Disadvantages Of Geographic Information System

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is one of the most utilized information technologies by governments as a standard tool for information management, administration, data interpretation and information storage. By portraying real world data as maps, GIS gives the government the ability to analyse social, economic and political state of affairs (Nayak & Zlatanova, 2008). Geographic Information is a critical asset in Government projects, it provides the government a framework for spatial data storage, data retrieval, data analysis, display, reporting and modelling.

Geographic information systems are defined as an information system for capturing, manipulating, storing and analyzing spatial information (Davis, 2001).

This paper presents the

These tools offered by GIS technology together with conventional methods in disaster prevention can give successful results when detailed knowledge about the phenomenon is obtained.

The impact of disaster on the society is rapidly increasing, this calls for mitigative measures. For Mitigation of disasters to be successful, there is need for detailed knowledge about the expected frequency, character and magnitude of a specific disastrous event in an area as well as the vulnerability of the people and infrastructure (Spatial Management of Risks, 2010). These kinds of information have both spatial and temporal components and this is why GIS has proven important for the different phases of disaster management.

Disaster prevention is the planned reduction of risk to human health and safety. It my involve modification of the causes and the consequences of the disaster and the vulnerability of the

GIS technology can help identify the areas where efforts in disaster prevention should be concentrated. This is obtained through the analysis of the area to show exactly where the highest risk will be experienced and where other preventive measures would do the most good. GIS is also important in that it helps illustrate disaster trends over a given period, this gives a rough idea of the consequences of the potential disasters. The GIS software ERM application is very effective for accurate analysis of possible scenarios by use of inputs in form of spatial data and outputs.

During the disaster prevention stages, GIS manages the level of data requirement for vulnerability and hazard assessment. GIS improves the ability of the risk assessment team to modify various alternative assumptions about disaster possibilities so as to help prevent the scenarios based on the alternative exposure data. Large amounts of geological, geophysical and geotechnical are integrated to derive at the disaster response characteristics (Ven de Walle et.al,