SUNY/CLD launched a series of specialized training courses for municipal engineers, surveyors, and other engineering staff on May 29, 2006. The two-part training program consists of a 30-hour engineering drawing course that will be given through July 25, 2006 and an 18-hour course in the use of the Municipal Geographic Information System (MGIS) to be held between July 10 and August 8, 2006.

Organized as a key component of efforts to enhance the technical capacities of major municipalities and of the engineering divisions of those municipalities that provide extensive construction related services, the training is structured to enable participants to use standardized applications including recognized architectural design programs, as well as the customized systems developed by SUNY/CLD including the MGIS.

Training is scheduled for approximately 150 engineering division staff from ten municipalities, Beirut, Baaqline, Borj Hammoud, Jezzine, Jounieh, Mina, Saida, Tripoli, Zahle, and Zgharta-Ehden, and two municipal unions, Koura and Fayha’.
 
Part of a comprehensive strategy to set standards, enhance performance, introduce best practices, and provide modern technologies and equipment to major municipalities in Lebanon, the training addresses the needs of more than a hundred professional municipal staff who are scheduled to complete the initial courses. Specifically, the training will enable engineering staff to work on digitizing municipal cadastral maps, use Arial images, and map the existing infrastructure, zoning, road plans and other information.

The MGIS developed by SUNY/CLD increases the accuracy of information utilized in municipal operations through the computerized mapping of more than 70 layers of physical, financial, and personal data. It also allows the financial, administrative and engineering departments to share information through GIS layers and point-and-click information forms.

Training is planned for hundreds of additional staff from the more than 20 municipalities targeted to receive assistance including the MGIS and the related hardware, software, and support for capacity building, with a second round of training scheduled for later in the year.