You mention open source mapping technologies, I'm curious about what set of tools you are looking at to help you meet this challenge? It's an exciting landscape currently, especially with mobile mapping tools becoming more accessible.
Jon thanks for the comment. I am just beginning to scope out what is possible with some colleagues so don't yet know if there is anything out there that does what we want. So far I have checked out ArcGIS and of course Google Earth but not in enough detail to know if they are flexible enough.
I wish I could say I was involved directly, but I can certainly point out some great starting points. Definitely take a look at Ushahidi/CrowdMap , which gathers locational data from SMS/email/web postings (used in Haiti, and a gazillion other disaster/election/dev/peace projects).
In addition to Jon's suggestions, thought you might also want to reference an interesting initiative rolled out by the UN: Global Pulse (http://www.unglobalpulse.org/). Their goal is to map real-time data, innovations, emerging technologies to narrow the information gap across the development sector, and identify actionable opportunities for improvement and change. Hope this is helpful.
Tito thanks for the heads up. This would be a valuable resource as this idea develops. I can see lots of connections between local communities and agreements and initiatives at a national/international level.
Thanks for reading my proposal. Could you say more about government response?
I envision this resource being used in an informal way thus, for example, government peace panels might reference information that was gathered and posted but not formally acknowledge it as a source. This is all in theory and would have to be generated by the site being used fully.
Hi. Thank you for sharing your idea. I have a few questions.
1) What is your strategy after populating a map? Are you going to provide consistent training to local people how to read/update a map and utilize the map for the conflict resolution?
2) Do people who know technologies get paid by helping with GPS?
3) Are you planning to develop social entrepreneurial quality or depend on grants/donations?
Saeko thanks for the good questions. I was thinking about populating the map at first by doing a pilot of a few groups that have the distinct identity. It would involve working to develop the power of the tool and then seeing if ownership can be established. There would be a series of trainings to test the validity and buy-in then having persons within that group providing the data collection by whatever means is most practical.
In terms of the sustainability of this, since it has a technical support component to the track 1 peace process, I would anticipate grants would be a major source of input. However, you do raise an interesting question about the social entrepreneurial nature of the tool which may lead to a greater buy in. This would only be possible if some niche was found since the social media sites are already pervasive and attractive.
Thanks for reading my proposal. I hope to do some more work on it before the deadline.
Hi. Thank you for sharing your idea. I have a few questions.
1) What is your strategy after populating a map? Are you going to provide consistent training to local people how to read/update a map and utilize the map for the conflict resolution?
2) Do people who know technologies get paid by helping with GPS?
3) Are you planning to develop social entrepreneurial quality or depend on grants/donations?
Gaston this will have a huge impact on property rights because one dynamic of the Mindanao conflict as in many places is the issue of ancestral domain. Does the fact that a people have lived on the land for generations mean they have exclusive rights to the land, the resources of the land like timber or ag production, the minerals below the surface or even the airspace? Does having a title to the land obtained in a government office in the capital city, yet have never set foot on the land, give me ownership?
What I hope to do with this project is to highlight where these discrepancies are in understanding who owns/tends/caretakes the land by giving a voice to all who have some sort of claim to it. It is going beyond the "my people have been here forever" and "I have the deed to this place" to uncover the sacredness of the land, for example, that will reveal the points of conflict thus giving a clearer understanding for negotiation.
I find the proposal very appealing because it would allow identifying actors, understanding their position regarding the territories and interests. I wonder if you have planned a mechanism to filter or test the data inputs before it is publicly displayed. I acknowledge that the beauty of the proposal is the possibility of giving voice to all concerned, however I wonder what would happen if a certain individual or group captures the system or uses it to polarize the discussion.
Victor thanks for raising this question. I have recently thought about that too and wonder if developing, for each group, some kind of a Wiki peer review way to endorse entries. Perhaps some sort of 3rd party referee that will help to balance powerful, articulate voices with those less adapt at communicating. It is a tricky subject, as you point out, since too much control squelches the breadth of input and not enough may produce a free for all.
Comments
You mention open source mapping technologies, I'm curious about what set of tools you are looking at to help you meet this challenge? It's an exciting landscape currently, especially with mobile mapping tools becoming more accessible.
Jon thanks for the comment. I am just beginning to scope out what is possible with some colleagues so don't yet know if there is anything out there that does what we want. So far I have checked out ArcGIS and of course Google Earth but not in enough detail to know if they are flexible enough.
Are you involved in GIS and peace mapping?
I wish I could say I was involved directly, but I can certainly point out some great starting points. Definitely take a look at Ushahidi/CrowdMap , which gathers locational data from SMS/email/web postings (used in Haiti, and a gazillion other disaster/election/dev/peace projects).
Best of luck!
In addition to Jon's suggestions, thought you might also want to reference an interesting initiative rolled out by the UN: Global Pulse (http://www.unglobalpulse.org/). Their goal is to map real-time data, innovations, emerging technologies to narrow the information gap across the development sector, and identify actionable opportunities for improvement and change. Hope this is helpful.
Tito thanks for the heads up. This would be a valuable resource as this idea develops. I can see lots of connections between local communities and agreements and initiatives at a national/international level.
Mr.Jonathan,i must say that your project is very interesting.however i could like to know more about your government's response.
Edward:
Thanks for reading my proposal. Could you say more about government response?
I envision this resource being used in an informal way thus, for example, government peace panels might reference information that was gathered and posted but not formally acknowledge it as a source. This is all in theory and would have to be generated by the site being used fully.
Hi. Thank you for sharing your idea. I have a few questions.
1) What is your strategy after populating a map? Are you going to provide consistent training to local people how to read/update a map and utilize the map for the conflict resolution?
2) Do people who know technologies get paid by helping with GPS?
3) Are you planning to develop social entrepreneurial quality or depend on grants/donations?
Thanks!
Saeko thanks for the good questions. I was thinking about populating the map at first by doing a pilot of a few groups that have the distinct identity. It would involve working to develop the power of the tool and then seeing if ownership can be established. There would be a series of trainings to test the validity and buy-in then having persons within that group providing the data collection by whatever means is most practical.
In terms of the sustainability of this, since it has a technical support component to the track 1 peace process, I would anticipate grants would be a major source of input. However, you do raise an interesting question about the social entrepreneurial nature of the tool which may lead to a greater buy in. This would only be possible if some niche was found since the social media sites are already pervasive and attractive.
Thanks for reading my proposal. I hope to do some more work on it before the deadline.
peace...jon
Hi. Thank you for sharing your idea. I have a few questions.
1) What is your strategy after populating a map? Are you going to provide consistent training to local people how to read/update a map and utilize the map for the conflict resolution?
2) Do people who know technologies get paid by helping with GPS?
3) Are you planning to develop social entrepreneurial quality or depend on grants/donations?
Thanks!
Hi Jonathan, quick question? how your project or this technology is specifically related to property rights?
cheers
Gaston this will have a huge impact on property rights because one dynamic of the Mindanao conflict as in many places is the issue of ancestral domain. Does the fact that a people have lived on the land for generations mean they have exclusive rights to the land, the resources of the land like timber or ag production, the minerals below the surface or even the airspace? Does having a title to the land obtained in a government office in the capital city, yet have never set foot on the land, give me ownership?
What I hope to do with this project is to highlight where these discrepancies are in understanding who owns/tends/caretakes the land by giving a voice to all who have some sort of claim to it. It is going beyond the "my people have been here forever" and "I have the deed to this place" to uncover the sacredness of the land, for example, that will reveal the points of conflict thus giving a clearer understanding for negotiation.
Does that clarify?
I find the proposal very appealing because it would allow identifying actors, understanding their position regarding the territories and interests. I wonder if you have planned a mechanism to filter or test the data inputs before it is publicly displayed. I acknowledge that the beauty of the proposal is the possibility of giving voice to all concerned, however I wonder what would happen if a certain individual or group captures the system or uses it to polarize the discussion.
Victor thanks for raising this question. I have recently thought about that too and wonder if developing, for each group, some kind of a Wiki peer review way to endorse entries. Perhaps some sort of 3rd party referee that will help to balance powerful, articulate voices with those less adapt at communicating. It is a tricky subject, as you point out, since too much control squelches the breadth of input and not enough may produce a free for all.
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