Using GIS Techniques To Develop Planning Strategies In Puerto Rico
Vanessa Quiñones-Orfila and Daniel Díaz-Torres
Puerto Rico Planning Board
PO Box 4119
Santurce, Puerto Rico 00940-1119
Abstract
In the Planning Board, we developed Puerto Rico's most complete geographical data base in cooperation of government agencies, municipalities and private entities. We wishes to reinvent planning by using the most sophisticated information system as a powerful tool for better decision making. We are presently continuing the development of new levels of information, as well as new applications that can benefit the physical and economic areas of the island. For this reason, we place our services at the disposal of the public and private sectors.
The Puerto Rico Planning Board is the agency committed to develop physical, economical and social planning in the island. In the planning process we have to recognize and reflect the necessity of our changing society. It has to contribute, integrate and take action concerning to the improvement of life quality.
To help in the development of various planning strategies the Puerto Rico Planning Board created GEOSYSTEM, a geographically-integrated information network. This innovation, electronically interconnects Puerto Rico's infrastructure and service agencies, thereby facilitating for decision-makers the design and implementation of strategic planning methods, as well as the establishment of more reliable island-wide geographic data base.
At present time the system integrates data from various state and federal agencies with over 48 layers of information, creating in this manner, a common digital map for the Government of Puerto Rico. Our Geographic Information System (GIS) is maintain with satellite imagery, aerial imaging, digital maps and tabular information to derive the new information needed to achieve the project's goals. The most important point to grasp about GIS is that it truly is a geographic database manage. This means that a GIS treats all geographic features as records in a database and not simply as graphics (Zeiler, 1994). As a an important tool, GEOSYSTEM increase the capacity of other working areas inside and outside the planning board (See figure 1).
Some internal users are the Accelerated Transmittal Center in which the participating government agencies provide on-line and immediate information regarding the capacity of infrastructure for diverse projects. The Four Year Investment Program, one of the most important planning instruments of the government, is used to orient and integrate efforts towards developing capital improvement projects of infrastructure. GEOSYSTEM is the analytical tool for the evaluation of projects developed and programmed for the next five years. The Physical Planning Area makes determinations regarding proposed land use. For the projects submitted, the coordinates and the cadastral map are required to link the non-graphic data to it's geographic location. By processing that, variables like case's identification number, site location, type of project and construction area leading to a better informed decision. Projects with multiple environmental and ecological condition data are now evaluated using a combination of GIS, field data recognition and GPS measurements as in Laguna Tortuguero watershed, a natural reserve (See appendix 1).
In the Strategic Regional Plans the future of Puerto Rico is visualized using join strategies based on resources, land potential, limitations and municipal needs. The plans are developed for seven areas in which the island is divided, therefore GEOSYSTEMS develop the necessary environment that conditions the specific study areas, optimizing the uses of available resources. Another big user is the Information and Service Center, which provides the public with a complete array of services, one of the most significant is to provide information on the geographical database to the general public.
The Planning Board has an agreement with the Census Bureau to help each other in the compilation and management of information. The Census Office not only count on people, but offer education to the general public about the different variables evaluated. The difference between legal limits and census limits is demonstrated to the general public by GEOSYSTEMS on a map to establish comparisons (See appendix 2).
As a leading agency, the Puerto Rico Planning Board, is collaborating with another governmental agencies like: Ports Authority, Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, Industrial Development Company, Department of Housing, Land Administration, Highway and Transportation Authority, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, United States Geological Survey, Public Building Authority, Department of Education, Department of Health, Puerto Rico Tourism Company, Electrical Power Authority, Puerto Rico Telephone and others. Last year the governor declared the Planning Board as the main repository of geographical information, we are adding information on a daily basis so we can develop a bigger database. As a priority we will try to solve conversion problems and software communication factors to share the information with all our partners.
GEOSYSTEMS future projections include:
- Emergency Support Function #5, the information and planning group in coordination with the Puerto Rico Civil Defense to collect , process and disseminate information about potential or actual disaster or emergency. In one of the biggest flooding events of the decade (hurricane Hortense), the flood areas delimited by the agency were verified using satellite imaging and recognition photographs of the areas (See appendix 3).
- Crime Analysis in a collaborative effort with the Puerto Rico Police Department to identify geographic profiles which will allow the police to direct its limited resources to where they are mostly needed.
- Assist the Municipal Tax Office "CRIM" in developing a Cadaster System for property ownership and assessment within a GIS framework.
We understand that having such a GIS structure may be the difference in the decision making process that influence for the benefit of our future generations.
Appendixes
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
Acknowledgments
We will like to thanks all the staff that participate during the years to implement and improve our data base. Specially those that visualize our future giving efforts in a day to day basis, the administrative staff and the GIS guys: Miguel Oquendo, Rosendo Cruz, Hector Pagán, Edwin Fonseca, José L. Fuentes and Ricardo Martínez.
References:
Hutchinson Scott and Larry Daniel. 1995. Inside Arcview. OnWord Press, First Edition, Santa Fe, NM.
Zeiler, Michael. 1994. Basics of Geographic Information Systems, a chapter in Inside ArcInfo. OnWord Press, First Edition, Santa Fe, NM.
Author Information
Daniel Diaz Torres
Director
Geographic Information Systems Area
Puerto Rico Planning Board
PO Box 4119
Santurce, Puerto Rico 00940-1119
Phone: (787)722-1705
Fax: (787) 724-3153
E-mail: diaz_d@jp.gov.pr
Vanessa Quiñones Orfila
GIS Analyst
Geographic Information Systems Area
Puerto Rico Planning Board
PO Box 4119
Santurce, Puerto Rico 00940-1119
Phone: (787)722-1705
Fax: (787) 724-3153
E-mail: quinones_v@hotmail.com