Vulnerability analysis in terms of food insecurity and poverty using GIS and remote sensing technology applied to Sri Lanka

Abstract

It is becoming increasingly recognized that computer methods such as models and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be valuable tools for analyzing a geographical area in terms of it's hazards vulnerability, Vulnerability is an important aspect of households' experience of poverty. The measurement and analysis of poverty, inequality and vulnerability are crucial for cognitive purposes (to know what the situation is), for analytical purposes (to understand the factors determining this situation), for policy making purposes (to design interventions best adapted to the issues), and for monitoring and evaluation purposes (to assess whether current policies are effective, and whether the situation is changing). Here vulnerability defined as the probability or risk today of being in poverty -or falling deeper into poverty -in the future. Vulnerability is a key dimension of well being since it affects individuals' behavior (in terms of investment, production patterns, coping strategies) and their perception of their own situation. This study has been conducted with the joint collaboration of World Food Programme (WFP) and International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in Sri Lanka for identifying regions and population which are food insecure, for analyzing the reasons for vulnerability to food insecurity in order to provide decision-makers with information to identify possible sectors of intervention and for identifying where and for whom food aid can be best utilized in Sri Lanka. This new approach integrates GIS and Remote sensing with other statistical packages to allow consideration of more spatial/physical parameters like accessibility to economic resources, particularly land and the assets of the built environment, creating employment, and attracting investment in order to improve the quality and quantity of goods and services for the analysis which leads the analysis to represent the real scenario. For this study a detailed topographic data are being used along with MODIS EVI (Enhanced Vegetation Index) and ASTER level 2 decor relation stretch data for vegetation cover images. Other social indicators of poverty, access to resources, communal services, social services, social tensions, Multi-ethnic collaboration, capacity for self governance, Government effectiveness and demographic data of Sri Lanka are also been used for this study. This paper illustrates the efforts of GIS and Remote Sensing applications along with Statistical Packages for Vulnerability analysis in terms of food insecurity and poverty and also addresses the ultimate utility of these studies.

Risk in the Okavango Delta in the face of social and environmental change

“…Disease outbreaks are linked to spatial features such as moisture, vegetation patterns and occurrence of disease vectors. Accessibility to economic resources such as land and other environmental assets are also spatially determined (Shahriar et al 2003). For example, farmers rearing livestock or growing crops in areas with large predator populations experience greater risk to loss.…”