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Title

WATER INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR DEVELOPMENT COUNTRIES: TWO DIFFERENT CASE STUDIES IN EL SALVADOR AND TANZANIA

Abstract

Over the last few years Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are playing a key role in the field of development cooperation. The importance is becoming so high that the International Community has decided to include the development of Information and Communication Technologies as one of the priority issues within the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) framework. One of the most important applications of ICT is Geoinformation, as it facilitates the work of planning by technicians and decision makers. In Africa and South America, planning is a key factor for social and economic development allowing the identification and evaluation of national development priorities.

 

This paper explains how the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Engineers Without Borders is benefiting from the latest Open Source Geographical Information Technologies, to better manage information derived from Water and Sanitation Programmes in El Salvador and Tanzania. In this context, two different Web applications have been developed with the objective of facilitating map visualization, query information of a selected study area and editing of cartographic data by technicians.

 

Moreover, this work has been fully undertaken by postgraduate students with the supervision of volunteers from the NGO. This example shows how NGOs could take advantage of master's thesis and academic experience, while they improve their own systems. In addition to this, sharing knowledge and technologies with technicians working in developing countries we ensure the continuity of the project as well as the involvement of new students.

 

Authors

Juan Arévalo Torres - Ingeniería sin Fronteras Cataluña
Lluisa Rodríguez Lázaro - Ingeniería sin Fronteras Cataluña