
Last December, aerial photographs and elevation measurements of Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba were made accessible online in the Data Room Caribbean Netherlands. This significant step is part of the effort to strengthen the digital society in the Caribbean Netherlands. It is the first time ever that visual material of the islands is accessible in a data viewer. On Saba, the Department of Infrastructure and Spatial Planning is exploring the most beneficial deployment of the imagery in geographical maps of the island.
Making the geo-data of Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba available online is an efficiency boost adding to the improvement of public services. We spoke to Zelda Meeuwsen, head of Infrastructure & Spatial Planning on Saba, about the impact this will have on Saba: “The Public Entity of Saba (Openbare Lichaam Saba in Dutch, abbreviated OLS) has many responsibilities. Our department is responsible for preparing and overseeing the execution of infrastructural projects, including maintenance and management of roads and public buildings. Additionally, we develop policies on affordable housing, handle planning permission applications and we are working on a development plan, which Saba does not yet have in place. Good mapping material is essential for carrying out all these tasks.”
Who will be using the geo-data?
The department is currently developing a geographic information system (GIS) that merges data gathered from various sources. Zelda explains, “We are creating a basemap with aerial photography, elevations, contours and pre-existing information on island infrastructure. This will be the foundation for further information, which we will supplement in the coming months with our own data and that of others. This will help support our work and that of other departments and organisations,” Zelda says. “Organisations like the Conservation Foundation will be able to use the data right away, to monitor nature, for instance. In addition, the data is also helpful when we need to identify high-risk areas that arise after heavy rainfall and for developing a stormwater management plan (SWMP). It will be less visible for citizens, for the time being. However, publications such as planning permits will become more intelligible. And, once we have combined all the data, we will be able to generate mapping with specific information. Such as monument charts, which will allow us to communicate with citizens more effectively.”
Keeping the data up to date
On keeping the data up to date, Zelda says: “Aerial photographs and local observations allow us to document construction activity. Frequent updates of imagery also help with environmental research, such as monitoring roadside erosion due to climate change leading to landslides and rockslides. Good mapping material will help us identify problem areas and implement the proper mitigation measures, such as constructing walls or planting trees to reduce risks.”
Address registry
The data also plays a role in the development of a possible central registry for addresses and buildings (Basisregistratie Adressen en Gebouwen in Dutch, abbreviated BAG). There is currently no BAG for the islands, but the possibility of setting up a form of basic registration is being examined. “An inventory of buildings would be a first step. How many buildings do we have? And what is their use? This will also help us with better insight into the number of dwellings, housing needs and what type of houses need to be developed. Reliable basic data for this purpose is key.”
More efficient collaboration
Aerial photography and elevation measurements will improve efficiency and collaboration. Zelda: “Before, we all had separate records. The Saba Electric Company for instance had one map, we had some data, but a proper overview of addresses was lacking. By linking aerial photos, elevation measurements and other pre-existing sources of information we gain an overview of all sorts of important physical characteristics of sites. This will be useful to our development projects. For instance, we can locate pipelines more easily during road expansion works and prevent damage during construction. Look, Saba is tiny, so many things will work themselves out because lines of communication between the various organisations are short. However, with a better overview, we will be able to identify potential problems beforehand. Thereby working more efficiently and cutting down on research.”
Knowledge exchange using GIS systems
There are challenges, though. For instance, Zelda says there is a need for support and knowledge exchange regarding the use of these systems: “We are gaining knowledge on GIS ourselves. Still, training and support would help us work more efficiently with the mapping material. Two colleagues are now delving into it, but it has proven challenging so far to convert raw data into usable datasets. Collaboration with specialists and a training programme is needed. Once we master this, we will be able to include other departments.”
In conclusion, Zelda emphasises that the imagery has also offered some surprising insights: “With aerial photography, you can view hard-to-access areas and discover new features, such as vast open spaces, unusual plants or unidentified structures. You see the island from new angles, which helps better understand the site.”