When the call came for Caribbean volunteers to apply to MapAction, I was keen to sign up. Having followed the work of this organization and the amazing group of persons who work as volunteers, I saw this as an awesome opportunity for me to contribute to the work of saving lives. MapAction is a non-governmental, UK… Continue reading Becoming a MapAction Volunteer
Learning to read, my youngest daughter looked at her dad proudly as she shouted out the letters on his T-Shirt…“G I S!”. Then she looked at me inquisitively and said “Mommy, G I S?” I responded in the affirmative, “Yes sweetie, G I S!” So, what is GIS? This picture which I captured on my… Continue reading What is GIS?
Since my introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) some 15 years ago, GIS day is one of those days that I look forward to annually. GIS day is usually on the Wednesday of Geography Awareness Week in November. It is the one day set aside to show how geographic intelligence touches everyone and provides excellent… Continue reading Celebrate GIS Day Annually and Don’t Forget the Cake!
My three year old is fascinated with counting. Probably one of the most memorable instances of her enthrallment was her sounding off “1, 2, 3, 4” as a family of sisters occupied the bench directly behind us in church. “Four, Mommy, Four!” she shouted as she also pointed it out on her fingers. Seen… Continue reading Counting the Population is as Easy as 1, 2, 3 with the Help of GIS
The earthquake events of August 21, 2018 which shook Venezuela, Trinidad and other neighbouring countries (https://www.usgs.gov/news/magnitude-73-earthquake-venezuela) reminded me that not all disasters can be predicted or come with a warning. Videos which showed the impact of the earthquake quickly filled my social media timeline, causing me to reflect on the training I had undergone as… Continue reading Satellite Imagery is A Powerful Visual Aid in GIS and Disaster Response
I remember May 2010. Not only because it was the last time since the Montserrat Soufriere Hills Volcano's dome collapsed, triggering a pyroclastic flow which completely covered the remnants of W.H. Bramble Airport. I remember May 2010 because I rode shotgun in a unique airplane. This was an airplane which had a hole in… Continue reading Drones: Four reasons to use them in GIS and Mapping
I am no stranger to the impact of disasters having survived Hurricane Hugo in 1989, and witnessed the Soufriere Hills Volcano disrupt everything I knew about life in Montserrat since 1995. As I listened to the reports on the experience of our neighbouring islanders who were affected by the super hurricanes of 2017, Irma and… Continue reading Five (5) things GIS has taught me about Disaster Management
