Some 40 Caribbean data managers, IT specialists and software developers from 10 countries and five regional agencies, received advanced training on spatial data management in order to reduce disaster risk in the Caribbean.
The one week workshop in Trinidad provided an in-depth understanding of spatial data management and aimed to foster knowledge and technical skills to effectively use national and regional data management practices, a release from the World Bank said.
The participants were trained on the use of GeoNode, an open-source geospatial data gathering and management platform which allow national ministries and agencies to manage, share, and increase the use of geospatial data in a central depository to improve decision-making processes for disaster risk reduction measures in the Caribbean.
The training was sponsored by the World Bank, in collaboration with the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine campus in Trinidad and Tobago, and builds on two previous regional workshops held at UWI, Trinidad in February 2012 and in Grenada in October 2011.
The release said that the Caribbean region is highly prone to natural hazards such as hurricanes, heavy rains, high winds, landslides, earthquakes and droughts which pose a serious threat to human life and the local economy. Accessing and sharing spatial data on topography, location of health centres, shelters, schools and other infrastructure is critical for building resilience to current and future climatic impacts by helping to develop decision-making tools.
Dr Bheshem Ramlal, Head of Geomatics Engineering and Land Management Department, UWI was quoted as saying that the collaboration will not only benefit the Caribbean region to ensure improved readiness in times of disaster, but it will also increase indigenous capacity so that the University can continue to be a focal point for higher education, research and development.
