USE OF GEO·INFORMATION FOR LAND USE PLANNING IN UPPER MAHAWELI CATCHMENT IN SRI LANKA

Abstract

This p:lpcr pre~clIls the results 01" study which attempted In evaluate the demand lor Gcoinlorm.niou or the key dccixion positions involved with sub-district level planning andtlcci"ion llIaking in comp.u'ixon with the cx ixting supply of spatial infoun.uinn in the Lipper,Vl:ih:tIW!1 w.ucrshcd Catcluncnr in Sri Lanka.

'Ill<' m.un objective 01 the paper W;I" to examine the user satisraction with respect to thl{;"(' IIliprrn:ltioli 01 st'iec:tl'(IIll:Ippin).! ;Ipplic;tllons for l.md lISCand land potl'llii;d .md how~\l c.ucr io the demand (II key dCClSI(li1posiuou» Ill' the sectors,

Th.: major rindln!~ ()Irhi'; study shows rh.u as Iar as the demand or (fen inform.uion iconcernedIill'It.' arc :: number or govertllllL'nl institut ions and donor funded projectsIIll'olved In sector xpcc ilic LInd use pi:ll1nillt: :11I<1 decision making aciivirics at suh-regionallevel. Also. it \\,:IS (Ollllli thai there W:IS:111 increasing demand for accurate. reliable :Indmore up-to-dare. .lcuulcd information specially addressed to their specific sectordl'VCl( ipmcn r.

\\': Il'rc Hll' ~lIppb' llf C;l'() inlornuuion was concerned there were Ii Itccn of slIch:~iJl)li,':(:i()m. whuh c.ucr il') the user demand. SOllie of the products :IIT widely used In;'H'j,.'('; planning cduc.uion ;llId :11: purposes whih: some arc xpccially entered to tit""!I',:l'il'll: Sl:l'tm development. Where suppliers arc concerned it was nut only Surveyrkp:lrilllCllt whuh provide standardiscd maps. Seven detailed applic.uions of maps in thestudy which entered to specific sector dcvclopmcut in rcl.uinn to land US" planning \\':1"tound.

in terms of effectiveness and user satisf;lction it was round that there were gaps inuiforru.u ion. the scale it has been provided. actual demand and availnhility for planning;lIld decision making in ;111 till' sectors.

Filially. till' factors or instruments for better matching the demand for Gco informationwit h the cxisting supply of information was identified.

The results of this study arc useful to all the users and suppliers of Gco information whoarc engaged in mapping. planning. monitoring & implementation and policy formulationin relation to sector specific land use planning and decision making