Abstract:
This paper presents an approach taken in the implementation of a community webGIS portal. Local
community empowerment and inclusion in resources planning and management were the key objectives of
the project. A hybrid Y-Model methodology for webGIS development was adopted. The methodology splits
up the development activities into two clear lines; the GIS development and Web development lines before
integrating the two into a single product. The findings of the project indicate that disseminating information
about the presence of a community webGIS will greatly influence its effectiveness. Community literacy levels
also directly influence usability of the platform. Most users at the community level lack the expert technical
competence it is therefore important to maintain simplicity in design and content presentation on the
webGIS. The developed system leverages on web technologies to integrate data from disparate sources and
make the same seamlessly available during the planning process.
