collecting spatial information by ushahidi€¦ · •adding custom base layer •create new theme...

Exchange (Brazil-EC) for free open source software for GIS – Torino 11 luglio 2016

Armando Riccardo Gaeta

Collecting spatial information by Ushahidi


Purposes

→ Improving timeliness of manned measurements on territory for

risk assessment

→ Two-way flow of information between Agency and end-users

→ to get geo-referenced and updated photos/measurements

→ Data organized in a spatial DB available via web to allow

comparison between adjacent surveys

→ Widening of the incoming information flow

Risk and emergencies management(hydrogeological, avalanches)

✔ Hailstorms phenomena (spring-summer)

✔ Forest fires

✔ Manual snow and avalanche surveys

Matters:


Solution

Must be a simple tool managed by internal staff

Minimal economic impact

CROWDSOURCING!


•Free and open source software (LGPL) for

information collection, visualization, and

interactive mapping

•Sending information via web or smart-

phone through Android (and maybe iOS

apps...)

•Storage of data on MySQL “flat”

database: data are then mapped as JSON

•Structured as a CMS

•Customization of the application

depending on your needs


Ushahidi

•Current version: v3 → not tested yet

•https://github.com/ushahidi/platform

•Used version: v2.7.4

•https://github.com/ushahidi/Ushahidi_Web

•→ Basic requirements:

•- Php 5.2.3 or greater (>5.3 recommended)

•- MySQL version >5.0

•- HTTP Server (of course…)

•Online resource to test functionality on your own map:

•https://crowdmap.com


Ushahidi experience

•Snow surveys from 2012:

•- more than 500 snow surveys by “authorized”

users on 4 fixed stations

•- more than 30 avalanches reported

•- in total more than 2000 reports collected


Ushahidi customization

Default theme

Custom theme

http://remotesensing.arpa.piemonte.it/neve


Ushahidi customization

Report snow survey from authorized user:

trigger action on DB

Snow measurement string (YETI encoding):090216/03/120800000400000017003000///////002123000000011

DB trigger: parsing and decode the string0902;16/03/12;0800;00;0;4;00;00;00;17;003;000;///;//;//;...

• Localization of the survey based on

station code

• Insertion on MySql DB

• Automatic publication of the report


Ushahidi: other deployments

http://remotesensing.arpa.piemonte.it/geodissesto

https://stormitaly.crowdmap.com


Ushahidi: Pros

•Simple zipped folder, need only web and DB

installation → ready in about 1 hour

•Free plugins to download to extend capabilities

•Basic customization: some options accessible for a

basic IT skill user

•Adding users

•Validate and confirm the information collected

•Design different forms to collect information

•Add categories to map

•Choose already defined base layer

•Create trigger actions (mail alert in case of new report)


Ushahidi: Cons

•Few guides for developers

•Some lacks on mobile interface

•Some bugs (mostly on DB management)

•DB MySQL, maybe was preferable PostgreSQL → new feature in v3 but not tested yet

•Advanced customization: for nerdy people only!

•Adding custom base layer

•Create new theme (CSS styling)

•Modify DB behavior

•Create complex trigger actions

•Manage DB and code bugs


Final considerations

For basic functionality, Ushahidi does greatly its

job.

But if you need a system with advanced features,

greater customization, a flexible tool that can also

help in complex work situations, it is better to

develop your own project allowing more freedom of

action (for example using Drupal or other complex

CMF)

However the version 3 perhaps has introduced new

useful features...


Obrigado para sua atenção!

collecting spatial information by ushahidi€¦ · •adding custom base layer •create new theme...

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