Workshops

Your first OpenLayers webmaps

Léo Martine (CartONG)

Openlayers (http://openlayers.org/) is one of the main JavaScript library for web mapping. With some coding skills, it allows you to create the web map you want, customize its style, layers, controls, user interaction, analysis etc.

During this workshop, we will discover together this library step by step, starting with the basics (creating a simple map with local data) and then discover more advanced and interesting features like connexion to different data sources, user interaction, mobile development and more. We’ll also see together the difference with other web mapping tools and libraries and work with humanitarian data sources to understand how web maps can be used in our field of interest.

This workshop requires a minimum of coding skills in HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Please also come with a text editor software (like Notepad++) installed on your computer.

Map and Assess a refugee camp: Introduction to MDC with ArcGIS 

Marie Beeckman and Friederike Alschner (CartONG)

This workshop uses the mobile applications Survey123 and Collector for ArcGIS in order to map and assess a refugee camp.
The aim is to see the differences between the map-centric approach of Collector and the form-centric approach of Survey123.
The participants will install the applications and learn the basic steps to collect data offline.

No previous knowledge required, just make sure to bring your own laptop and smart phone.

Basics of GIS with QGIS

Nick McWilliams (MapAction)

 Designed for those new to GIS, or with some experience already, this workshop will introduce the main features of Quantum GIS, focussing on its practical uses. We’ll combine existing ‘basemap’ data with humanitarian data themes and will look at creating your own layers, resulting in simple maps that can be included in reports and presentations. We’ll spend time looking at participants’ specific interests and if time allows, will provide pointers to further features and techniques such as QGIS plug-ins, spatial analysis, web mapping and mobile data collection.

Pre-requisites: Please bring your own laptop, connected to a network, and if possible pre-install the latest version (2.16) of QGIS fromwww.qgis.org. This is a free, open source GIS that runs on Windows, Linux and Mac OS X.

Workshop leader: Nick McWilliam specialises in humanitarian and ecological applications of GIS. He helped to establish the NGO MapAction, and with over 20 emergency response and training missions, has remained closely involved as a volunteer.

D3.js

Miguel Moreno Gonzalez (CartONG)

To make data easier to understand and to share is always one of the main difficulties we find when we are managing or reporting it. With this goal, dashboard style visualizations are more and more demanded. In this workshop we will build from the beginning a web dashboard using JavaScript open libraries. First, we will search for available data sources and APIs. Then, libraries like D3, DC, Crossfilter, Leaflet and jQuery will be used to display data on interactive charts and maps that will allow the users to dig and filter as they wish.

Requirements:

• Basic HTML, CSS and JavaScript skills
• Laptop with any text editor (Notepad++, Sublime, etc.) and browser installed
• Github account might be useful

OpenStreetMap export & import options

Melanie Eckle & Benjamin Herfort (University of Heidelberg)

OpenStreetMap - the free wiki map of the earth! But OpenStreetMap is far more than just a map.... it is an open geo data base that contains a valuable data treasure. 
In the workshop we will provide an overview of different ways to export and import the OpenStreetMap data using OpenStreetMap applications and open-source GIS. 
After a short introduction, you will get the chance to test some of these methods in hands-on exercices that will be conducted in smaller groups. These will be formed considering the previous experience and skills of the workshop attendants.  

No previous knowledge required, just make sure to bring your own laptop.

Data analysis with Python & R

Tim Head (Wildtree Tech)

An introduction to reproducible data analysis with R. The aim of this workshop is to help you decide if R is for you or not and how to learn more about it. We will cover how to get started and structure your projects in R. Create publication quality figures and tables that can be updated with a click of a button. How to create reports that contain both narrative/prose and figures/tables. Furthermore we will show you how to learn more (self-study) and how to get help when you are stuck. To get the most out of the workshop you will have to have some experience with basic concepts of programming (in any language) like: variables, functions and libraries.

This will be an interactive workshop. Before arriving please:

• pack your laptop and its charger
• install R and RStudio
• download the data we will use
• introduce yourself on the shared notepad of the workshop

Evidence-based Humanitarian Change

Responsible Result LLC (Gold Sponsor) 

- John Hedges, JD, Diplomacy and Political Science

- Erica Howard, MS, Industrial Organizational Psychology

- Carol Jambor-Smith, PhD, Communication Theory and Practice

- Olfa Nasraoui, PhD, Professor at University of Louisville, Director Knowledge Discovery and WebMining Laboratory

- Marc Sotkiewicz, Founder, Responsible Result LLC, Chicago, Illinois USA

 Evidence-Based Humanitarian Change combines survey-based and social media-derived data in closed loop models that inform the organizational, social, and communication science-based actions to drive sustained whole change.

During the workshop, we will facilitate a discovery of Evidence-Based Humanitarian Change by:

1. Introducing the framework and principles of Evidence-Based Humanitarian Change;
2. Exploring the specific role of survey tools, SMS technology and data science to support this change model;
3. Illustrating the role of organization and communication science in an evidence- based change environment.

We will facilitate small group /table team discussions to describe the changes that would be required in participants’ current work to incorporate an evidence-based humanitarian change model, and the challenges they would face in doing so, with a report out to the group.

Storymaps

(ESRI - Platinum Partner)

Esri Story Maps let you combine authoritative maps with narrative text, images, and multimedia content. They make it easy to harness the power of maps and geography to tell your story.

The workshop will go through the different uses for ArcGIS online.

- Communication with Web Apps and StoryMap

- Mobility and Mobile Data Collection, Survey 123

No technical skills are required. For the session it is necessary to have PC, tablet or smartphone.

Share your XLS forms tips & tricks!

Maeve De France (CartONG)

Have you ever set up an interesting feature with XLS forms* for a Mobile Data Collection implementation that you’d like to share with other users? Ever asked yourself how to be able to search in a long list of names to find the beneficiary you are looking for in ODK without scrolling, how to set up ranking questions, how to deal with blanks in your calculations or any other advanced encoding XLS feature? This session is for you!

Come to this workshop to exchange tips & tricks with other users. Each user can suggest as many tips as he wants BUT nobody can attend if they don’t share at least one tip themselves! You will be asked to share an example form on a USB key with your tip when you enter the room and then you will have a few minutes to present each feature to the other users, both in the XLS and also the output on a smartphone, tablet or webform.

*XLS form is the standard language for encoding surveys in a human readable format using a familiar tool that almost everyone knows - Excel (see http://xlsform.org/)

UAV : How to use a drone for site planning? 

Sylvie de Laborderie &  Fanny Bas (CartONG)

As a Site planner, you will discover how a drone can be useful. Drones are powerful tools to plan refugee camp by analyzing the field (slope, building land, hydrology…). Discover the process from planning the flight to data analysis.
During the first part of the workshop you will see the Ebee, define your zone and plan your flight. After virtually flying, the second part will allow you to compute and analyse the data. A discussion on the use of drone for your projects will complete this workshop.

Logiciels: Pix4D, eMotion

PowerBI

Paul Peton (Microsoft)

How to use spatial data in the Self Service BI tools?

The Self Service BI tools are user-friendly to offer different levels of exploitation of spatial data. However, the basic principles of data modeling, cleaning… should not be overlooked.

During this workshop, we will come back to the goals of the Business Intelligence declined to spatial data and compare several market tools (Microsoft Power BI, Tableau Software, Qlik Sense).

• What types of spatial data can be represented?
• What are the achievable visualizations and how to share them?
• How to build re-usable frameworks?
• Which new possibilities can emerge from analytics and Big Data?

HDX

Javier Téran (OCHA)

CJ Hendrix (OCHA)

The Humanitarian Exchange Language is a simple data standard developed collaboratively by representatives from 15 humanitarian organisations with a first version released in March 2016. HXL’s goal is to improve data quality, automation, and interoperability, without placing a major burden on the people and organisations who provide humanitarian data.

HXL is designed to complement existing humanitarian data practices rather than replace them. It works with existing tools (like spreadsheets, APIs, or mobile apps) and data templates, and doesn’t require new skills from data providers. HXL is designed to make existing processes more efficient by enabling targeted automation of key parts of the humanitarian information cycle.  

During our workshop the participant will learn how we have used HXL standards in HDX and more importantly how the participant can use HXL tools to streamline humanitarian data workflows.

Coordinated Data Scramble

Helen Campbell (DHN)

Coordinated data Scramble is a prime example of how 'digital collaborative spaces' are being used during emergency response to enable dynamic collaborations regardless of physical proximity and organisational affiliations.  The Coordinated Data Scramble concept has grown over the years with the aim of moving from:

• A situation whereby lots of organisations were searching independently for the same data (leading to duplication of effort, and incomplete and inconsistent databases); to

• A situation whereby lots of organisations are sharing information on data needs and data holdings, leading to greater access to more consistent data, and enabling data to be more easily combined to provide a better overall understanding of humanitarian needs and a more complete Common Operating Picture.

This workshop will review the various deployments of the Coordinated Data Scramble over the past few years, and provide a look into the future as to how we plan to develop the concept into wider 'Digital Collaborative Spaces'.  It will also cover related initiatives at regional and national levels.

We will also run surveys of what aspects of previous data scrambles participants have found most problematic or most useful, which collaboration tools participants are most comfortable with using, and what developments participants would like to see for future deployments of digital collaborative spaces for disaster response.

KoBo Analyzer

Nick Imboden and Anwar Mahfoudh (OCHA)

The Excel Data Analyser allows users to analyse the data produced by any ODK-compatible form and dataset, including but not limited to those generated by the online KoboToolbox system. In order to do so, it interprets the data itself in conjunction with the form definition, from which it obtains the natural language equivalents (such as question and option labels) as well as information on data types. This allows it to decide which types of visualisations and analyses are appropriate for each question, and allows the user to interact with the data in any of the languages included with the form definition, without having to refer to the underlying data codes or question identifiers.

All visualisations can be customised and augmented through a number of different options and disaggregations. They have also been designed to be directly exportable (to Word for example) in a format suitable for a report, with minimal reformatting required.

How to write a technical specification: user personas, system maps, user stories and more!

Kelly Church (SimLab)

This interactive session will cover best practices for getting your team from the inspiration and idea stage to a technical specification. We’ll cover how to develop user personas, use them to map your systems, generate user stories, and then match these with technical specifications.

These tools will help you understand what you need from a tech platform, allowing you to prioritize and build for your intended users from the very beginning. We’ll share examples from our past work leading organizations through this process, such as developing a system mobile first aid site for the ICRC or for supporting the college application process with KIPP Delta Public Schools. Participants will leave the session with practical steps and activities to get themselves and their teams from an idea or challenge to a RFP.

Gephi

Alexandre Jaillon (IPIS)

IPIS used Gephi, an interactive network visualisation tool, to map and visualize power dynamics in and post-conflict areas. The graph can be used to describe local, provincial, national, regional and international peace builders and spoilers and the relationships between these actors. Learn   how   to use Gephi to create a  power mapping visualisation  that  can help non-governmental and governmental actors understanding the underlying dynamics of a conflict or post-conflict situation.

Language: English and French

Skills and pre-requirements: No specific skills required.

Please install Gephi on your computer before the workshop at:

https://gephi.org/