Google
Earth and How It Can Help Development Activities
Google Earth is a FREE map of the world viewable through the internet. You first
have to download the software onto
your
PC from the site http://earth.google.com Once
the software is loaded the first thing you see is a view of the earth seen from
outer space. You can then zoom into any part of the world using the navigation
bar or simply type in your home town and Google Earth will take you there automatically.
The imagery of the earth you see varies in scale but for many parts of the world
it is possible to look at individual houses, cars, waterways, and even trees.
The software also allows you see the land in 3 dimensions. This means, for example,
that you can view a mountain looking straight down on it or from an oblique angle.
In a lot of countries you can also do a search for restaurants, or ask for directions
from one town to another. Unfortunately information can be very sparse but the
good news is it is getting better day by day.
In the year 2005 in Malawi when I was putting in a proposal for mapping large areas of land to enable assessment of water reservoir positions, water pipe routes and general infrastructure development, the only way to properly define the areas was through Google Earth - no other means were easily available. I already had the software loaded on my laptop and so it was no problem to connect to the internet at a local cyber café and view Malawi in detail. Joining me in the café was the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Irrigation and Water and the Project Manager of a World Bank funded Infrastructure Development Assessment Project (IDAP). Together we agreed areas of mapping by zooming into different parts of Malawi and creating a boundary of the mapping area. These areas were then sent off to various satellite imagery companies for prices. If funding had been awarded for the project it would have enabled the Malawi government to carry out detailed infrastructure development analysis using the very latest imagery.
Goole Earth is currently trying to encourage non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) to get involved, details at http://earth.google.com/outreach/index.html There are many benefits to becoming a member. Why not have a look, download the software, and play around with the tools, then share what you have learnt on the NAYD YAHOO site. It has been said that one of the major development problems with Africa is that it is an information desert. In my view Google Earth is one potential way of changing that. Paul Shaw