Beyond the “Technofix”Taking the GIS for International Development
class on the road
Panama Field ExperienceMay 11 – May 30, 2014
Nothing but a clumsy technofix?
• Can’t throw a rock at a USAID, PEPFAR, UN, Gates… Request for Proposal without hitting a GIS component requirement…
Nothing but a clumsy technofix?
• Can’t throw a rock at a USAID, PEPFAR, UN, Gates… Request for Proposal without hitting a GIS component requirement…
• Problem: most commercial GIS are highly proprietary, very expensive, have low-compatibility with other software, and are neither user friendly nor very intuitive…
Nothing but a clumsy technofix?
• Can’t throw a rock at a USAID, PEPFAR, UN, Gates… Request for Proposal without hitting a GIS component requirement…
• Problem: most commercial GIS are highly proprietary, very expensive, have low-compatibility with other software, and are neither user friendly nor very intuitive…
• … i.e. a headache by any Technology Transfer principles
Nothing but a clumsy technofix?
• Can’t throw a rock at a USAID, PEPFAR, UN, Gates… Request for Proposal without hitting a GIS component requirement…
• Problem: most commercial GIS are highly proprietary, very expensive, have low-compatibility with other software, and are neither user friendly nor very intuitive…
• … i.e. a headache by any Technology Transfer principles
• Truth is, you only need about 15% of all ESRI ArcGIS capacities to complete most mapping activities used to support international development, public health, urban planning or disaster management projects
Defying the ESRI overlords
• Recent development in open-source, customized GIS• Google Earth, QGIS, Philcarto, Crowdmap… even Esri Online
Defying the ESRI overlords
• Recent development in open-source, customized GIS• Google Earth, QGIS, Philcarto, Crowdmap… even Esri Online
• OpenDataKit and smartphone-based data collection, analysis and mapping…
• Currently used by WHO, UNDP and Gates Foundations in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, D.R. Congo, Rwanda, India, etc…
Course contents
• Introduction to basic GIS architecture and functionalities
• Case-studies: literature review• Case-studies: uses of digital data collection and GIS software by
organization working in Panama
• Panama field experience: field visits to international organization and nonprofits working in Panama
• Field-research project: A to Z independent research design, data collection, analysis and presentation using the tools and skills learned throughout the course.
Do I need computer / quantitative skills?
• Familiarity with Excel is recommended and knowledge of most common Data Analysis software (Stata, SPSS, EpiInfo) is a plus, but is by no means mandatory!
Do I need computer / quantitative skills?
• Familiarity with Excel is recommended and knowledge of most common Data Analysis software (Stata, SPSS, EpiInfo) is a plus, but is by no means mandatory!
• Flexibility and willingness to adapt one’s skills and work to resource-constrained environment are much more valuable!
Do I need computer / quantitative skills?
• Familiarity with Excel is recommended and knowledge of most common Data Analysis software (Stata, SPSS, EpiInfo) is a plus, but is by no means mandatory!
• Flexibility and willingness to adapt one’s skills and work to resource-constrained environment are much more valuable!
What kind of skills will I acquire?
• Research design and Protocol Writing
Do I need computer / quantitative skills?
• Familiarity with Excel is recommended and knowledge of most common Data Analysis software (Stata, SPSS, EpiInfo) is a plus, but is by no means mandatory!
• Flexibility and willingness to adapt one’s skills and work to resource-constrained environment are much more valuable!
What kind of skills will I acquire?
• Research design and Protocol Writing • Mapping and basic spatial analysis using Google Earth, QGIS and other
GIS software
Do I need computer / quantitative skills?
• Familiarity with Excel is recommended and knowledge of most common Data Analysis software (Stata, SPSS, EpiInfo) is a plus, but is by no means mandatory!
• Flexibility and willingness to adapt one’s skills and work to resource-constrained environment are much more valuable!
What kind of skills will I acquire?
• Research design and Protocol Writing • Mapping and basic spatial analysis using Google Earth, QGIS and other GIS
software• Principles and Tools for Digital data collection (smartphone based)
Do I need computer / quantitative skills?
• Familiarity with Excel is recommended and knowledge of most common Data Analysis software (Stata, SPSS, EpiInfo) is a plus, but is by no means mandatory!
• Flexibility and willingness to adapt one’s skills and work to resource-constrained environment are much more valuable!
What kind of skills will I acquire?
• Research design and Protocol Writing • Mapping and basic spatial analysis using Google Earth, QGIS and other GIS
software• Principles and Tools for Digital data collection (smartphone based)• Excel, XSL and XML programing
Why Panama?
• The epicenter of U.N. and other international organizations activities for Central America and the Caribbean – UNDP– UNICEF; UNEP, WFP, PAHO, OCHA
Why Panama?
• The epicenter of U.N. and other international organizations activities for Central America and the Caribbean – UNDP– UNICEF; UNEP, WFP, PAHO, OCHA
• Varied research environments in a relatively small country: from issues of urban equality in Panama City to questions of natural resource conservations and environmental sustainability in Campana.
Why Panama?
• The epicenter of U.N. and other international organizations activities for Central America and the Caribbean – UNDP– UNICEF; UNEP, WFP, PAHO, OCHA
• Varied research environments in a relatively small country: from issues of urban equality in Panama City to questions of natural resource conservations and environmental sustainability in Campana.
• Tulane networks! With the Universidad Católica María la Antigua & with UNDP!
Why Panama?
• The epicenter of U.N. and other international organizations activities for Central America and the Caribbean – UNDP– UNICEF; UNEP, WFP, PAHO, OCHA
• Varied research environments in a relatively small country: from issues of urban equality in Panama City to questions of natural resource conservations and environmental sustainability in Campana.
• Tulane networks! With the Universidad Católica María la Antigua & with UNDP!
• A great stepping stone towards Payson’s Master of Science Panama Field Work Experience! http://www.payson.tulane.edu/panama-field-work-experience
Did I mention it’s a gorgeous and culturally diverse country?
Practical FAQs
• 3 Credits courses• Cost $ 4,100 (not including airfare)• Location: City of Knowledge, 15 min from downtown Panama City
