Tag: GIS

On 29 October 2024, a DANA — a Spanish acronym for an isolated upper-level atmospheric depression forming over the Mediterranean Sea — triggered catastrophic flash flooding across Valencia province, Spain. Within hours, several municipalities received severe rainfall equivalent to an entire year’s precipitation, with peaks of up to 771 litres per square metre, devastating entire towns, leaving thousands stranded, damaging over 60,000 dwellings, destroying more than 130,000 vehicles, and claiming 230 lives.

Environmental audits, especially in marine protected areas, face challenges in obtaining reliable evidence as environmental conditions often evolve gradually and are not completely reflected in routine monitoring records. Such challenges may necessitate an approach beyond conventional audit methods.

Emerging technology has revolutionized the world, and has become a preferred ally for auditors, as its use can significantly help in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of their work. Governments and public sector organizations worldwide are embracing innovative technologies to modernize their auditing practices. These technologies include blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, etc. 

With the spread of Information Technology (IT) in government activities, Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) have been increasingly implementing Computer Assisted Auditing Techniques (CAATs). Among the CAATs, Geographic Information System (GIS), which can depict, overlay and analyze geospatial information based on location, can be of value for every step of audit. The GIS can efficiently depict and analyze attribute data, as well as…