About IW:LEARN's WebGIS Module

IW:LEARN's Information Management services now offer GEF IW projects support for establishing their own Web-based Geographic Information System, or WebGIS. A key benefit in adopting IW:LEARN's WebSite Toolkit is that it allows GEF IW Projects to quickly establish a WebGIS using the Toolkit's WebGIS Module.

Like IW:LEARN's Website Toolkit, the WebGIS Module is based on Plone open source software and offers functionality for incorporating maps and geographic-related data (e.g., ESRI shapefiles) and information into project websites. Additionally, GIS data located on web servers around the world can be accessed and displayed; for example, satellite imagery can provide background context to project-related data to create customised maps.

Core GIS features include zoom, pan, map display re-sizing, pre-defined geographic areas of interest, hyperlinking, and KML files that permit viewing of data in Google Maps and Google Earth. In the near-term, integration of additional functionality is planned to provide projects with a web-based GIS that focuses on ease of use, yet applies state of the art technology.

To date, three GEF IW projects have already adopted IW:LEARN's WebGIS Module including in Asia (Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem project) and Africa (NWSAS and Iullemeden projects). Given that WebGIS technology is rapidly developing, IW:LEARN staff continue to work with projects to keep them updated on developments and on how they can best display and share their data and information.