Some Thought for Training Planners
in the use of Spatial Data Development
Sarath Jayatilaka
Survey Department - Sri Lanka
Peter Bitter
Geography Department
University of Zurich - Irchel
Switzerland
1.0 Introduction
For decades Surveyors, Cartographers and Remote Sensing specialists have produced various types of spatial data. This was justified, inter alias, in development planning. The authors think that it is timely to take a fresh look at the user end of the chain from data collection to planning decision. There is much to be done in training the administrators and planners in using spatial data for their decision making. However it is found that spatial dimension is used very sparingly today in decentralized planning models.
Today we do not have a proper and a systematic approach in decentralised planning. It is very ad-hoc. Some say that all planning decisions are taken by political authority and hence there is no need for a systematic planning approach. Is this true? Is it that since there is not systematic methodology or a good information base hat these ad-hoc decisions are taken ? do we have the information base and are we presenting it properly to the decision makers are the question we have to ask ourself today? We feel that some sort of spatial dimension to these planning indicators will help the decision markers to decide on development ahead.
Generally speaking, spatial data could be used by the planner to identify and localise development problems as well as potential, to study spatial interactions, and, perhaps most importantly, to visualise problems, potential and plans for the purpose of public and political discussion. Thematically, the most important categories of spatial data for development planning are administrative boundaries, land ownership, land capabilities, present land use, infrastructure and socioeconomic indicators.
To achieve above we need to train the administrators and planners in the use of spatial data in planning and also keep the national organizations which produce spatial data, to be aware of the needs of the planners and administrators when producing data.
2.0 Why is spatial data not much used by planners ?
There are many reason why spatial data is not much used by planners and administrators in planning. Many studies that has been done in this direction by the authors, shows that both Planners and Administrators in the districts and divisions are mostly not aware of the spatial data available for them. This may be due to the fact that the spatial data producing organizations do not five adequate publicity of their products.
The second major factor which contribute for not using spatial data is that these officers have not adequate training in the use of spatial data for their work. However today we se that there is much effort taken to train planners in the use of spatial data by the authorities to rectify this situation.
Another major drawback in the use of spatial data of planning is the accessibility to the maps. Today due to security conditions in the country the Ministry of Defense has imposed certain restrictions in the issue of detail maps and airphotographs without their approval.
Finally we could also say that Sri Lanka as a national should improve the "Map Culture" among its' people. As a national Sri Lankans doe not use maps much. If you travel to Europe you would see that every motor vehicle will have at least a couple of maps, and every one uses a map to travel. Sri Lankans believe in finding their way by asking someone rather than to read a map and find the way.
3.0 divisional level planning
In Sri Lanka there are 9 provinces. These 9 provinces are sub divided to form 24 districts. The district is then divided to number of Divisions. Each divisions a administrative unit under a Division is a administrative unit under a Divisional Secretary who is responsible for coordination all work within the division.
Each Divisional Secretary division is further subdivided to about 50-75 Grama Niladari divisions. However the funds for development is allocated to the division and hence we could consider that the lowest planning unit is the Division.
The above system exists in the administrative environment. However in the local government system there are other units of planning such as Municipalities, Urban Councils, Town Councils, and Pradeshi Sabas. In most cases the Divisional Secretary boundary and the local government authority boundaries are coterminous. However in some cases there are different boundaries.
Thus we see that there can be problems arising out of these gwo administrative systems, particularly because their relationship and their own responsibilities are not entirely clear. Both do planning and both these institutions get funds for development. Hence there could be contradictory and duplicative development plans for the same geographical area.
Today we see that both these institutions do the planning mostly in a adhoc manner. Although there is a divisional development committees and district development committees the present regional planning structure needs a more systematic approach.
