Re: Geospatial Support for Chile

[Chris Nicholas]

I am working now to put the recent GeoEye images of San Javier, Santiago, and Puerto Saavedra online as OGC WMS services, KML, and accessible within the OpenStreetMap. Attached are the shapefile coverages.  These can be downloaded (~8Gigs) at

ftp://chile.geoeye.com

204.236.220.178

User ID: chile

Password: ch1l3p1c$

Hopefully within a few hours these will be accessible via thin bandwidth at full resolution.
Chris Nicholas
UN-SPIDER

On Wed, Mar 3, 2010 at 1:37 PM, Marta <marta...@hotmail.com> wrote:

Hi, I'm Marta from Santiago, I have been trying to involve someone from the current government to make a formal request for help, since many people, Map Action as well, are just waiting for that to star working, but not success so far, I'll keep on trying with people from the new government.
If I can help some how, please let me know, my sister from Madrid offered to make translations Spanish - English - German, I can do some Spanish-English too.
Best regards,

Marta Benito

Geologist - MSc GIS Project Development
+56995582669
+5628859016


--------------------------------------------------
From: "Smith, Nate" <nsm...@ofda.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2010 3:58 PM
To: "Bruce Willett" <bdwi...@ravel.n2.net>

Cc: <fa...@yahoo.com>; <wander...@yahoo.es>; <marta...@hotmail.com>; <jdon...@immap.org>; <jpi...@onemi.gov.cl>; <pamp...@yahoo.es>; <nvgo...@hotmail.com>; <aip...@hotmail.com>; <wander...@yahoo.es>; <sebastian...@aonikenk.com>; <j...@arkemie.com>; <sandroe...@gmail.com>; <julio...@openstreetmap.cl>; <geoma...@aol.com>; <Johns...@state.gov>; <geo...@gmail.com>; <chrisgn...@gmail.com>; <charles...@gmail.com>; <hara...@un.org>; <villa...@un.org>; <j...@arkemie.com>; <fl...@google.com>; <thehealthp...@gmail.com>; <shoreh...@gmail.com>; <nw...@mapaction.org>; <GeoMa...@aol.com>; <leo....@gmail.com>; <crisismap...@googlegroups.com>; <Simm...@state.gov>; <sw...@usgs.gov>; <Johns...@state.gov>

Subject: RE: Geospatial Support for Chile

Bruce,

Sounds like you have been working most of the angles and, from those copied, we have many common friends and colleagues.

I wish I had something more to offer.  Post event imagery has been mostly cloud covered over the high impact areas and the RapidEye is giving the best look right now.

If I can find any avenue to utilize your skills I will pass it along.  You might want to get an account on APAN (http://community.apan.org/) as they were quite effective in Haiti, but I haven't heard much from their Chile community.

Cheers,

Nate

-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Willett [mailto:bdwi...@ravel.n2.net]
Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2010 12:42 PM
To: Smith, Nate
Cc: fa...@yahoo.com; wander...@yahoo.es; marta...@hotmail.com; jdon...@immap.org; jpi...@onemi.gov.cl; pamp...@yahoo.es; nvgo...@hotmail.com; aip...@hotmail.com; wander...@yahoo.es; sebastian...@aonikenk.com; j...@arkemie.com; sandroe...@gmail.com; julio...@openstreetmap.cl; geoma...@aol.com; Johns...@state.gov; geo...@gmail.com; chrisgn...@gmail.com; charles...@gmail.com; hara...@un.org; villa...@un.org; j...@arkemie.com; fl...@google.com; thehealthp...@gmail.com; shoreh...@gmail.com; nw...@mapaction.org; GeoMa...@aol.com; leo....@gmail.com; crisismap...@googlegroups.com; Simm...@state.gov; sw...@usgs.gov; Johns...@state.gov
Subject: Re: Geospatial Support for Chile

Hi Nate,

Thanks for the email.  I am CC:ing just some of those involved whether they understand English or not.  I am doing this in the hopes that some connections might form.

Desculpa para el ingles NO PUEDO ESCRIBIR EN 2 AHORA!

I am going to play with this until the 10th and then off on my bike with a friend for a couple weeks in Tierra de Fuego and out of contact the whole time, so if something come up

Yes, it is too bad we didn't know about him as we have a couple of us down here in Punta Arenas interested in helping with mapping, GIS, GPS,  most of these are Chilean.  We also have another couple in Santiago looking to help, both Chilean and foreigners.  Most of us have been just spinning our wheels down here looking for a way to help. I did the same after Katrina even though I was working directly for FEMA at the time.

I donated blood a couple weeks ago and $$. I am currently uploading GIS data (no metadata, of course) and making maps of the areas affected, others are looking for imagery and making similar contacts with similar results.  Region 8 and 9 - don't know if it will be used but.

Here is a quick rundown on some of the collective efforts, contacts and
responses:

ONEMI - emails don't work, phone calls don't go through, people don't know what GIS is or don't care, all taken care of and don't need help, don't do GIS  We talked to the local jefe and he didn't even know what GIS is..

US State Dept / Embassy - don't do GIS, don't know what it is, email this person, email this email I have been in touch with them since 1999 on GIS issues, lot of talk

Immap - Joe D at waiting for a request and could provide assistance

GISCorps - Shoreh is waiting for a request and could provide assistance

ESRI - Carmelle Terborgh could be involved if tasked, others I have not contacted

ESRI-Chile - don't get me started

Other in local government - don't really know anything and waiting for direction from above

ChileAyuda - ??????

Intendencia - ?????

UN OCHA - ???

MapAction - ???




Could you provide us with updated access to Quickbird of the affected areas?

Some of us are loading data onto:
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/2010_Chile_earthquake/Imagery_and_data_sources#Existing_Data_Sets

Same with this group:
http://groups.google.com/group/crisismappers-chile?lnk=gcamh

We are now looking to do some work down here in Punta Arenas but with or without any leadership from those directly involved.

Thanks,

bruce


.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:..:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:
                Bruce D. Willett
GIS Specialist              Punta Arenas, Chile
bdwi...@n2.net             www.n2.net/bdwillet

Photo log: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bdwillet/

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

"La Civilización de un pueblo se mide por la forma que tratan a los animales". Gandhi

Disclaimer: Opinions stated herein are mine, mine, mine, all mine and not those of anybody else!!!!
.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:..:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:

On Wed, 3 Mar 2010, Smith, Nate wrote:

Bruce,

I saw your offer to help in the email traffic and while we don't have
a good way to pull you in to our efforts, I may have a suggestion or
two and I wanted to send a note to introduce myself as it seems our
paths may have actually or nearly crossed in the past few years.
Ironically, our GIS Data Specialist was just stranded in Punta Arenas
for several days and has only recently travelled overland to Argentina
to begin the long trip home.  He should get back to Washington on
Sunday.  I wish I had gotten your note earlier and could have linked
you up.  He and his wife spent a couple weeks in the region hiking Torres and Fitzroy.

I actually spent a few days there in 1995 with some buddies as we did
the circuit at Torres. I also did some GPS training in Liberia back in
1997 with Shawn Messick, who you probably know from VVAF (now IMMAP).

Regarding the response, consider reaching out to GIS Corps as Shoreh
is seeking linkages within ONEMI and SNIT to try and find a way to
position some volunteers to help.  Perhaps you can assist her in this
effort and find a means to volunteer through them.  You may also be
well positioned to link up with local governments or the Chilean Red
Cross and assist in their efforts.

Feel free to drop me a note if you want to discuss.

Good luck and best regards,

Nate Smith

**********************************

GIS Coordinator

Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance

1429 N. Quincy Street

Arlington, VA 22207

ph - (703) 526-2061

Cell - (703) 981-1224

**********************************

[Chris Nicholas]

Sounds like your download is the most important at this point!

we can suspend for a little while; let us know when you are done.

Chris

On Wed, Mar 3, 2010 at 4:11 PM, Marta <marta...@hotmail.com> wrote:

Perfect, I'm already downloading them, I have a fast connection, I guess it is faster if not too many people download files at the same time, so if you want me to stop, just let me know, but as soon as I get them I can distribute them via DVD or an external hard disk to the ONEMI, etc..., regards

 

Marta

[Marten Hogeweg]

We have downloaded the GeoEye imagery and published and ArcGIS Server Map Service and Image Service. They are available here:

 

http://events.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/

 

together with Haiti resources published earlier.

 

The imagery is available as REST, SOAP:

http://events.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/GeoEye_Chile_Feb28/MapServer

 

and KMZ:

http://events.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/GeoEye_Chile_Feb28/MapServer/kml/mapImage.kmz

 

WMS access will follow shortly.

 

The service has been added to the GEO Viewer (http://geoss.esri.com/geoviewer )

 

Regards,

 

Marten Hogeweg

ESRI Inc.

@martenhogeweg

[David Stevens]

Thanks Marten

Thank-you also for copying the SpaceAid email.

We have updated the information on the SpaceAid Chile webpage

http://www.un-spider.org/chile

Please if everyone could keep us informed so that we can ensure the information is updated and available for all.

Please note that ONEMI, SNIT and the Chilean Space Agency have set up a team within ONEMI to coordinate the geospatial efforts. Strongly suggest anyone working with value added services or making data available keep them informed.

This is an opportunity of working directly with those leading the effort, in a coordinated manner

Regards

David

David Stevens
Programme Coordinator
UN-SPIDER
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
Vienna - Austria
Tel. ++43-(1)-26060-5631 - Skype: tazarkount
Mobile +43 - 699 1459-5631 -  E-Mail david....@unoosa.org

--
David STEVENS
Vienna - Austria
skype: tazarkount

[Jean-Guilhem Cailton]

David,

Do you have a direct contact in this team ?

Regards,

Jean-Guilhem


David Stevens a écrit :

[Julio Costa Zambelli]

Marta,

Do you know if the ONEMI can give us authorization to improve our map with those images (derivative work)? I also guess that they may have access to SAF imagery, that would help too.

Cheers,

Julio Costa
OpenStreetMap Chile
http://www.openstreetmap.cl/

On Thu, Mar 4, 2010 at 2:46 PM, Marta <marta...@hotmail.com> wrote:

Everything is needed and will be used during the next days, I'm making contacts with the new government to implement a powerful operation center, regards,

Marta

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Bruce Willett" <bdwi...@ravel.n2.net>
Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 11:34 AM

To: "Marta" <marta...@hotmail.com>

Cc: "Chris Nicholas" <chrisgn...@gmail.com>; <spac...@unoosa.org>; "Smith, Nate" <nsm...@ofda.gov>; <fa...@yahoo.com>; <jdon...@immap.org>; <jpi...@onemi.gov.cl>; <pamp...@yahoo.es>; <nvgo...@hotmail.com>; <aip...@hotmail.com>; <wander...@yahoo.es>; <sebastian...@aonikenk.com>; <sandroe...@gmail.com>; <julio...@openstreetmap.cl>; <geo...@gmail.com>; <charles...@gmail.com>; <hara...@un.org>; <villa...@un.org>; <j...@arkemie.com>; <fl...@google.com>; <thehealthp...@gmail.com>; <shoreh...@gmail.com>; <nw...@mapaction.org>; <GeoMa...@aol.com>; <leo....@gmail.com>; <crisismap...@googlegroups.com>; <Simm...@state.gov>; <sw...@usgs.gov>; <Johns...@state.gov>

Subject: Re: Geospatial Support for Chile

Holas,

Great work Marta and others of course!!!

 (DESCULPA OTRA VES PARA ESCRIBIR EN INGLES)

Anybody have good contacts in IGM?  I do but only in person, they are my
best friends in person but never return my phone calls or emails!

ESRI- Chile - can we bring them on board here?

How about dividing some tasks?  I don't really know what to do, so I am
making base maps of the 9th and 8th regions where I have a lot of data.
But not sure if this is really needed.

Thanks,

bruce


.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:..:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:
                Bruce D. Willett
GIS Specialist              Punta Arenas, Chile
bdwi...@n2.net             www.n2.net/bdwillet

Photo log: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bdwillet/

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress
can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

"La Civilización de un pueblo se mide por la
forma que tratan a los animales". Gandhi

Disclaimer: Opinions stated herein are mine, mine,
mine, all mine and not those of anybody else!!!!
.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:..:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:

On Thu, 4 Mar 2010, Marta wrote:

I have them all, I'll go to the ONEMI with my external hard disck, any other people I shoul give them to? regards,

[Julio Costa Zambelli]

Thank you very much.

If they authorize us to use those, the community will work hard in the next couple of weeks to provide the best map of the area to the people on the ground and planning reconstruction.

Garmin images (.img), Shapefiles (.shp), and OpenStreetMap XML (.osm) files extracted from the OpenStreetMap data are already available in a 10 minute refresh cycle here: http://labs.geofabrik.de/chile/

Cheers,

Julio Costa
OpenStreetMap Chile
http://www.openstreetmap.cl/

On Thu, Mar 4, 2010 at 4:59 PM, Marta <marta...@hotmail.com> wrote:

They are trying to record on my disk SAF images, they want me to plot in VALE's ploter, but they have problems because the files are over 5 GB, I'm going back there, but I new the are being moved to another site of the buinding and IT gays are too busy setting the net point ans internet connections..., let me ask

 

Marta

[Jean-Guilhem Cailton]

(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



  

[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 :

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