Organization: NepCol International & World Bank
Session Leads: Bishwa Pandey, NepCol International & Melanie Kappes, World Bank
Time: 11:45-13:00
Summary: As a region, the Caribbean faces a unique challenge of being exposed to higher degree of tropical storm hazards both in frequencies and magnitude. The population and economic activity of many countries in the Caribbean is concentrated in the coastal area which makes it even more vulnerable to these events. In some occasions, these events have wrecked the havoc, wiping out the entire GDP of a country. It is very important to understand the exiting vulnerability as well as ways to reduce the impact. A key to this process is having data and have them readily available and use it to help make decision in mitigating or reducing these impacts.
Spatial Data is the key to informed decision-making process. Whether the decision is to building safer schools, safer infrastructure or finding safer hurricane shelters or retrofitting it, or in general, to make the society and its assets more resilient to existing climate impact as well as preparing for future climate change, the role of spatial data is paramount to make an objective and rational decision making process. As we approach towards this objective decision making, we need more precise data and better tools to make informed decision.
This session will be discussing the best practices in spatial data management in the Caribbean and unique challenge in integrating data and technologies. It will also present the vision of GeoCRIS, integrating past works like OpenDRI and CHARIM into GeoCRIS together with the use of innovative tools like SpatialEdge and MapWoW! at the time of crisis.
See Presentation Below: