Introducing Web GIS to a Remote Island: Long Caye, Lighthouse Reef, Belize

Abstract

This project focuses on the flexibility of web GIS’ integration at a small scale. The study area of this project was on Belize’s tropical island, Long Caye. Its private owners sought to share its features to adventurous tourists and potential land investors. The effectiveness of its low-quality geographic information delivery and lack of a centralized source for property data were problematic for management to reach higher efficiency levels. The web applications created in this project serve the purpose of public education and land administration by transforming traditional descriptions of the island features onto an interactive interface. The two final deliverables were scalable applications with a target audience being either the general public or the island owners. The results paved the way for further exposure of the island to GIS to enhance the system behind maintaining Long Caye’s treasures