Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats-SL) has on Wednesday February 3, 2021, commenced a week training for cartographers that would be tasked with demarcating land borders for the upcoming midterm population census on April 19, 2021.
Cartography or mapmaking is the study and practice of making maps. Map making involves the application of both scientific and artistic elements, combining graphic talents and specialized knowledge of compilation and design principles with available techniques for product generation.
Cartographers prepare maps, charts, and drawings from aerial photographs and survey data. They collect, evaluate, and interpret geographic information provided by geodetic surveys, aerial photographs, and satellite data.
The Statistician General, Professor Osman Sankoh, said that because the cartography process is integral, it is therefore importance that cartographers who had been shortlisted be trained further. He added that mapping of localities would reduce the workload on field enumerators.
He added that cartographers would be trained on how to use electronic tablets to do mapping, addig that the days when tables, papers and pencils were used to draw maps are far gone now.
According to professor Sankoh, the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and emergence of Google satellite images would assist in the work of cartography in a sense that their workload would become cheaper, smaller and more accurate with its software specifically designed for geological mapping.
Sankoh admonished the trainees to apply their God given ability because success of the midterm census rests on their shoulders. He admonished them on the need to view the training as an opportunity to learn more about cartography, and take maximum advantage of the opportunity.
National Census Coordinator, Abdulai Salia Brima said that in the coming weeks Stats-SL would be engaging in finalizing and distributing of mapping and census tools and recruiting enumerators. He revealed that on April 19, census would commence for a two-week period which would be followed by a post enumeration survey to finalize the entire midterm census.
By George M.O.Williams
05/02/2021. ISSUE NO: 7996