Why GIS?
Geographic Information System (GIS) is a compilation of digital maps that provides access to capture and analyze spatial and geographic data. Complex challenges exist in the Andean mountains in relation to the environment, the land, and water access. The AASD uses ArcGIS technology to help campesino communities understand these challenges through a different lens. Additionally, GIS maps serve as a resource to help communities secure funding and support through the local government.
The AASD vision for GIS is to partner with university programs that specialize in GIS and create maps to help communities address the challenges they are facing related to climate change.
GIS Project Example:
Sacclio is a farming community that depends on the irrigation canal system for watering their crops and fields. For the past ten years, their irrigation system has been losing a significant amount of water due to natural causes such as erosion, rock fall, and uprooting. In 2017, the AASD partnered with students and faculty from the J.B. Speed School of Engineering at the University of Louisville to create GIS maps to help Sacclio tell that story.
Learn More about GIS in Peru
Universities can get involved with the AASD GIS program in a variety of different ways. Some examples include:
Onsite Faculty-Led Programs: Programs can be embedded in a course and students come to Peru and collect data. Learn more about our Faculty-Led Programs here.
Virtual Experiences: In response to COVID-19, the AASD will be offering virtual GIS experiences with existing data from the AASD.
Please reach out to Adam Stieglitz at adam@alianzaandina.org if you would like to get involved with the AASD GIS programs.
“AASD’s emphasis on the community-center approach that actively involves Andean community leaders is a strong match with our consulting approach to problem solving. Adam and his team were instrumental in the course setup and preparing the students for their international trip. While in-country, AASD efficiently provided the transportation logistics, community coordination and technical communication necessary for the students to successfully complete their project. AASD made the students feel confident, which in-turn enabled me to focus on the student-learning rather than trip logistics. As we plan new student trips, we consider AASD a key member of our student globalization experience team.”