The National Roads Authority (NRA) on Wednesday 17th July 2024 began an output-based capacity-building training on Geographic Information System (GIS) technology for its Engineers.
The training aims to develop and enhance the skills of the Engineers in the use and application of GIS to digitise and map out our road infrastructure assets. This will help us better manage our assets as well as classify our roads. This will eventually provide the necessary information and tools to prepare design standards for our roads and related highway infrastructure such as bridges and culverts.
Speaking in an interview, Mr. Ousman Sanyang, Managing Director of the National Roads Authority (NRA), said the GIS training is to enable the NRA to develop capacity in terms of GIS application, adding that this will provide the necessary skills within the institution to map out the entire country’s road infrastructure assets.
“The GIS training will help us (NRA) to identify and map out all the assets we own such as the roads, bridges, culverts, and billboards amongst others. It would also help us to manage and maintain our assets better and to undertake regular surveys of all our assets and thus prioritise maintenance requirements.”
According to him, capacity building training will help NRA to start classifying and naming its roads and develop design standards for our roads and bridges (including culverts) and standards for digital billboards
About GIS
Geographic Information System (GIS) is a technology that is used to create, manage, analyse, and map all types of location-based data.
It also connects data to a map, integrating location data (where things are) with all types of descriptive information (what things are like there). This provides a foundation for mapping and analysis that is used in science and almost every industry.
GIS helps users understand patterns, relationships, and geographic context. The benefits include improved communication, efficiency, management, and decision-making.