63759 Rural Water Supplies Collaborative QUICK READ Issue 1 / August 2011 Mobile Phones and Water Point Mapping Several software applications incorporate recent advances in information and communication technology (ICT) to improve information-gathering about water points. Among these applications, FLOW (Field- Level Operations Watch) is notable because it was developed specifically for water point mapping. With FLOW, enumerators use Android phones to enter data about each water point, and take its picture and GPS coordinates. The data can be analyzed and visualized using additional capabilities of FLOW. Another software option is EpiSurveyor. It is easy to use and the free online version is adequate for most data collection needs. The data could then be imported into FLOW, which has better analysis and visualization capabilities, or into another specialized application such as SPSS or Tableau. Background Water point mapping is essentially an inventory part why water point inventories often do not of water points that combines data on individual exist, or are incomplete and outdated. water points (handpumps, standposts, etc.) with a map of their locations. Water point inventories WaterAid, the British NGO, took a first step are an important ingredient in monitoring and toward improving the process with Water Point repair systems and for investment planning. Mapper. This software application takes water point data that have been entered into an Excel Most water point inventories are still done in the spreadsheet, and uses Google Earth to convert traditional way, by sending enumerators to fill the information into a map. The map shows the out a paper questionnaire form on each water location of each water point, and much more. point. However, the process is cumbersome, For example, the symbol for each water point slow, and error-prone. The forms have to be can convey information (e.g., blue for duplicated and transported to the field, then functioning, red for broken). Clicking on each brought to a central location, and the responses symbol brings up an easy-to-read display of the keyed into a computerized database. The data about that water point. Water Point database is next typically turned over to a Mapper, however, did not modify the data statistician to analyze and write a report. If the collection and computerization process. Rather, enumerators also had GPS devices, the data may the application takes over once the data have possibly be mapped by yet another expert. The somehow been collected and entered into the inefficiency of these methods explains in large spreadsheet. The Rural Water Supplies Collaborative (RWSC) is a group on Scoop, the World Bank’s internal social collaboration platform. RWSC serves as an online hub for World Bank Group staff to discuss projects, experiences, and developments in rural water supply. A RWSC Quick Read summarizes OFFICIAL USE the discussion on a given topic, as of the publication date. Quick Reads are not polished documents, and therefore not intended for external ONLY distribution. Rather, they are a quick means for staff to catch up on a discussion that has taken place—and may well be continuing—on RWSC. The ICT Revolution comes to Water Mapping water point questionnaires that come with the application. Thus one mobile phone per Several trends in ICT have recently spurred enumerator replaces the need for a GPS huge improvements in water point mapping device, camera, and multiple paper copies of applications. The first of these trends has been the questionnaire. If there is mobile phone the rapid spread of mobile phones and the network coverage capable of data penetration of network coverage. A second transmission, the enumerators can trend has been the vast increase in mobile immediately transmit the survey data to the phone capabilities, notably smartphones with database on the online server. If not, the data GPS and cameras, and the drop in smartphone remain on the phone’s SIM card for later costs. For example, a good Android phone in uploading directly onto a computer with Kenya costs around $100, compared to $1,500 Internet access. a few years ago. Third, the capacity to represent geographic data visually has Data Analysis and the Cloud: Data are stored increased dramatically, so much so that in an online database, although of course they “visualization” has replaced “mapping” to can be downloaded as needed. Authorized describe this functionality. Finally, “cloud users can access the database via the Internet. computing” has emerged as an easy way to FLOW can perform statistical analysis, and share data, that is, putting data on a web generate charts and graphs. server where authorized users in any location can access the information via the Internet. Data Visualization: Figure 1 shows a map of water points produced by FLOW. Figure 2 FLOW (Field-Level Operations Watch) is a shows the data that may be displayed by software application that brings together all clicking on an individual water point on the these trends specifically for water point map. These examples illustrate only some of mapping. the visualization capabilities of FLOW. FLOW Using FLOW in Liberia Gallatin Systems, a small private company, The Water and Sanitation Program (WSP), developed FLOW in close collaboration with working with UNICEF and USAID, assisted the Water For People, a NGO founded by the government in mapping improved water points American Water Works Association. The Water in rural Liberia, as well as sanitation in nearby For People CEO, Ned Breslin, had previously schools, using FLOW. worked for WaterAid on Water Point Mapper. FLOW improves upon Water Point Mapper in that FLOW enables data collection via Android Figure 1: FLOW map of water points in southern Malawi, using mobile phones, and data transfer to an online Google Earth. The symbols are color coded, in this case, to database via mobile phone (or computer), as represent operational status. Click on an individual water point, well as visualization. and data on that point is displayed, as in Figure 2. FLOW has three basic functionalities: data collection, data analysis, and visualization. Data Collection: An Android phone replaces paper questionnaires. Field enumerators enter the data on each water point directly into the phone, which can also be used to add the GPS coordinates and a picture of the water point. A team can write its own questionnaire and upload it, or select from a number of standard Figure 2: Example of individual water point data display. Clicking to Gallatin Systems, the developer of FLOW, to on a water point in a map such as shown in Figure 1 will display this table. provide back up and adapt FLOW to the requirements of the project. The Liberia experience uncovered some practical issues in using FLOW. For example, the battery life in the phones was limited, while access to electricity for charging was unreliable. This was addressed through external chargers powered by standard AA-batteries. As there was no mobile phone or Internet connection in the field, enumerators came into the administrative headquarters and downloaded the data onto computers, from where the data were transmitted to the online server. The purpose was to gather information for investment planning, in connection with the Alternatives to FLOW preparation of a poverty reduction strategy. Joel Selanikio’s frustration with paper Liberia has a population of 3.8 million, slightly questionnaires for gathering health data led more than half of whom live in rural areas. him, with Rose Donna, to develop EpiSurveyor. Rural safe water access is officially 51%. Much This application enables a project team to turn of the country’s infrastructure was damaged or just about any mobile phone—even very destroyed in the civil war that ended in 2003. inexpensive ones—into a data collection tool. In other words, FLOW requires smartphones A total of 150 local enumerators were trained in and a network capable of transmitting data. using FLOW-equipped Android phones, EpiSurveyor requires only phones and networks provided with motorbikes, and sent out across capable of transmitting text (SMS, or Short rural Liberia. Approximately 7,500 improved Message Service capability). Furthermore, the water points were mapped. The teams free version of EpiSurveyor, available at the completed this task in less than 30 days, despite eponymous website, is simple enough for most demanding conditions. The exercise cost about users to begin deploying it within a day, and $250,000. Most of the budget was for staff, but powerful enough to serve most survey data it also included the costs of the phones, fuel and collection needs. repair for the motorbikes, and a fee of $10,000 Learning Events Online The information summarized in this Quick Read comes from the LEO (Learning Event Online) that was hosted on RWSC in April 2011, on the topic of FLOW: Smartphones and Water Point Mapping. A LEO is a collection of material around a single topic posted to RWSC. In this case, the material comprised video clips of presentations on FLOW by Ned Breslin, Water For People CEO, a blog by Maximilian Hirn, who worked with FLOW on the Liberia project, and remarks by Edward Anderson, on ICT trends, and by David Michaud, on the LAC Region’s interest in software applications for rural water supply and sanitation monitoring systems. Lilian Pereira uploaded a great deal of material gathered by LAC on this subject. RWSC members enthusiastically participated in this discussion, posting many comments and questions to which Max, Edward, and David responded. As a result of this lively interest in the topic, RWSC had the most page views of 590 Scoop groups in April 2011. Scoop is the World Bank’s social collaboration platform. The discussion continues to evolve. As of June 2011, RWSC members are weighing in on the comparative advantages of FLOW versus EpiSurveyor. Recently posted interviews with Ned Breslin, closely associated with FLOW, and Joel Salanikio, co-developer of EpiSurveyor, have stimulated this discussion. The downside is that the statistical analysis and PoiMapper and ODK (Open Data Kit) are other visualization functionalities are not equal to those alternatives to FLOW. of FLOW, at least for the purposes of water point mapping. Other than using FLOW, a task manager Next Steps can deal with this limitation to EpiSurveyor in one of two ways: export the data collected in The Quick Links box provides access to further EpiSurveyor to FLOW, or another application such information on this subject on RWSC. This as SPSS or Tableau; or pay DataDyne, Joel and includes links to the EpiSurveyor site, where the Rose’s social enterprise, the engineering costs to free version is available, and the Water for People develop the desired functionalities for and Gallatin Systems sites, where FLOW can be EpiSurveyor. The advantage to the latter option obtained. lies in its externalities. Those improved functionalities, once developed, become available Water point mapping is just one area in which ICT even to users of the free version. Many of those systems can aid the sector. Future RWSC users are NGOs, governments, and private discussions will explore other areas, such as enterprises working, like the World Bank, to beneficiary feedback, billing and collection, etc. promote development. The following links go to material on RWSC, on the World Bank’s Intranet. Q Mobile Phones and Water Point Mapping – Page providing links to all material on this topic in RWSC. U Regularly updated. Find links to websites for FLOW, EpiSurveyor, PoiMapper, Water Point Mapper, and ODK. I The following links are some of the highlights to be found on the Mobile Phones and Water Point Mapping C page. K FLOW vs. EpiSurveyor Discussion – WBG staff familiar with the two applications weigh in with their views. Great place to post questions about either or both applications. Interview with Ned Breslin – CEO, Water For People, explains what he sees as the relative merits of FLOW compared to EpiSurveyor. Interview with Joel Selanikio – The co-developer of EpiSurveyor describes the merits of EpiSurveyor compared to FLOW. L FLOW and Rural Water Point Mapping in Liberia – Max Hirn describes the experience of the Water and Sanitation Program in using FLOW. I ICT Trends – Numerous video clips explaining the ICT revolution, including Ed Anderson explaining how FLOW fits into larger ICT trends, and Inger Andersen on monitoring by beneficiaries. N Mobiles for Accountability and Public Participation (M-APP) – Read about additional uses of ICT systems K for the water sector. Inger Andersen’s commendation to RWSC members for collaborating through RWSC rather than e-mail S to discuss this important topic. Member Credits The following RWSC members contributed to this Quick Read and the discussion on FLOW: Max Hirn, David Michaud, Alex Demosthenes, Lilian Pena Pereira, Monica Dorhoi, Antonio Serrano, Soma Ghosh Moulik, Jonnalagadda Murty, Edward Anderson, Malcolm Childress, Jacqueline Dubow, Thomas Fugelsnes, Julia Bucknall, Sara Sultan , Alexander Bakalian, Samuel Mutono, Martin Alton, Tahira Syed, Almud Weitz Peer reviewed by Matthew Cruse and Jonnalagadda Raman Murty Produced by Elizabeth Kleemeier, Joy Kazadi, and Mary Paden