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The general objective of this project is to investigate the use of GIS in planning the development of natural resources of Zimbabwe and the sustainable development of urban infrastructurel.

Specific objectives 

• To initiate or extend research in specific areas using the technology of GIS:
• to apply GIS-based techniques to the problem of optimizing the development of urban land by local authorities;
• to apply GIS-based techniques to the planning and management of natural resources.
• Use internet based information technologies to develop intranets and extranets to facilitate the, exchange and communication of geo-spatial data.

Partners institutions and principal investigators

• D.T. Semwayo (co-ordinator) Institute of Environmental Studies

• Dr. Hapanyengwi, Computer Centre

• Dr. S. Mazhindu-Shumba, Computer Science Department

• Mr. P. Matambanadzo, Geo-infomatics and Surveying

• Dr. C. Kunaka, Geography Department

• Dr. Ph. Mugabe, Centre for Applied Social Studies

• Dr. P. Mugabe, Animal Science Department

• Mrs. C. Davison, Department of Urban and Rural Planning

• Dr. A. Makarau, Physics Department

Expected project outputs

The following are the expected project outputs;

1. Trained graduate students in the design and development of an integrated and distributed environmental information systems network of GIS databases.

2. A conceptual framework for an environmental information system for data warehousing and data sharing between distributed GIS databases

3. An operational integrated and distributed environmental information systems (EIS) network of application specific GIS databases at the University of Zimbabwe

4. A meta-database providing an index and entry point to the proposed EIS.

5. Research papers on the use of GIS for environmental management and GIS database integration.

Below is the a summary of the research projects being undertaken:

Climatic Variability and Desertification in North East Zimbabwe

This project centres on the monitoring of climate changes and the effects it might have on desertification and the environment. The major aim of the research is to establish: (a) whether there is a climate change or not thus establishing weather trends; (b) does the climate have an impact on desertification or vice versa; (c) do other factors such as anthropogenic factors have an effect on desertification; (d) quantifying analysing_ation. The climatic and desertification trends established using data from the year 1934 to present would be used to project into the future.

Researchers: S.Chinorumba, Dr. A. Makarau

The Use of GIS to Determine the Accessibility of Social Services to the Rural Population

The major aim of the project is to come up with spatial accessibility indices so as to determine road networks by analysing existing road networks, settlement patterns, land use, drainage, topology and population distribution. The outputs will be used as a planning tool to improve road network development, service development and settlement planning in rural areas.

Researchers: C.T. Mandipa, Dr C. Kunaka.

Use of GIS to Carry out an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) of Tourism 

When a tourist development is being set up environmental impact analysis is carried out to determine the effects the development might have on the environment, with main emphasis on the aesthetic effects. The EIA is mostly done manually. This project centred on using GIS tools to carry out an EIA. A hypothetical development was be erected on the chosen site and then an EIA and Sensitivity Analysis carried out using GIS. The resultant system may then be used for tourism and development planning.

Researchers: R. Mhere-Chinamo, Dr. G.T. Hapanyengwi, Mr. D. Semwayo

Incorporating Object-Orientation into GIS – A Java Approach  

A model was developed on the implementation of GIS systems using an object-oriented approach. The model will be tested on meteorological data.

Researchers: G.C. Mpande, Mr. P. Matambanadzo

Integration of Knowledge Base Systems and GIS

The project entailed the development of a framework or conceptual model to integrate knowledge based systems and GIS. Hypothetical data was used to test the conceptual model. The project came about as a result of the workshop on the Sengwe area, which highlighted the need for a knowledge base to be used together with geo-spatial data of the Sengwe area.

Researchers: D. Murambadoro, Dr. G.T. Hapanyengwi

Data Warehousing in a GIS Environment

This project entails the development and implementation of algorithms to collect and integrate data from various data sources with geo-spatial data and attribute data. The collection of this data will enable complex analysis and faster decision support for various data collected from and for the same area Two implemented approaches will be compared and analysis carried out to determine which is the best approach and in what circumstances it is best used.

Researchers: D. Ndlovu, Dr. G.T. Hapanyengwi

GIS Tools to Monitor Drought and Desertification

This research was on the usage of GIS applications in monitoring drought and desertification in Northeast Zimbabwe. The major objective of this research was to come up with policies, which can be used to address problems of drought and desertification. Besides bringing about political awareness, the project determined societal vulnerability to climate change.

Researchers: Dr. A. Makarau, D. Nyanganyura

The Development of a GIS based system for Enhanced Urban Management

The research involves development of an Integrated Spatial Information System for a Town (INSIST). INSIST is a GIS-based system for enhanced urban management. Another component is on accessibility analysis in rural areas focussing on Mashonaland East. The objective is to identify areas with accessibility constraints using GIS tools in order to improve the planning of access to services in the communal areas.

Researchers: Dr. C. Kunaka

Distributed GIS using Persistent Java 

This is work towards the development of a distributed GIS based on Persistent Java. For data extraction the Z39-50 protocol and Lambda calculus will be used to test objects built from queries. He has selected Java because it has built in protocols such as TCP/IP and the Z39-50 built on top of the TCP/IP protocol. In short, this is the lazy approach to data integration in a GIS environment with the special use of persistent objects to store data.

Researcher: Mr. P. Matambanadzo

Development of the Unlimited Data Unit [UDU] Model, a conceptual data model for Dynamic Multi-level and Multi-user Land Cover Classification; A Geo-spatial Information Engineering Approach

The objective of the research is to apply information-engineering techniques of user needs and information analysis to specify precisely data and meta-data required to model information requirements for a user oriented land cover classification scheme implemented in a GIS. The product of the data specification and data modelling exercise should be a proposed new data model, the Unrestricted Data Unit model (UDU). The UDU model  should be able to support the implicit relationships between the world view entities used in land cover classification. It should also be flexible enough to accommodate the various mappings suited to the data in several land cover and other associated classification systems, hence the term, unrestricted data unit model. The proposed data units architecture will incorporate meta-data. The meta-data will be used at implementation to determine which mapping is best suited for a particular data unit for a specific classification system.

Researcher: D.T. Semwayo

For further information on the projects going on at the Institute of Environmental Studies Contact:  Ms D Vhevha