International Development

Location intelligence brings clarity where there is uncertainty.

Putting information in the hands of decision makers quickly is the difference between life and death. Put this information on a map and suddenly it is easy to see where the problem is and how it can be fixed.
 
Location intelligence delivered through maps is essential for disaster mitigation, capacity building, sustainable development planning, decision support systems and climate change adaptation.

We have worked in over 30 countries solving international development problems using the power and simplicity of Maps. We have won numerous awards including the United Nations Momentum for Change award.

The Cyclone Pam Crisis Map recently received additional awards acknowledging NGIS Australia's efforts:
  • Western Australian Spatial Excellence Award for People and Community
  • Queensland Spatial Excellence Award for People and Community

Responding to disasters using Crisis Maps

People understand maps quickly. It provides an intuitive communication platform/tool for first responders in disasters.

​We use Crisis Maps to co-ordinate fast and accurate responses to disasters using intuitive mapping applications. These maps deliver vital, timely and centralised information to where it is most needed. Clear and consistent communication is vital for disaster response involving many aid and government organisations. Online mapping becomes a universal language for communicating impact, assessment and activity.

Crisis maps used for Cyclone Pam

With over 50% of Vanuatu’s population directly affected, Cyclone Pam was one of the worst natural disasters to impact the pacific region. We urgently responded with our partners Google, CRCSI and DigitalGlobe to create a crisis map, providing the first post cyclone imagery and population data for aid agencies to target and manage affected communities. 

The Cyclone Pam Crisis Map was the first response, map-based communication and visualisation platform for the World Bank, GIZ, SPC, WFP and the Vanuatu Government. Data contributed by the World Bank, Vanuatu Government, Secretariat of the Pacific Community and DigitalGlobe helped produce the map. 

Share and collaborate using open data

We have seen a lot of time and money wasted on buying data only for it to be lost in separate systems within Government Departments. Open Data and open platforms enable government and non-government organisations to leverage the significant investment already being made into data and systems.

We use open map platforms to distribute critical information to key decision makers across organisations. Consolidating valuable data on an easy to use and intuitive maps interface drives major changes in organisations. It increases participation, transparency and results in products and processes that didn’t exist before. Data is not enough by itself. It needs to be in a place where everyone can access it. This leads to people working together to make better decisions.

Make decisions and communicate using the universal language of maps

Decision making using outdated information leads to poor outcomes. Complex development projects handle large data amounts that can often get lost in complicated internal software systems. When you most need this information, nobody can find it. When they do find it, it's hard to understand leading to slow decision making and dangerous outcomes.
Decision makers need information at their fingertips to make the right decision. We build intuitive, robust and innovative Decision Support Systems that use location as a way to connect and make meaningful information. We use a suite of non-exclusive technology partners including ESRI, Google, Microsoft and DigitalGlobe to deploy the right technology for specific outcomes.

Adapt to climate change using spatial modelling

We provide a way to develop resilience towards climate change by modelling our changing environment using high resolution location based data.

Evidence-based empirical modelling is a smart way to analyse climate change impacts. Effective modelling through intuitive, easy to use, map-driven interfaces provides communities with a common language for understanding risk.

The models are used to identify at risk communities and critical infrastructure including temporal triggers. Through a better understanding of risk and localised impacts, countries are better able to improve disaster preparedness, manage climate change adaptation and create climate resilient communities.

BUILD SUSTAINABLE CAPACITY

Governments and Non-Government Organisations want to build robust capacity for the future. Many capacity building efforts fail to consider existing infrastructure and processes.

We provide valuable education that empowers governments to make more informed decisions and serve their communities better.

We provide fit for purpose GIS, IT and Knowledge training by partnering with government organisations to deliver sustainable capacity. We believe collaboration and country specific design are the keys to effective capacity building.

CAPACITY BUILDING IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS

This project trained 195 people from 95 organisations to enhance the capacity of Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Samoa to undertake assessments of inundation exposure to key settlements and infrastructure at risk from sea level rise through the provision of critical baseline data, improved GIS capacity, and implementation of coastal inundation modelling.

The software and online spatial tools delivered as part of this project enabled maps to be printed and laminated for presentations to local communities. These flood maps provided an important mechanism for informing communities of their potential risk.

The online tools and maps were integrated into the education systems in each country so that the younger generation can understand the impacts of coastal inundation. Without these maps it would have been extremely difficult for the government departments to communicate the climate change risk to their citizens and communities. In some cases the platforms provided have implemented the first open data products for countries and delivered new capabilities for communication and collaboration between ministries and with the private sector and non-government organisations.

The value added benefits of providing the information and tools included:

  • The promotion and communications of climate and coastal risk to government departments and community through newspaper, television and radio stories covering the new information provided as part of the project. 
  • An increase in the awareness of coastal inundation risks within government departments.
  • The IT and GIS upgrade within the government departments increased the usage of GIS data and inundation visualisation by government officers.
  • Numerous maps were printed and laminated within the training period. Some of these even being distributed to other agencies. The increased map quality and production created further awareness of the LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data, GIS layers and coastal inundation risks.
  • Stronger cooperation and communications between government departments involved in the training. There were follow-up meetings arranged between project participants, even discussions on how they could enhance each other’s projects.
  • The bathymetry has been given to the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) to be included in Vanuatu’s nautical charts. Not only will this assist boating in Vanuatu, it will also increase cruise ship safety and enable ships to access new areas. The Vanuatu government saw this as an important contribution.

Plan effectively using Fundamental Datasets

The provision of high resolution information will allow countries to identify communities at risk from climate change and to model predicted impacts. Many of the datasets required for Disaster Risk Management, Planning and Sustainable Development are location based datasets. We specialise in the acquisition and provision of fundamental datasets including imagery, elevation, land tenure, infrastructure, demographics and transport.

High resolution information such as Digital Elevation models will enable countries to gain insights that previously would not have been available using outdated and coarse information. The availability of fundamental datasets such as land tenure, infrastructure and transport will enable countries to effectively manage assets and make informed decisions that will result in sustainable development.

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