About Me
Bruce Kitivo Makau
I am a GIS Analyst with a strong foundation in Urban and Regional Planning, working at the intersection of spatial data, urban systems, and evidence-based decision-making. I use GIS and spatial analysis as practical tools to understand how people, land, infrastructure, and environmental systems interact across urban and regional contexts.
My work focuses on applying geospatial analysis to real planning and development questions, such as understanding settlement patterns, analyzing land use dynamics, assessing infrastructure networks, and identifying environmental and physical constraints that influence development outcomes. I am particularly interested in how spatial data can support more informed, equitable, and sustainable planning decisions.
Through experience in consulting, research, and institutional environments, I have worked with a range of spatial datasets, producing thematic maps, conducting spatial analysis, and integrating GIS outputs into technical reports and planning documents. I value clarity, accuracy, and context in GIS work, ensuring that spatial outputs are not only technically sound but also meaningful to planners, researchers, and decision-makers.
My Path into GIS
A learning journey that transformed maps into tools for understanding place.
My journey into GIS began during my academic training in Urban and Regional Planning with IT, where I was first introduced to the power of spatial data in understanding cities, regions, and human settlements. What started as simple map interpretation quickly evolved into a deeper appreciation of how space, data, and planning intersect.
As my studies progressed, GIS became the bridge between planning theory and real-world spatial realities. Through coursework, field exercises, and planning assignments
- Discovered how maps go beyond visuals to explain land use, infrastructure, and settlement dynamics
- Developed skills in spatial analysis to understand growth patterns, service distribution, and environmental constraints
- Gained hands-on experience working with real datasets in planning contexts
- Learned the importance of data accuracy, quality, and responsible interpretation
- Adopted GIS as a way of thinking spatially to support evidence-based planning decisions
How I Work with GIS
My approach to GIS focuses on using spatial analysis as a practical tool for understanding patterns, relationships, and planning challenges. I work through the full GIS workflow with an emphasis on accuracy, clarity, and relevance, ensuring that spatial outputs support meaningful analysis and decision-making.
In practice, my GIS work involves:
- Collecting and managing spatial and attribute data from multiple sources
Cleaning, validating, and structuring datasets to ensure data quality and consistency - Conducting spatial analysis related to settlements, land use, infrastructure, accessibility, and environmental conditions
- Producing thematic maps and visualizations that clearly communicate spatial patterns
- Integrating GIS outputs into technical reports, planning documents, and research outputs
This approach allows me to use GIS not just as a mapping tool, but as a decision-support system that connects spatial data with planning and development objectives.
Professional Experience
My experience focuses on GIS and spatial data analysis, including working with spatial datasets, creating maps, and conducting basic spatial analysis for real-world applications. Through project-based work and applied exercises, I have developed practical skills in data handling, visualization, and spatial interpretation within different geographic contexts.
I approach GIS as an analytical tool for understanding spatial patterns and relationships. With a strong grounding in spatial thinking, I focus on data quality, accuracy, and contextual analysis to support meaningful and actionable insights.
This approach enables me to translate spatial data into clear outputs that support decision-making, planning, and development initiatives. I use GIS to produce insights that are practical, reliable, and relevant to real-world spatial challenges.
Why GIS Matters to Me
GIS matters to me because it provides a structured way to understand complex spatial relationships and translate data into insight. In planning and development contexts, decisions often affect people, land, and resources simultaneously, and GIS offers a way to examine these interactions clearly and responsibly.
I am particularly drawn to GIS work that emphasizes accuracy, transparency, and context especially in environments where data limitations, informal development, or rapid change require careful interpretation. I value spatial analysis that supports informed decision-making, encourages thoughtful planning, and contributes to more equitable and sustainable development outcomes.
For me, GIS is not only a technical skill but a way of thinking spatially asking better questions, understanding place-based dynamics, and using evidence to support meaningful action
Tools & Software
