Laban Maiyo 28, is a Kenyan national, currently working with Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He is based in Dubai and shares some of his experiences with The African Executive.

Excerpts:

Q. What is GIS?

A. It is an information system for data capturing, editing, processing and presentation of geographical information.

Q. How do you go about your work?

A. My work involves spatial data integration, satellite image processing, GIS implementation and migration in Africa and Middle East. Currently I am in charge of data correction and integration for UAE telecom. This is data harmonization and rubber sheeting based on affine, helmet and polynomial transform parameters to conform to Dubai municipality GIS base layers.

Q. In which fields is GIS applied?

A. GIS is an automated technology applied in urban planning, utility development, infrastructural development, demography and health surveys. It is also used in gas and oil extraction, mining, environmental conservation and monitoring, natural resources management, proximity analysis and transport routing. Location based analysis, zoning of phenomenon and mapping make use of this technology too.

Q. What role does GIS play in development?

A. GIS helps in better decision making and management of resources. It facilitates visualization of spatial phenomena hence identifying and explaining different patterns of distribution.

Q. Is it widely practiced in developing countries?

A. Well, GIS is a new technology in the developing world countries. Based on its cost and latest art technology, it took long for the developing world nations to adopt and embrace it. It’s currently gaining importance in governments and conservation organizations in developing countries. Though it’s still time bound, its utilization and access by common citizenry is still at stake. There is need to demystify this technology.

Q. What is the future of GIS in developing countries? 

A. The future of GIS is bleak to the poor economies because it is too expensive. There is need for more incentives towards making GIS an important tool for development. Developed countries have integrated GIS within IT/ICT technology.

Q. What challenges do you face?

A. The major challenge is the technology gap (draconian versus modern GIS) and IT related GIS work for example, programming and customization in arc objects. 

Q. What advice would you give? 

A. Countries need ICT policies and GIS knowledge base. GIS courses should not be left to tertiary institutions alone but, it should be introduced to secondary schools too. 

Q. Tell us more about Dubai 

A. Dubai and the entire UAE are far much ahead of Kenya. Dubai is a hub for expatriates and skilled manpower. The law favors sound legal institutions and there is transparent government. Dubai has lean, uncorrupt institutions, well planned and established infrastructure, sound economy and maximum security unlike Kenya that is full of political escapism, corrupt public offices, bad infrastructure, insecure public places and people living below the poverty line. At times we face racial discrimination. But, a country with various races makes it safer no matter the segregation from the local Arab community.

Q. How do you cope up with this challenge?

A. It is survival for the fittest and abiding by the law.

Q. What advice would you give to the youth?

A. Work hard, outsource for opportunities and invest.