the state.
"The road to where we have come today started so many years ago and is also a continuation from the past administration. What we are doing today, is to mark the beginning of the final step of this project," he said.
Science and Technology Commissioner, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, reiterated that the use of GIS would revolutionise the process of data acquisition, processing, storage dissemination and use of the GIS in digital format for planning and decision-making.
He explained that the Lagos State government commenced the comprehensive digital survey and mapping of the whole state which would result in the establishment of enterprise GIS, to provide various developmental activities in both the rural areas and other major towns in the state.
According to him, the last mapping exercise Lagos State had was about 40 years ago. He said this lack of interest in mapping has brought the entire country to its present state of planlessness leading to development of slums and high cost of development.
Hamzat also stated that the state government was putting in place, a state geo-information policy as well as establishing a Lagos enterprise GIS database backed by a policy which, he said, would eliminate most of the problems experienced by geo-information producers and users in the state. While noting that 310 civil servants had been trained on the technology deployment, owing to the fact that 50 per cent of the data processing would be done locally.
Hamzat averred that science and technology had a significant role to play in the efficient operations of government and in enhancing quality of services to citizens.
"Geospatial Data is critical to orderly plan and develop Lagos State as well as in efficiency of government's business processes.
"The Ministry of Science and Technology will support the digital mapping and GIS project by providing the data communication capabilities required," he stated.
According to him, the role of Geospatial information could not be over-emphasised, stressing that it was very critical to the development of various sectors of the economy, adding that in many countries, over 80 per cent of planning and decision-making were based on Geospatial Information.
Also, a research carried out by one of the Consultants to the GIS project in Lagos, JRapha Geomatics Systems Nigeria Ltd stated that the digital mapping/GIS project would support development programmes such as tourism promotion, industrial development, boundary resolution (inter and intra state), property valuation and revaluation for effective revenue collection, population and housing census operation, planning of urban and rural settlements and transportation, flood and erosion control, mineral development, including bitumen and others.
Dr. P.C Nwilo, director at JRapha said that the primary purpose of the project was to produce orthophotos, digital maps and GIS database for the whole state for the implementation of various development programmes of the state in the rural areas as well as in the state capital and other major towns.
This, he said would serve as a veritable tool for orderly development control mechanism for the state.
As per the current work status in the state, JRapha Geomatics Systems said that over 200 primary and secondary controls had been established by double frequency GPS and Geodetic Levelling instrument.
Nwilo stressed that all ground controls had been related to the universal transverse Mercator projection system and convertible to WG 84 Datum. He added that the adjustment and permanent monumentation and description of the primary controls had been done in accordance with the prescription and specifications of Surveyors Council of Nigeria and ISO
Fashola added that most people often lamented about their inability to secure collateral for bank facilities without realising that the personal houses and buildings, which were bequeathed to them or which they own could become useful collateral once the titles, are perfected.
He added such properties would become useful documents which were tenable before banks with the new GIS Mapping system.
He added that the state would continue to think ahead and position the people and young ones in such a way that they would be able to deal with challenges of the future.
While asking the people to reflect on how the world is fast becoming a global village, Governor Fashola said that what happened in one part of the world-affected people in all parts of the world.
Fashola who described Digital Mapping and Geographical Information System (GIS) as the provision of infrastructure said that it would determine how several issues and policy would be tackled by the state government.
He added that its optimum usage would determine how efficiently government could evacuate and properly dispose refuse without negatively impacting the society as well as provide water and power supply.
He explained that the successful application of GIS in the state could only ensure that the government became more responsive to the needs of the people for whom it principally existed.
He said that the possibilities were endless as people could now search for titles on lands electronically without going to Alausa and thus impacting on the number of vehicles that might not have to be on the road for similar reasons.
Fashola also said that this would ultimately decide whether the government needed to build more roads as it was generally being clamoured for or to make a choice of providing drinkable water and hospitals to the people.
He also said that it meant that architects would not have to go into the bush anymore in order to have a clear view of some sites.
Fashola also commended the Special Adviser on GIS Project, Mr. Durowoju, a surveyor, for the selfless manner he contributed to the success of the project, saying that he was an exemplary example of how dutiful and committed some public servants could be.
He added that the state was at the same time putting in place a state-geo-information policy as well as the establishment of a Lagos Enterprise GIS database backed by a policy, which would certainly eliminate most of the problems experienced by geo-information producers and users in the state.
In his remarks, the director of JRAPHA Geomatics System Limited, Nwilo said that kudos should be given to Governor Fashola for setting a standard which would be very difficult for any state to surpass in terms of GIS and digital mapping.
He added that even the Abuja GIS could not be compared to what was happening in Lagos, explaining that the mapping was being conducted at the level of developed countries.
He also said that the state governor had ensured that there was no preference for any of the contractors who sought to bid for the job as he provided a level playing ground and was always monitoring the progress of work.
In a presentation, a consultant on the project, Mr. Zul Jiwani said that GIS had succeeded only in countries and places where there were champions, saying Lagos had a champion in Governor Babatunde Fashola.
He added that with GIS almost everything was possible and also included someone doing something somewhere and which could be accessed at the push of a button.
Jiwani who described mapping as the record of human activity on the surface of the earth added that the whole world was moving towards the adoption of GS mapping option.
