HOME HELP FEEDBACK E-MAIL ALERTS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bush, S. R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Bush, S. R. Related Collections Food and Agriculture Organization Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific Laos

Using a Simple GIS Model to Assess Development Patterns of Small-scale Rural Aquaculture in the Wider Environment

Document format: Pdf

Publisher: Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific

Creation date: March 2003

A Geographical Information System (GIS) is a tool for collection, storage, analysis and presentation of spatial data, essentially computer based mapping. There is currently much excitement over GIS as a solution to many different social, environmental and operational problems. This popularity can take away from the very functional role that a GIS, as a tool for spatial analysis, can provide. This article discusses the role that a simple GIS can play in assessing the development patterns of fish ponds and as a low cost tool for broader social environmental analysis in an information poor country. Preliminary findings are presented as examples for analysis. These examples use fish ponds, a one-dimensional resource, as a means of representing the wider multi-dimensional environment. The development and use of a GIS in Savannakhet province in the Lao PDR provides an example of a simple analysis of aquaculture pond development across three districts. This has been facilitated through a postgraduate research project in joint collaboration with the Regional Development Committee (RDC), Provincial Livestock and Fisheries Office and District Agriculture and Forestry Offices. Information collected and processed through the project has been designed as a capacity building exercise in developing a system of data collection on aquaculture ponds that can be understood and developed by these local organisations. In an information poor environment such as the Lao PDR low cost, easily collected information is an aim in itself.

Key Words: NACA • Laos • GIS • Rural Aquaculture • FAO