Oostenberg municipality in the Western Cape is using Geographic Information System (GIS) software from Computer Foundation to properly manage and serve the areas under its control. Steph du Toit, IT Manager at Oostenberg Municipality, which serves the areas of Kuilsriver, Kraaifontien, Brackenfell and Blue Downs, confirms: "Computer Foundation's Autodesk products will be enabling us to deliver on our commitment to improve the quality of life of the community."

Work is underway on developing systems that facilitate the storage and management of information between the many offices in the Oostenberg municipality. Conversion of the cadastral information has commenced and the base data arising from this project will provide Oostenberg Municipality with a clear and accurate digital map of the land it is administering. This will be used as the basis for a wide variety of projects such as town planning and zoning, among others. Ultimately, the system will also be integrated into financial systems.

Computer Foundation has completed a staff Internet training programme and staff will now be able to all work off the same information database using Autodesk MapGuide, which provides access to the data through Internet-based communications networks.

Further cementing the relationship between Computer Foundation and the Oostenberg municipality, Computer Foundation, in association with town planning consultancy Steyn Larsen, was recently awarded another tender to implement a survey of public open spaces in the Oostenberg municipality. The goal of the survey is to develop a cohesive plan for the development of public open spaces and facilities, long overdue in this densely-populated and diverse community.

Kevin Buret, Branch Manager of Computer Foundation in Cape Town, believes there is tremendous potential to speed up municipal and other planning and development projects through the adoption of GIS. "In Oostenberg, as in many municipalities throughout the country, efforts to develop and maintain existing infrastructure, as well as the development of new community projects, are severely hampered by a simple lack of data and communication systems."

He adds: "Oostenberg's new Public Open Space Survey provides a perfect example of how the general public is poised to gain specific benefits from the adoption of GIS in local, provincial and national government."

Computer Foundation

(012) 672 0100