http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA News from the users of the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA). en khstierli2 khstierli2 Thu, 17 Nov 2005 12:05:40 +0100 daily 1 (Information provided by FGM & GICHD staff, June 2005, for Focus Group Workshop on Victim and Casualty Data Collection and Support Requirements for IMSMA v. 4 ) The IMSMA Re-Engineering Project has commenced and is in full development for the first release this year. This effort is based upon ideas submitted by system users over the first five years of IMSMA. In response to feedback from field users, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) has chosen to revise the IMSMA application in support of several main goals: To make the system more flexible for the varying needs of the programs To more accurately support the variety of ways programs perform mine- action To support locally developed data collection forms To improve language and localization support To improve the reporting and out capabilities to directly support program needs The new version of IMSMA supports mapping and GIS directly within the... Thu, 17 Nov 2005 12:05:40 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/IMSMA-4.0-Description/39/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/IMSMA-4.0-Description/39/ Let me summarize what I have learned about IMSMA V4. Software: Based on some open-source software components like MySQL database Written in Java with integrated GIS (ESRI Arc Engine based) Designed as decentralized DB with data transfer methods (such as maXML) Available in the languages English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Arabic Functionality: Managing Hazard, Hazard Reduction, Accident and Victim, MRE (Activity?), QA, Location, Place Visualization in GIS Searching  Reporting via built in reports and (in the future) report building wizard Export data via maXML Setup: Gazetteer, User Account, Map, Organization Additional Information: Launch of the new IMSMA Version 4 Screen shots Please feel free to add additional information as comments. Mon, 14 Nov 2005 06:27:39 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/IMSMA-V4-Details/38/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/IMSMA-V4-Details/38/ Question: "Which answer best describes your opinion about IMSMA customizations." Sat, 12 Nov 2005 15:14:11 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/Poll-2-Results-IMSMA-customizations/37/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/Poll-2-Results-IMSMA-customizations/37/ VVAFs iMMAP Presents: Operations Explorer Release Candidate 1 Internal Release Date: 31 October 2005 Planned Public Test Release Date: 7 November 2005 Operations Explorer is a stand-alone software application that allows easy management of tasks by those using the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA), a global cornerstone of Humanitarian Mine Action operations. Operations Explorer is a support tool for operations managers that allows smooth, simplified tasking and and orchestration of everyday operations. Operations Explorer was developed based upon broad needs identified by the Humanitarian Mine Action community, and in close cooperation with the National Demining Office (NDO) in Lebanon. Operations Explorer is a tool that integrates with and complements IMSMA 3.x by filling the functionality gaps, which has been identified by Humanitarian Mine Action managers and operators. click here for a large picture (1024x746)   Operations Explorer... Mon, 07 Nov 2005 15:19:05 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/Operations-Explorer/36/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/Operations-Explorer/36/ Update on Activities in 2005  (complete report) INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 4. Information management is one of the key elements required for success in mine action programmes. The GICHD has focused its efforts in this area on the development and deployment of the Information Management for Mine Action (IMSMA). IMSMA is currently being used in 41 programmes world-wide and has become a de facto standard in this field of mine action. 5. In order to maximise the impact of information management in mine affected countries and take advantage of the synergies between IMSMA and other systems, the Centre is no longer focussing on the specifics of the IMSMA technology , but provides a systems approach to the overall management of information of all kinds in mine action. The goal of the programme is to assure the successful integration of proven information management techniques, systems such as IMSMA and other tools into day-to-day operations in the field. I... Wed, 21 Sep 2005 10:50:12 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/GICHD-Activities-January-to-July-2005-IMSMA/32/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/GICHD-Activities-January-to-July-2005-IMSMA/32/ I NFORMATION MANAGEMENT TRAINING AND OUTREACH 11. During the reporting period, the GICHD carried out five editions of the “Introduction Course to Information Management in Mine Action”.  These courses aim to assist operations and management staff of local mine action centres with understanding the role and implementation of integration of information management into their daily operations, with an emphasis on the sustainable use and support of IMSMA in the field. In total, 29 participants from Burundi, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Peru, Thailand and Zambia attended these courses. 12. A sixth course was provided within NATO’s Partnership for Peace framework. This course served the above aims, and the participation six of trainees from Argentina, Azerbaijan, France and Switzerland. 13. Furthermore, the first course entitled “Introduction to Information Management for Operations in Mine... Wed, 21 Sep 2005 10:40:30 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/GICHD-Activities-January-July-Training/33/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/GICHD-Activities-January-July-Training/33/ M INE ACTION DATA SHARING PROJECT 16. The Mine Action Data Sharing Project aims to expand both the range of data transfer tasks and the operational use of the mechanism to new data sharing projects. Now that an operational package using maXML as its data transfer mechanism is available in the field, the project will begin to concentrate on a data sharing project involving the transfer of mine threat data to domains outside the immediate mine action community. 17. During the reporting period, work was undertaken to update the maXML data specification. This task is being performed in conjunction with the development of IMSMA Version 4. Early release versions are already being used to perform data transfers from the currently fielded IMSMA version to the new Version 4. Current activities are focused on transfers between hand-held data collection devices and IMSMA Version 4. These transfers will be made in the form of files containing maXML coded data.... Wed, 21 Sep 2005 10:30:29 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/GICHD-Activities-January-July-Data-Sharing-Project/34/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/GICHD-Activities-January-July-Data-Sharing-Project/34/ R EGIONAL SUPPORT CENTRES (RSCS) 19. The GICHD established the Regional Support Centre (RSC) concept in 2002 as a way to address the need for on-going support to its IMSMA installations in the field. The RSCs provide first level user support, assist mine action centres in reviewing their internal information management processes as well as their information exchange and communication procedures, and with general support to information management. The RSCs also organise regional user focus group meetings, training courses, and facilitate general contacts between interested countries and the GICHD. Each RSC is staffed with one person. Over the next two years the RSCs will be challenged with completing a total upgrade of all of the existing IMSMA installations. 20. The Centre currently supports four Regional Support Centres: a) The RSC Latin America , established in 2002 and based in Managua (Nicaragua) covers Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia,... Wed, 21 Sep 2005 10:20:40 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/GICHD-Activities-January-to-July-2005-RSC/35/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/GICHD-Activities-January-to-July-2005-RSC/35/ Press Release   Geneva, 7 September 2005   Launch of the new IMSMA Version 4     The new version 4 of IMSMA - Information Management System for Mine Action - is completed and ready to begin filed testing. It has been handed over by FGM, Inc., the development firm, to the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD).   “The latest version of IMSMA is designed as a decentralized system and will replace existing systems within the next two years. This new release is based upon open-source software and is being developed using the platform-independent Java programming language” says Alan Arnold, Program Manager Mine Action Information Systems. “Thanks to the generosity of ESRI the new system will contain a fully integrated GIS based on the Arc Engine software package. It allows users to perform interactive map-based navigation throughout the entire content of the database”. This... Sat, 10 Sep 2005 08:27:52 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/Launch-of-the-new-IMSMA-Version-4/31/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/Launch-of-the-new-IMSMA-Version-4/31/ Create a GIS Theme based on an IMSMA Add-On with linked tables to the IMSMA backend Have you ever had this error messages? Solution:   In short create 2 ODBC connection for the same Add-On. SQL Driver connection for the Add-on used to link the tables with the back end MS Access Driver for the for the Data Dictionary's theme definition based on the same Add-On Some more details: Create the add-on based on the document provided by the ETHZ (AddOn_configuration.doc) If you have already an Add-On with linked tbl's to the backend make sure that this tables are linked through the ODBC SQL Server Driver and that they work properly. Create a second ODBC Data Source for the same Add-On using Microsoft Access Driver. (You don't need a password defined in the advanced tab) In the IMSMA Data Dictionary on the Administration tab add this MS Access... Sun, 28 Aug 2005 12:07:01 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/Howto-Create-a-GIS-Theme-based-on-an-IMSMA-Add-On/29/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/Howto-Create-a-GIS-Theme-based-on-an-IMSMA-Add-On/29/ Google Earth – Explore, Search and Discover Want to know more about a specific location? Dive right in -- Google Earth combines satellite imagery, maps and the power of Google Search to put the world's geographic information at your fingertips. Google Earth Pro  has a huge potential as an easy to use spatial data vizualisation tool.  It takes only a few steps to define a Mine Action Layer and import shape files from the IMSMA GIS Functionality (ArcView). Country overview data can be prepared by the Mine Action Centers and shared with the UNMAS, donors and interested groups. In this example from Kabul City I located the Safe Viewing Point (SVP) of a Suspected Hazardous Area (SHA) from the Landmine Impact Survey (LIS) and loaded the sketch map as an overlay. Tue, 23 Aug 2005 06:32:27 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/Google-Earth-Pro/28/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/Google-Earth-Pro/28/ On the 12th of July the Latin American User Group met at a regional Information Management Meeting in Panama City and was briefed on the upcoming IMSMA V.4.0. This latest version of IMSMA will be designed as a decentralized system and will replace existing systems within the next two years. This new release will be based upon open-source software and is being developed using the platform-independent Java programming language. The new system will contain a fully integrated GIS based on the ESRI Arc Engine software package. It will allow users to perform interactive map-based navigation throughout the entire content of the database. The new system will be designed for use by operations and management staff and will contain a number of improvements which will reduce the need for dedicated IT support specialists. The first release of IMSMA V.4 will be available in the fall of 2005 and fielded in co-ordination with national authorities. The Regional Information Management Meeting... Thu, 11 Aug 2005 12:32:21 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/IMSMA-V4/27/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/IMSMA-V4/27/ Presentation on IMSMA V4 with screen shots. Navigation Location View Field Report Template Workbench Hazard Form Assign Location Date Relationship Diagram   Contact: Ananda S. Millard , IMSMA Training Manager, GICHD, a.millard@gichd.ch Fri, 05 Aug 2005 10:33:22 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/IMSMA-V4-How-to-use-it-as-a-manager/26/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/IMSMA-V4-How-to-use-it-as-a-manager/26/ The new poll is open. Comments and suggestions for new polls are welcome!   Mon, 11 Jul 2005 08:26:41 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/New-Poll-Which-answer-best-describes-your-opinion/25/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/New-Poll-Which-answer-best-describes-your-opinion/25/ My thanks to everyone who participated at this first poll. Comments, interpretations and suggestions for new polls are welcome! Mon, 11 Jul 2005 08:01:38 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/Poll-Results/24/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/Poll-Results/24/ Reply to Request for IMSMA V3 Developer Password by Alan Arnold, GICHD We understand your concerns and as I told Dan Kelly we are already working to include and develop many of the elements you are thinking about in the new system. I'm afraid that I am not in a position to grant your request for the IMSMA developer password. The use and release of this password has been a subject of great concern for many years and while we are moving forward from V3 we still have a responsibility to maintain its integrity and protect the code. Releasing the password would put our ability to provide a stable platform in jeopardy. There are a number of methods that can be used to create add-ons to IMSMA without changing or having access to the source code. While these methods may not provide a complete solution to you they do provide significant opportunities for development. I do understand your desire to continue moving forward and we are responding to that need in what we believe to be a measured and... Thu, 07 Jul 2005 17:17:24 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/Request-for-IMSMA-Developer-Password-Reply-from-Alan/23/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/Request-for-IMSMA-Developer-Password-Reply-from-Alan/23/ The UNMACA information section needs to implement the IMSMA V3 SP2 Wish List (UNMACA/MAPA) . The UNMACA is required to establish an IMSMA development section due to changed focus and priorities of the GICHD and closed down IMSMA V3 technical support form ETHZ IMSMA V3 development team. For details see GICHD / IMSMA Support for UNMACA/MAPA Afghanistan . To be able to implement the required changes in IMSMA the UNMACA information section requests the IMSMA V3 Developer Password. Thu, 07 Jul 2005 11:00:51 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/Request-for-IMSMA-V3-Developer-Password/22/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/Request-for-IMSMA-V3-Developer-Password/22/ The IMSMA development team at ETHZ produced additional IMSMA documentation,  which hasn't been distributed by the GICHD. IMSMA Operational Handbook; first edition Oct 2002; 63 pages IMSMA Support and Maintenance Documentation; first edition Dec 2004; 162 pages Wed, 15 Jun 2005 13:19:56 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/Additional-IMSMA-Documentation/21/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/Additional-IMSMA-Documentation/21/ (Source: GICHD:  Operational Assistance & Research > Training  ) Information management continues to play a key role in mine action providing managers and operations staff with support for a wide variety of analysis and decision support tasks. In support of these activities, the Geneva Centre for Humanitarian Demining has developed and fields the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA). It is a tool to improve the operational management and recording of identified threats, ongoing and completed work at field level. IMSMA is a software-based data management tool designed for use by mine action centres. It combines a relational database with a geographic information system. The system is used in almost all mine action programmes worldwide, as well as for training by a number of armed forces. Training in IMSMA, which is provided free of charge, aims to assist programmes with the integration of information management into their daily operations with an emphasis... Mon, 13 Jun 2005 15:56:01 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/IMSMA-Training/20/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/IMSMA-Training/20/ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 End     Tue, 07 Jun 2005 07:31:18 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/GICHD-IMSMA-Support-for-UNMACA-MAPA-Afghanistan/19/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/IMSMA/GICHD-IMSMA-Support-for-UNMACA-MAPA-Afghanistan/19/