The Midrand Metropolitan Local Council (MMLC) is taking the lead in using and maintaining geographic information systems (GIS) as a crucial part of its planning process.

MMLC has been a user of the ReGIS GIS from Computer Foundation for the past six years and is currently converting to the Windows-based Autodesk World GIS, also from Computer Foundation. Adding value to MMLC's choice of Computer Foundation as its GIS partner, a further investment has been made in the Ariel Technologies subsidiary's database development skills over the past two years.

Marcelle Hattingh, Head: Information Management at MMLC, which is part of the Town Planning department, comments: "We have created a distributed, transparent information environment in which, based on specific queries, users access required information."

She believes MMLC is one of the few councils which allows the user, his/her information needs and the planning processes to be the driving force behind its MIS planning. "Our policy is that relevant, timely and accurate information should be available to everyone, on the desktop, be it spatial, geographic or text-based information.

"Computer Foundation technically assisted us to develop an information query station which enables people to sit at their own computers and look at a menu of items, such as population, development applications, transport, etc, click on a relevant item and automatically go into the original package where the information resides."

The system is dynamically updated as each department adds more data into the database. In addition, Computer Foundation has developed an MS Access system for MMLC's Town Planning Library. The library contains items - including electronic documents, videos, manuals and books - in a catalogue. From their PCs, people can browse the system, see what is available for their use and even reserve a chosen item.

In another project, Computer Foundation assisted MMLC in linking aerial photographs to cadastral maps, so users can click on an erf and open an aerial photograph of the erf. The same principle applies to Survey General Diagrams and General Plans.

These efforts have added considerable richness to the Council's Information Management and GIS and plays a vital role in MMLC's ability to manage its statutory Integrated Development Plan (IDP), around which the Council's budget is drawn. Because the plans (eg roads, water and sewerage infrastructure or clinics) are reflected on a map during the planning process, it is easy to measure the Land Development Objectives over time on an annual basis.

The GIS proved invaluable during the ongoing Demarcation Board dispute regarding the proposed inclusion of Midrand into the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Council. The MMLC could, within just a few days, be able to compile a comprehensive, informative document for the Demarcation Board, because all the information already resides in the GIS database. The GIS's cadastral boundaries, in combination with two satellite images, further enhanced the argument of the direction of development. Another technical partner assisted us in combining our existing data with a recent satellite image and compared this to one taken five years ago.

The GIS at MMLC is a highly useful information management tool and should not be underestimated. "Much more than a 'nice-to-have' tool, the GIS is a crucial part of our planning process." In addition, the MMLC is making use of monthly support from Computer Foundation as part of a monthly maintenance contract. "We therefore have the assurance of back-up to assist us in converting from ReGIS to Autodesk World."

The Council is currently evaluating Internet-based GIS packages so that the public can also enjoy the benefits of MMLC's MIS vision. Soon it will be possible for ratepayers, town planners and others who interface with the Council each day, to do so from their desktops.

Autodesk MapGuide, a sophisticated package for distribution of maps across the Internet and Intranets, is amongst the software packages being investigated.

Computer Foundation

(012) 672 0100

LouiseH@cf.co.za