The implementation of a GIS system was defined as crucial to the success of the Department of Local Government and Housing (DLGH) in Limpopo in meeting their objectives of service delivery.

Intergraph Systems Southern Africa (ISSA) was appointed to implement the GIS system. ISSA in turn appointed two SMME companies with offices in Polokwane, Limpopo. The objective for the appointment of the SMMEs was to develop skills and to increase capacity to enable them to maintain the system on completion of the project. SITA was appointed by DLGH to do the project management and also has representatives on the implementation team.

DLGH has provided a project office in its Disaster Management Centre from where the implementation team operates.

The project is divided into four phases:

Phase 1, which has been successfully completed involved the implementation of geographical information system based on GeoMedia Professional with an Oracle database. Various primary spatial datasets have been imported into the Oracle database which include the following:

* Department of Land Affairs.

- Cadastral (erven and rural) boundaries.

- Agricultural holdings.

- Farms.

- Topographic datasets (from 1:10 000-1:250 000).

- Scanned 1:50 000 topographic maps.

- Roads (freeways, national, farms, etc).

- Suburbs.

- Towns.

* Municipal Demarcation Board.

- Provinces.

- Magisterial districts.

- District municipalities.

- Metropolitan areas.

- Municipal boundaries.

- Ward boundaries.

The loading of additional spatial data sets will be an ongoing process for the duration of the project.

During this phase a website was also developed using GeoMedia Web Map. This website makes the spatial data available to any member of the Department.

The first functional unit integrated with the GIS is the Consolidated Municipal Infrastructure Programme (CMIP). CMIP is designed to further the aims of the RDP, both through:

* The provision of internal bulk and connector infrastructure in support of household infrastructure to needy South Africans in ways that enhance the integration of previously divided areas.

* Enhancing the developmental impact of the delivery process - for example, by focusing on the transfer of skills and the promotion of small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs), using labour-intensive construction processes and maximising job-creation opportunities.

The functionality that has been provided is to web-enable the CMIP application with the objective of providing management with a tool to view pertinent information aggregated from the CMIP database on meaningful maps.

Maps are provided which show the location of the CMIP projects. The representation on the map is a symbol that indicates the type and status of project.

Attributes can be displayed that show the following information: project value; category; households affected; status; and planned completion date.

The user selects the project on the map by double clicking on the point to display the attributes.

The GIS can also be used to evaluate various aspects of a proposed project, these include project location, availability of infrastructure, identification of similar projects in the area and location of key institutions/organisations, eg, police stations and clinics.

The implementation team is currently working on Phase 2 of the project and this involves the integration of the following business units with the GIS:

* Housing - policy planning and capacity building.

* Housing - subsidy.

* Technical support services.

* Local economic development.

User requirements interviews have been completed and the functional specifications have been defined. Phase 2 of the project was successfully completed at the end of September.

Phase 3 will involve the integration of the Disaster and Emergency Management Services; Deeds; Land Use Management and Land Survey Services business units with the GIS.

The fourth and final phase will integrate the Development Policy and Planning; Municipal National Relations (MNR); Local Government Administration and Information Management Services business units with system.

Completion of the project is planned for the end of this year and is currently on track to meet the deadline.

For more information contact Pat Thomson, Intergraph Systems Southern Africa, 011 313 1222, pthomson@intergraph.co.za