Re: [GKD-DOTCOM] Use of GIS to Support Local Administration of Municipalities

[Peter Burgess]

Dear Colleagues,

I find the conversations we have very frustrating ... they take time and
rarely tell me what I need to know.

> http://www.gisdevelopment.net/thesis/thesis1/less4.htm
> http://www.suny-cld.edu.lb/ui/systems.aspx

Interesting ... but what do they really tell us. In the case of GIS
words like "will" and "designed to" suggest that there is an element of
marketing and hype, rather than hard performance information.

I do not know how conclusions can be reached that the ICT GIS support is
good unless there is some clear understanding of how much it cost, and
exactly what results were obtained  and a rigorous comparison with
how much an alternative would have cost and how much the alternative
would have delivered.

When I was a corporate CFO, the staff kept trying to justify new
investment when what they really needed to do was to operate the
equipment they already had with some level of enthusiasm and competence.
We used to refer this as a process of "spending ones way out of
trouble". I did not like it or accept it in my corporate life, and I do
not see why it should be acceptable in the Official Relief and
Development Assistance (ORDA) world.

In an environment of scarce ORDA resources, the other piece of analysis
that should be done is to look at the cost and the results from one use
of the resources and compare it to the use of these resources in the
best possible way in the country, but perhaps in a different sector. I
don't think the ORDA community ever does this, and as far as I am
concerned this is a disgrace. Millions of people are dying because not
enough money is reaching priority areas in crisis ... this is a choice
the ORDA world and all of the experts are making, and it is creating
death not much different than the holocaust of the 1930s and 1940s.

John Perkins' book "Confessions of an economic hit man" raises some
awful questions, and while I don't want to believe the book there is
part of me that says he is 100% right ... and it stinks. I tried to
highlight corruption through interaction with World Bank officers back
in the 1980s, and was not welcomed with open arms, to say the least. Too
much of John Perkins book rings true. How many of us are parties to the
"hits" without knowing it?

So back to this website information ... some nice projects. But can
anyone help get the information that is really needed in order to say
that they are good projects? Where is the practical application of
Transparency and Accountability?


Peter Burgess

Peter Burgess
Tr-Ac-Net in New York  212 772 6918 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
The Transparency and Accountability Network
With Kris Dev in Chennai India
and others in South Asia, Africa and Latin America 
http://tr-ac-net.blogspot.com



On 5/17/05, Barbara Fillip wrote:

> "The Geographic Information System (GIS) dramatically increases the
> accuracy of information utilized in municipal operations and planning
> through computerized 'mapping' of more than seventy layers of physical,
> financial, and personal data. Electronically linked to administrative
> and financial databases, the system provides a wealth of information
> that will be used in the planning, inspection, audit, assessment, and
> collection processes. The GIS is a powerful tool that can be used by
> municipal councils in assessing the needs of the community, and in
> identifying, implementing, and sustaining economic development projects
> related to tourism, industry, agriculture, and other sectors.
> Importantly, use of the GIS will enable decision-makers to promote
> transparency and accountability in the appraisal and collection of taxes
> and fees, ensuring that, for example, outdoor advertising licenses and
> construction permits are issued appropriately."
> 
> From the SUNY / CLD web site: http://www.suny-cld.edu.lb/ui/systems.aspx
 
..snip...
 
> Lessons that can be learned from using GIS in LGUs in developing
> countries (part of a larger student thesis):
> http://www.gisdevelopment.net/thesis/thesis1/less4.htm




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Re: [GKD-DOTCOM] Use of GIS to Support Local Administration of Municipalities

[Edward Cherlin]

On Tuesday, 17 May 2005, Barbara Fillip wrote:

> Earlier this year, USAID organized a workshop on Decentralization and
> Local Governance in the Asia and Near East Region.
> 
> The workshop took place in Cairo, Egypt. You can find out more on the
> workshop's web site . I was lucky enough
> to be attending the workshop and to present in a panel on "IT and the
> Media". One of my co-panelists made a presentation on a very interesting
> project in Lebanon where ICT is being used to support local
> administration at the level of municipalities.
> 
> Link to the Presentation:
> http://www.localgovernance.org/binderdocs/pres_freij.pdf
> 
> One element of this project in Lebanon, which is also present in one of
> our dot-ORG projects in Central America is the use of GIS (Geographic
> Information System) to assist local planning and track all cadastral,
> financial and administrative data related to the community.

Would any of these people be interested in a handheld computer with
built-in GPS and local language support in Free Software?

The product has been announced, but without full details. Simputers with
external GPS have been used in a rural land survey in Karnataka State,
India, using software in English and in the local language Kannada.

I'll let you know more ASAP. You can find out about the Simputer in
general at:
http://www.encoresimputer.com/
http://www.simputerland.com/
http://www.ncoretech.com/
The base unit cost is Rs1, (a little more than US$200).

These devices could be used for planning roads, laying out wireless
networks, planning health and education systems, organizing co-ops, and
for many other purposes. With proper management, the ROI on such
projects can pay for the equipment in short order. The systems can also
be used for teaching and enabling proper management, since they are
complete computers with a wide range of Free Software.

-- 
Edward Cherlin
Generalist & activist--Linux, languages, literacy and more
"A knot! Oh, do let me help to undo it!"
--Alice in Wonderland
http://cherlin.blogspot.com




This DOT-COM Discussion is funded by the dot-ORG USAID Cooperative
Agreement, and hosted by GKD. http://www.dot-com-alliance.org provides
more information.
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Re: [GKD-DOTCOM] Use of GIS to Support Local Administration of Municipalities

[Miraj Khaled]

Dear GKD Members,

In light of Barbara Fillip's message on GIS applications for Local
Government, here's a BBC report on the subject.

---

"Satellite Mapping Fights Corruption"
By Alfred Hermida
BBC News Online in Bangladesh
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2284862.stm

Digital maps of Bangladesh are proving invaluable in the fight against
sleaze in a country branded as one of the most corrupt in the world.

The maps are used together with a computerised national database to
decide where new roads or schools should be built.

The aim is to ensure that tough decisions about development priorities
and spending are governed by local needs rather than the whim of
politicians.

"It has become an excellent planning tool to plan and identify
priorities, said Quamrul Islam Siddique, who pioneered the scheme. "This
information is open, transparent and available to all."


Political demands

Mr Siddique headed the Local Government Engineering Department for 18
years and oversaw the creation of the computer-based mapping system,
called Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

GIS uses information that is stored on databases and places it on a map,
making it clear to read and understand.

Now retired, Mr Siddique saw that the system could be used to fight
corruption. "Roads must connect the growth centres or local markets, not
just a politician's house," he said.

"We can decide whether a request meets local requirements, rather than a
politician's demands."


Interference

Corruption has plagued Bangladesh in the past. The country came top of
the public sector corruption list for the second year running in a
recent report by the lobby group Transparency International.

Mr Siddique explained how political interference in the past had
affected the development of Bangladesh's infrastructure.

He cited the example of a local power plant that was built in a
politician's constituency, rather than close to a local river.

"The power station has been crippled forever as water needs to be
brought from far away," he said.


Less chance of fraud

The computer-mapping system is designed to prevent any such abuses
happening any more.

"The maps are available to everyone," explained Mr Siddique, who is
president of the Institute of Engineers in Bangladesh.

"They are not secret. Any group can get the information and lobby for a
road or school."

This openness means that local councillors are fully informed about
plans for their area and are thus better able to make sure they spend
their budget wisely.

"People are encouraged by this. We are not stupid any more," said
Khasimpur council leader Mohammed Kalimuddin.

"Now they have to show us whether they've done the road that we needed.
The days when you could do whatever you wanted are over. You can't run
away with the funds."

In the future, the digital maps will be available over the web to
councils with an internet connection.

Local authorities see this as the next logical step. "It will be helpful
for us to know what work we have done and what works are pending,"
explained the Mirzapur council leader Abdul Latif.

"When we are doing these works, there will be less chance of fraud. We
will always have a record."


GPS on bikes

Work on creating the first ever accurate digital map of Bangladesh
started in 1991. By the time it was completed in 1996, it offered the
most accurate and detailed geographic guide to the country.

The maps were put together using satellite images bought commercially.
Every year they are updated by engineers who go around the country on
motorbikes to check the information using handheld Global Positioning
System devices.

At headquarters in Dhaka, staff can draw up maps of the country and
superimpose information like the size of villages, location of schools
or condition of roads.

The department is responsible for 200,000 kilometres of roads in the
country where only one in six is paved.

"Our ultimate aim is to create better opportunities for people, to give
services to people," explained the country's Chief Engineer, Shahidul
Hassan.

"This tool is very important because if you don't have the basic data,
how can you plan for improvement?"


For more information, please visit:

LGED GIS (Geographic Information System) Unit
http://www.lged.gov.bd/hq_setup/gis_unit.htm

--
Miraj Khaled

[EMAIL PROTECTED]
mindexplorer.blogspot.com



On 5/17/05, Barbara Fillip wrote:

> Earlier this year, USAID organized a workshop on Decentralization and
> Local Governance in the Asia and Near East Region. The workshop took
> place in Cairo, Egypt. You can find out more on the workshop's web site
> . I was lucky enough to be attending the
> workshop and to present in a panel on "IT and the Media". One of my
> co-panelists made a presentation on a very interesting project in
> Lebanon where ICT is being used to support local administration at the
> level of municipalities.
> 
> Link to the 

[GKD-DOTCOM] Use of GIS to Support Local Administration of Municipalities

[Barbara Fillip]

Dear GKD List Members,

Earlier this year, USAID organized a workshop on Decentralization and
Local Governance in the Asia and Near East Region. The workshop took
place in Cairo, Egypt. You can find out more on the workshop's web site
. I was lucky enough to be attending
the workshop and to present in a panel on "IT and the Media". One of my
co-panelists made a presentation on a very interesting project in
Lebanon where ICT is being used to support local administration at the
level of municipalities.

Link to the Presentation:
http://www.localgovernance.org/binderdocs/pres_freij.pdf

One element of this project in Lebanon, which is also present in one of
our dot-ORG projects in Central America is the use of GIS (Geographic
Information System) to assist local planning and track all cadastral,
financial and administrative data related to the community.

"The Geographic Information System (GIS) dramatically increases the
accuracy of information utilized in municipal operations and planning
through computerized 'mapping' of more than seventy layers of physical,
financial, and personal data. Electronically linked to administrative
and financial databases, the system provides a wealth of information
that will be used in the planning, inspection, audit, assessment, and
collection processes. The GIS is a powerful tool that can be used by
municipal councils in assessing the needs of the community, and in
identifying, implementing, and sustaining economic development projects
related to tourism, industry, agriculture, and other sectors.
Importantly, use of the GIS will enable decision-makers to promote
transparency and accountability in the appraisal and collection of taxes
and fees, ensuring that, for example, outdoor advertising licenses and
construction permits are issued appropriately."

>From the SUNY / CLD web site:
http://www.suny-cld.edu.lb/ui/systems.aspx

I was wondering if there were other examples of successful use of GIS
for local government?

Actually, as I wrote the last sentence, I decided to do a little web
search and came upon what looks like a goldmine:

Lessons that can be learned from using GIS in LGUs in developing
countries (part of a larger student thesis):
http://www.gisdevelopment.net/thesis/thesis1/less4.htm


Best regards,
Barbara Fillip

Barbara Fillip, Ph.D.
Communication Specialist
DOT-COM Alliance
http://www.dot-com-alliance.org
(202) 884-8003




This DOT-COM Discussion is funded by the dot-ORG USAID Cooperative
Agreement, and hosted by GKD. http://www.dot-com-alliance.org provides
more information.
To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to:
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type:
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For past messages, see:
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