Monitoring: Water for People introduces GPS hardware and mobile GIS software to assess project results

Updated - Tuesday 10 October 2006

NGO Water For People has launched a pilot monitoring and evaluation programme for its water and sanitation projects using GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers and GIS (Geographic Information System) software. The programme involves the collection of field data, the integration of photo records, the mapping of sites, a survey component, and posting the data on the Internet in real-time.

To collect data, Water For People used Trimble GeoXT handheld rugged GPS receivers, ESRI ArcPad software for mobile GIS and field mapping applications as well as Trimble GPScorrect for ArcPad. Trimble’s GPSAnalyst is used for the post-processing of the data collected. Data was loaded on the Internet into a central database using WESTON’s AuditFast® system. ESRI’s ArcIMS software was used to deliver dynamic maps and GIS data and services via the Web.

Following a successful pilot carried out in Honduras in August 2006, Water for People plans roll out the full-scale monitoring and evaluation programme in all five Water For People program countries in 2007. Since its establishment in 1991, Water for People has funded and supported more than 700 water and sanitation projects worldwide.

Product websites:

Trimble

ESRI

WESTON