GEOG 583: Geospatial system analysis and design

Term Project

A GIS for Human Rights

By Angela T. Chang

Abstract

This system design proposal will address the impact that the implementation of a successful GIS within an international human rights organization, will have on human rights-related decision making. It will identify new needs,including technical analysts whose GIS and GEOINT experiences can bridge the intersection between science and human rights, and will further address the unique challenges faced by a largely non-technical research and advocacy organization as it shifts to GIS from an existing pen and paper workflow. Recent structural changes have had a major impact on core operations – whereas country-specific research teams used to work out of London-based headquarters, most research teams are now based at key regional “hubs” where they can be closer to the communities and issues with which they work. Thus, many researchers are facing new challenges – they not only have to deal with the usual security concerns that accompanies data collection on human rights violations in active and post-conflict areas, but now must also consider the additional challenges of safely storing and securely communicating out (of situ) highly-sensitive and personal human rights data.

The success of this GIS will be determined by the capacity to securely and systematically digitize research data. From collection, communication, and storage to analysis and dissemination, the switch from analog to digital data must be accessible both to those that are wary of the reliance on technology and to those with limited access to certain technologies and tools (i.e. internet). This proposal will identify how mobile devices can be used to collect and update geographically-reference human rights data from the field in real-time, while also providing solutions for those who are unable to capture data digitally, to plug into the GIS at a later time.

  • Current Challenges
  • Researchers in the field (user)
  • Multiple tools for data collection depending on situation
  • Handheld GPS
  • Smartphone
  • Satellite phone
  • GPS-enabled digital camera/video
  • Laptop
  • External Hardrive
  • Wireless Internet Device (dongle)
  • Pen and paper
  • Data security – storing and sharing (while in situ)
  • Lack of reliable cell (data) service
  • Risk of physical confiscation and discovery in conflict zones
  • Risk of digital discovery/hack when transmitting data over unsecured or vulnerable cellanddata networks
  • Headquarters (end-user)
  • Transferring and collating data from multiple devices
  • Analyzing and then storing that related, but multi-format data in a secure yet accessible and searchable organization-wide database. Currently, each team or researcher holds onto their own data – personnel turnover = data loss. Lack of organizational data history.
  • Digitizing data collection and sharing in the field (user)
  • Streamlining tools in the field
  • Mobile Apps (with backend capabilities)
  • mFieldwork
  • ArcGIS for mobile
  • Formhub (open source) or other offline survey collection tool
  • Handwriting-to-Text conversion
  • Smart Pens: Live Scribe
  • Document Scanners: Doxie Go
  • Smartphone Apps: Evernote
  • Accessing the internet + uploading data in the field
  • Mobile Internet
  • Commotion Wireless “Internet-in-a-suitcase”
  • Satellite Network
  • Thuraya SatSleeve for iPhone
  • Iridium Go! for smartphones
  • Increasing network security
  • Automatic or built-in encryption
  • “Kill” switch?
  • Other hardware/back-up solutions
  • Data processing, analytics, and storage (end-user)
  • Setting up a geodatabase
  • Researching and reading through various database models using Roger Tomlinson’s Thinking about GIS: GIS Planning for Managers book that we used earlier in the semester.
  • Uploading and collating data
  • Software/Hardware requirements
  • ESRI through Amazon AWS cloud server
  • Open-source solutions
  • Solutions for non-digital data
  • Required resources
  • Set-up and maintenance costs
  • New personnel/expertise
  • Conclusion: Anticipated Challenges and Next Steps
  • Cost
  • Training
  • Consistency of use

Cool Tools for Thought:

  • Samsung TecTile
  • SMS mobile platform such as Ushahidi
  • GeoPoll mobile survey