1. Adopting mobile GIS data
gathering
Plan International with
PoiMapper
© 2009 Plan Suomi 1

2. Plan is specialised in child-centered
community development and human
rights based approach
48 Programme countries
21 Fundraising & Techical support
countries
Plan operates in 66 countries worldwide

3. Some figures on Plan
• We worked with 37 931 communities in 48 developing
countries, covering population of 28,2 million children.
• We trained 456 641 people in skills ranging from
education to child protection.
• 60 000+ volunteers worldwide
• € 468 million budget in FY 2010

4. Need for location based monitoring,
planning, evaluation. Real time.
4

5. PoiMapper Service Platform
MONITOR MANAGE Visualize & analyze
1. MOBILE Location data USER ADMIN Map
(java client)
Portal
AUTHORING
TOOL
Structured data
DESKTOP Numeric
2. Laptop/PC
(browser) CLIENT Analysis
GATEWAY
Multimedia
DATABASE Dashboard
/ArcGIS
Front-end Hosted SaaS solution Back-end

6. Compared to data collection
tools of route/area data
• Collection
• Runs on low-end, mid-end, high end phones + tablets.
J2ME+Android.
• Real mobile data gathering solution for low-end phones,
i.e. not the pushing of surveys but syncing of the data in
the mobile phone with the back-end DB and multi-user
conflict resolution
• Works with high-end back-end solutions as ESRI ArcGIS,
if needed
• offered as a ”hybrid” cloud based solution,
– FULL hosted service (in Amazon)
• or
– DB in country but service parts(authoring tool/portal etc) in the cloud OSM
• Maps can be locally installed for better User Experience
(no “roundtrip” to Google DB)
• History trace of all data – a full edit trace of any point of
interest (POI) can b easily exported to Excel 6

8. Two implementations: Kenya and
Thailand
Plan Kenya Plan Thailand
Mode Pilot TB, UBR, DRR, Flood, Youth tracking,
Household
Pre-test 3 0
Training days 5 1
People trained 27 60+150
Area Kilifi program area All program areas
Active users N/A 30 users in 7 different projects
8

9. Training in Thailand

10. Field work in Chiang Rai
PoiMapper allows us to track
individual location and
conditions of the TB patients in
our program areas.
10

11. Number of Patients by District
Chiang Kong
45
40 Chiang Saen
35 Mae Chan
30
25 Mae Fa Luang
20 Mae Sai
15
10 Mueng
5 Phan
0
Tueng
Chiang Chiang Mae Mae Fa Mae Sai Mueng Phan Tueng
Kong Saen Chan Luang
Sex
male
female
1

12. Plan Thailand Customized
Portal

13. Program ”POIs” (point-of-
interest)

14. Mwapula Sub location latrine coverage
6.7%
3.7%
Households with access to
a toilet
Households that use hole
in the ground
Households that practice
open defecation
89.6%

15. “POI” export to Excel file
15

16. Examples of costs: Plan
Thailand
• Set up – 5,000
Euros, that include 100
hours technical support
and training from Pajat
• Telephone – initially 20
phones for $150.00 plus
per phone
• Service (GPS) – 8 Euros
per user per month

17. Added value and impact on
program implementation
• GPS coordinates validate the data
• Real time monitoring
• Using images
• Distribution of data
• Cumulative data -> increasing synergies
• Support recurring program monitoring and enable
organizations to harness GIS data strategically
• Enables cost savings as process efficiency is improved
• A new way of monitoring partner NGO work and evaluate if
by Plan given metrics are achieved

18. In summary
• PoiMapper solution is a light,
affordable, and simple product
that runs on existing mobile
devices. It can be integrated to
enterprise ICT solutions.
• Plan is interested in scaling this
solution because it is being
proven to be useful in multiple
program scenarios.
• It’s being used for real and is
working it’s way up the
organisation.
• Plan is interested to collaborate
at any level, e.g. knowledge
sharing, shared procurement,
shared service, and where
possible shared data

19. “POI” export to Excel file
-> import to ArcGIS
© 2009 Plan Suomi 19