Re: "Chile" and "OpenStreetMap Chile" Geochat groups

[Jean-Guilhem Cailton]

(Version in English follows)

Estimados todos,

Aquí está un ejemplo de cómo enviar información de geolocalización de Puntos de Interés por SMS gracias a una red impreso en un "Walking Paper". Así, un GPS no queda necesario.

Por fin de ilustración, vamos a tomar una farmacia:

Farmacia Cruz Verde Sexta Región
Plaza de Armas, 98, Santa Cruz, Chile

Los "Walking Papers" adjuntos incluyen un mapa global de Santa Cruz "zoom 14", por referencia, y un mapa de un detalle de la ciudad alrededor de "Plaza de Armas", "zoom 17". Ambos mapas fueron impresos en el sitio Walking Papers (http://walking-papers.org) con la opción de "Grid" MGRS. Las referencias del red en el mapa "zoom 14" describen áreas cuadradas de 1 km x 1 km, y en el mapa "zoom 17", de 100 m x 100 m.

Utilizando el mapa "zoom 17", se puede ver que la esquina sur-oeste (abajo a la izquierda) del cuadrado de 10 m x 10 m que contiene la farmacia tiene como referencia MGRS 19H BB 8309 6428.

Un SMS enviando la geolocalización de la farmacia a GeoChat puede ser:

   - "19HBB83096428 * Farmacia Cruz Verde, Sexta Región, Plaza de Armas, 98, Santa Cruz, Chile"


Si adjuntamos un ejemplo de necesidades *imaginarios*, un SMS podría ser

   - "19HBB83096428 * Farmacia Cruz Verde, Sexta Región, Plaza de Armas, 98, Santa Cruz, Chile. (TEST) Faltan electricidad, vacunas H1N1 ... (TEST)"

(El nombre del remitente se añade automáticamente por GeoChat)



Por supuesto, si geo-coordenadas se saben, por un GPS o de otra manera, (Latitud: -34.64039 Longitud: -71.366456), la localización geográfica también puede darse con:

   - "34.64039S * 71.366456W * Farmacia Cruz Verde, Sexta Región, Plaza de Armas, 98, Santa Cruz, Chile."


Espero que este ejemplo ayuda a la gente sobre el terreno que no tenga GPS para enviar información geolocalizada a través de SMS.

Si cree que esto podría ser útil, por favor, difundir la palabra.


Saludos cordiales,

Jean-Guilhem


(*) Para una descripción de MGRS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_grid_reference_system

-----

Version in English:

Dear All,

Here is an example on how to send geolocalisation information for Points of Interest by SMS using a grid printed on a Walking Paper. Thus a GPS is not required.

For illustration purpose, let's take a pharmacy:

Farmacia Cruz Verde sexta región
Plaza de Armas 98, Santa Cruz, Chile

The attached Walking Papers include a "zoom 14" global map of Santa Cruz, for reference, and a "zoom 17" map of a detail of the town including "Plaza de Armas". Both maps were printed from the Walking Paper site (http://walking-papers.org) with MGRS grid option on. The grid references on the "zoom 14" map describe square areas of 1 km x 1 km, and on the "zoom 17" map, of 100 m x 100 m.

Using the "zoom 17" map, one can see that the South West (lower left) corner of the 10 m x 10 m square containing the pharmacy has MGRS reference 19H BB 8309 6428.

A SMS giving geolocalisation of the pharmacy to GeoChat could thus be:

   - "19HBB83096428 * Farmacia Cruz Verde Sexta Región, Plaza de Armas 98, Santa Cruz, Chile"


Adding *imaginary* example needs, a SMS could be

   - "19HBB83096428 * Farmacia Cruz Verde sexta región, Plaza de Armas 98, Santa Cruz, Chile. (TEST) Lacking electricity, H1N1 vaccines... (TEST)"

(The name of the sender is automatically added by GeoChat)



Of course, if geocoordinates are known, from a GPS or otherwise, (Latitude: -34.64039   Longitude: -71.366456), the geolocalisation could also be given with:

   - "34.64039S * 71.366456W * Farmacia Cruz Verde Sexta Región, Plaza de Armas 98, Santa Cruz, Chile."


I hope this example helps folks on the ground without GPS send geolocalised information through SMS.

If you think this could be useful, please spread the word.


Best regards,

Jean-Guilhem


(*) For a description of MGRS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_grid_reference_system



Jean-Guilhem Cailton a écrit :

(Version in English follows)

Estimados todos,

Después de los emails que siguen, un grupo GeoChat "Chile" ha sido creado, en respuesta al terremoto de Chile para ayudar a coordinar la respuesta. Usted está invitado a suscribirse:

   1. abrir una cuenta en http://geochat.instedd.org/
   2a. Una vez activada su cuenta, inscribirse para el grupo en geochat llamado "Chile"


También, Julio ha creado un grupo de GeoChat "OpenStreetMap Chile", "Grupo de Usuarios de OpenStreetMap en Chile". Para suscribirse a este grupo:

   2b. Una vez activada su cuenta, inscribirse para el grupo en geochat llamado "OSM_CL"


He encontrado el proceso de inscripción muy fácil y "amigable". (Entré mi nombre, correo electrónico, número de teléfono celular y ubicación. Esto puede funcionar por SMS solo también). Si usted tiene alguna pregunta, por favor hágamelo saber.



También una lista de correo "tradicional" ha sido creada para apoyar a este grupo GeoChat:
   - Para suscribirse, envíe un correo electrónico a geochat-chi...@yahoogroups.com
   - Para enviar un mensaje a toda la lista: geocha...@yahoogroups.com

 
Saludos cordiales,

Jean-Guilhem



----------
Version in English

Dear all,

After the following discussion, a "Chile" GeoChat group has been created, in response to the Chile earthquake to help responders coordinate. You are invited to join :

   1. sign up for an account at http://geochat.instedd.org/
   2a. once your account is activated, sign up for the group in geochat called "Chile"


Note that Julio has also created a GeoChat group, "OpenStreetMap Chile", "Grupo de usuarios de OpenStreetMap en Chile". To join this group :

   2b. once your account is activated, sign up for the group in geochat called "OSM_CL"


I have found the signing up process very easy and "user friendly". (I entered my name, email, cell phone number and location. This can also work by SMS alone). If you have any question, please let me know.



Also, a "traditional" mailing list to support this GeoChat group has been created :
   - to subscribe, send an email to geochat-chi...@yahoogroups.com
   - to post a message to the group : geocha...@yahoogroups.com

 
Best regards,

Jean-Guilhem


Eduardo Jezierski a écrit :

On Sat,Mar 6, 2010, at 2:30 , Jean-Guilhem Cailton wrote:

Hi,

Exactly Eduardo.

An example picture I had in mind can be seen at the bottom of http://www.instedd.org/ (click on it to enlarge).

Yes that is the main geochat UI - http://geochat.instedd.org when you sign in and are looking at group messages. We would have to look at how the javascript to display the bubbles and images etc would need to change.  Anyone willing to help?

For a potential use by OSM-Chile, I think it would be better to have OpenStreetMap as the basis for the map view. So that the map updates can be seen quickly.

Agree - 

Mikel's blog is very interesting regarding how GeoChat can also help feeding updates to OSM, by sending by SMS grid coordinates seen on a walking paper.

I am wondering whether, in some areas, cell phone companies can supply e.g. antenna information, which could help localizing SMS approximately, when no more precise mean is available (or better localization info if possible, of course).

The technology is there; but the regulatory issues are tricky. E.g. in haiti to correlate a phone number with a tower it takes ~ 3 days to clear the paperwork from the Haitian National Police. The telcos have no opt-in system to let citizens jump onto this yet. 

Could preparing an example set-up for, e.g., the subscribers to OSM-talk-Chile (talk-cl) (at most about 40 addresses at the moment) be a good way to get started experimenting with GeoChat in Chile ? Some live in hardly impacted areas (Concepción, Pichilemu, ...), some in Santiago, some in Punta Arenas...

Please go ahead! Join the geochat users lists to ask for some help and get going. We dont have any chile-specific shortcodes yet but MVNO numbers should be working.

I haven't yet started experimenting with GeoChat from here (I live in Toulouse, France). I could help doing some translation to Spanish.

Maybe we could follow on this topic on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/geochatusers , which those interested could join ? Or by direct mail ? Nicolás, everyone, what do you think ?

Lets continue on that group! Looking fwd to helping you out.

Best regards,

Jean-Guilhem


Eduardo Jezierski a écrit :

Yup, Camp Roberts was a cool joint effort (brought lots of feedback, integration w geocommons for geocoding in some of our components, and MGRS support)

I think Jean means using OSM as the basis for the map view that makes the main GeoChat UI; Jean maybe you can clarify?

~ ej



On Fri,Mar 5, 2010, at 16:06 , Kate Chapman wrote:

  

There has been integration before between InSTEDD and OSM.

Mikel wrote a blog post about it: http://brainoff.com/weblog/2009/08/10/1435

-Kate

On Fri, Mar 5, 2010 at 2:42 PM, Jean-Guilhem Cailton <j...@arkemie.com> wrote:
    

Dear Julio,

I just found out about InSTEDD (http://www.instedd.org/) and think it might
interest you to have a look at what they offer.

As a recent example of their activity, they technically supported the
emergency short code SMS system in Haiti.

In particular, InSTEDD GeoChat was apparently designed as a communication
means for "major humanitarian crises". (http://www.instedd.org/geochat)


A quote from http://www.instedd.org/technology_overview follows:
(I do hope nobody takes offence that there might be some common points
between crisis situations anywhere in the world and common situation in the
developing world)

"InSTEDD GeoChat is a unified mobile communications service designed
specifically to enable self-organizing group communications in the
developing world.   The service lets mobile phone users broadcast
location-based alerts, report on their situation, and coordinate around
events as they unfold, linking field, headquarters, and the local community
in a real-time, interactive conversation visualized on the surface of a
map.  Once you create a GeoChat group, you may use it as the text equivalent
of a push-to-talk radio:  send the group a message on the Web, by email, or
by SMS, and the rest of the group receives it.  GeoChat allows information
to flow over multiple messaging channels, including dedicated SMS servers, a
cell phone plugged into a laptop, a satellite phone, and even Twitter.  You
may learn more about InSTEDD GeoChat here. Please join the online community
around GeoChat here. GeoChat is hosted "in the cloud" via Amazon, so there
is no server to deploy.  GeoChat has global SMS coverage through Clickatel,
has a US domestic SMS shortcode, and may easily be integrated with gateways
of local carriers.  Users have referred to GeoChat as “Email for the Bottom
Billion”."

GeoChat is in Beta.

I do not know whether it is easy to have OSM as the map used in GeoChat
(example pictures display Google maps), but since it is free and open source
(GPLv3), it would certainly be possible to adapt it if necessary.


I am just learning about InSTEDD, so there may also be other potentially
interesting things on their website (like http://www.trackernews.net/, for
instance).

Hoping this helps,

Jean-Guilhem

_______________________________________________
HOT mailing list
H...@openstreetmap.org
http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/hot


      

_____________________________________
Eduardo Jezierski, InSTEDD, VP of Engineering
skype: eduardojezierski
twitter: @edjez
mobile: +1 425 269 8378
Iridium +88 16 32 51 61 85



  

Eduardo Jezierski a écrit :

Hi Jean - nice to meet you!

As you can see here you are not the first one to suggest using OSM

http://geochat.uservoice.com/forums/7328-geochat-feedback-forum

And it would be great in situations to be able to use OSM and its imagery + vector data.

Adding Nico who leads our platform team so he can provide some direction and contacts to anyone wanting to help contribute OSM integration.

For anyone interested this is where we do announcements, etc: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/geochatusers/

and the help wiki : http://geochathelp.com

And finally the app itself:

http://geochat.instedd.org 

Please help us make it a better tool for everyone with your feedback!

Status - 

GeoChat is in beta; but is already used as mission-critical tools in SE asia to connect community health workers up to the provincial health offices; with 2 province-wide deployments and  the govt of Thai, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and China have requested national rollouts this year (with local shortcodes).GeoChat was used by some groups in Haiti for reachback support;   We have over 2000 active users; and around 30% of active ones only use it via SMS and have never signed to the web (you can sign up, create groups, invite folks, etc all through SMS as needed). There are some other organizations doing apps on the API for clinics reporting data; connecting SMS to resource mapping to query/update map info via SMS, etc. 

We have a very small dev team so we are always looking for feedback and contributions :)

Phone coverage -

InSTEDD has 44911 connected to GeoChat in the USA

In cambodia and thailand GeoChat is toll-free from certain phone companies. 

We are also working with wireless providers in Africa (East & South mostly)

In addition to get started we have MVNO numbers (international clickatell-style) for covering most of the world but these rely on international routing which can be spotty. If you need something cheaper; you can plug in a modem/phone to your computer and use a local gateway program that will bridge it to GeoChat.

Adding Nico who leads our platform team so he can work with anyone wanting to contribute to the effort.

Thanks!

~ej

On Fri,Mar 5, 2010, at 11:42 , Jean-Guilhem Cailton wrote:

Dear Julio,

I just found out about InSTEDD (http://www.instedd.org/) and think it might interest you to have a look at what they offer.

As a recent example of their activity, they technically supported the emergency short code SMS system in Haiti.

In particular, InSTEDD GeoChat was apparently designed as a communication means for "major humanitarian crises". (http://www.instedd.org/geochat)


A quote from http://www.instedd.org/technology_overview follows:
(I do hope nobody takes offence that there might be some common points between crisis situations anywhere in the world and common situation in the developing world)

"InSTEDD GeoChat is a unified mobile communications service designed specifically to enable self-organizing group communications in the developing world.   The service lets mobile phone users broadcast location-based alerts, report on their situation, and coordinate around events as they unfold, linking field, headquarters, and the local community in a real-time, interactive conversation visualized on the surface of a map.  Once you create a GeoChat group, you may use it as the text equivalent of a push-to-talk radio:  send the group a message on the Web, by email, or by SMS, and the rest of the group receives it.  GeoChat allows information to flow over multiple messaging channels, including dedicated SMS servers, a cell phone plugged into a laptop, a satellite phone, and even Twitter.  You may learn more about InSTEDD GeoChat here. Please join the online community around GeoChat here. GeoChat is hosted "in the cloud" via Amazon, so there is no server to deploy.  GeoChat has global SMS coverage through Clickatel, has a US domestic SMS shortcode, and may easily be integrated with gateways of local carriers.  Users have referred to GeoChat as “Email for the Bottom Billion”."

GeoChat is in Beta.

I do not know whether it is easy to have OSM as the map used in GeoChat (example pictures display Google maps), but since it is free and open source (GPLv3), it would certainly be possible to adapt it if necessary.


I am just learning about InSTEDD, so there may also be other potentially interesting things on their website (like http://www.trackernews.net/, for instance).

Hoping this helps,

Jean-Guilhem

_____________________________________

Eduardo Jezierski, InSTEDD, VP of Engineering

skype: eduardojezierski

twitter: @edjez

mobile: +1 425 269 8378

Iridium +88 16 32 51 61 85