Tools
Analysis of Competing Hypotheses Software
15/06/08 17:54
I came across a very useful little piece of software
last week while I was grappling with a particularly
sensitive analytical problem. I couldn’t afford to be
wrong and I was worried that my biases might mislead
me. With that in mind I decided to use Analysis of
Competing Hypotheses (ACH). Unfortunately there were
so many little bits of evidence that the pen and
paper method soon bogged down. A quick search on
Google however led me to PARC ACH.
PARC ACH is a rather utilitarian little piece of software. There is no glitz. The UI is basic. Little glitches are inclined to spring up. I can’t seem to get it to print on my MacBook Pro. But what it does it does well.
PARC ACH is a rather utilitarian little piece of software. There is no glitz. The UI is basic. Little glitches are inclined to spring up. I can’t seem to get it to print on my MacBook Pro. But what it does it does well.
The dirty work of ACH is
much easier with the PARC software. It handles both
inconsistency and weighted inconsistency scores. You
can sort evidence by order addedd, diagnosticity,
type, credibility, relevence, or even user criterion.
Best of all it comes with a built in ACH tutorial
that will guide you through the process if you are a
newbie or just a little rusty.
If you hooked your laptop to a large screen monitor
or multimedia projector PARC ACH would make a good
collaborative tool. The whole team could readily see
the effects of changes without being slowed by the
need for someone with neat handwriting.
Did I mention that it is free?
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Dates of Religious and Civil Holidays Around the World
07/06/08 15:40
As an NGO security officer you’ll need to to account
for holidays in your security planning. While its not
too difficult for holidays that occur on the same day
every year its trickier for variable holidays or
those based on another calendar.
When Is is a handy resource that indicates the
dates of religious and civil holidays around the
world several years in advance.
Crossing Borders with your Laptop
18/05/08 16:27
Recent media coverage of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court
of Appeals' decision to
allow border agents to search travellers laptops
without cause has inspired a lot of coverage in
tech media circles. However, as an aid worker it is
important to remember that the US border is not the
only place where your laptop can be searched. Aid
workers have reported having their laptops searched
by authorities in Sudan, and Pakistan. Sri Lankan
security forces frequently demand access to aid
worker's laptops when they are entering LTTE
controlled areas or travelling by to or from Jaffna.
In one case they even
seized the computer of the Executive Director of an
NGO.
So how do you keep prying eyes from accessing your sensitive files while travelling? The EFF has some good advice for protecting your laptop from arbitrary searches. Bruce Schneier has his take as well. Finally you shouldn't overlook Front Line's "Digital Security and Privacy for Human Rights Defenders".
So how do you keep prying eyes from accessing your sensitive files while travelling? The EFF has some good advice for protecting your laptop from arbitrary searches. Bruce Schneier has his take as well. Finally you shouldn't overlook Front Line's "Digital Security and Privacy for Human Rights Defenders".
Sending GPS Coordinates from your Thuraya to Twitter
03/05/08 08:27
Aid Worker Daily has instructions
for sending GPS co-ordinates from your Thuraya
satellite phone to Twitter via an SMS message.
This might come in handy if you get into trouble
and need help like James
Karl Buck.
iPM: Twittering Around the World
01/05/08 08:04
BBC Radio's iPM until
Chris Vallance contacted me to talk about using
Twitter in Afghanistan. He has put together a a
great piece titled "Twittering Around the
World". Its definitely worth listening to. There
are a lot of fascinating people doing
interesting things with Twitter.
Be sure to check out the blog post too. Chris has links to some cool Twitter related sites.
| Add IPM Radio4's channel to your page |
Be sure to check out the blog post too. Chris has links to some cool Twitter related sites.
IFRC Releases Two New Security Manuals
27/04/08 09:40
IFRC has released "Stay
Safe", its new security manual. I've only
taken a quick look at it but so far it looks
good. There is also a
security manager's version.
Humanitarian Mapping on Mobile Phones?
15/04/08 07:22
Hmmm. This video looks interesting. It purports to be
of an Android mobile phone application called
MapMaker for creating maps in disaster zones. Here is
what the person who posted the video on YouTube says
about the application:
Unfortunately the video has no audio and there are very few details. If this turns out to be more than vapourware I'd like to see some additions to support NGO security. Labels and tags for minefields, no-go areas, checkpoints, safety hazards etc. would be very nice.
If the creator of this program is out there listening I'd love to beta test this!
Map Maker is an Android application for creating maps in a disaster zone. It is designed to allow aid workers to quickly and easily create a map of the area they are working in. After a disaster such as a hurricane or earthquake the landscape can change so fundamentally that existing maps are rendered out of date. Knowing things like which roads are passable, where field hospitals are and suitable aircraft landing areas makes it far easier to manage an emergency.
Unfortunately the video has no audio and there are very few details. If this turns out to be more than vapourware I'd like to see some additions to support NGO security. Labels and tags for minefields, no-go areas, checkpoints, safety hazards etc. would be very nice.
If the creator of this program is out there listening I'd love to beta test this!
Saving Sri Lankan Websites at Risk
07/04/08 10:07
Inspired by the demise of the Sri Lanka Monitoring
Mission (SLMM) website, government
censorship of sites like Tamilnet, and the demise of
websites like Tafern, Sanjana Hattotuwa has set
up Websites at
Risk. His intent is to archive civil society
and NGO websites that are at risk of being
closed down with little or no notice. These
websites are valuable sources of information and
lessons learned for humanitarians, researchers
and NGO security practitioners.
Sanjana deserves a big round of applause for this initiative.
Sanjana deserves a big round of applause for this initiative.
In Case of Emergency - ICE
22/03/08 20:40
In Case of Emergency (ICE) is a program that encourages people to enter emergency contacts in their cell phone address book under the name "ICE". This enables first responders, (paramedics, firefighters, police officers, and of course NGO security officers) to quickly search an unresponsive victims phone for the ICE contact who can identify the victim, provide emergency medical information, and next of kin details.
Of course this is not a panacea. It comes with the usual caveat; you'll need to adapt the system to your local context and your organization's methodologies. For instance it might not be appropriate in Afghanistan where Taliban supporters have been known to search the phones of passers by for foreign names. However, with a little bit of adjustment you should be able to use this idea to help ensure the safety and security of your staff.
If you want additional videos like the one above W. David Stephenson has done a number of videos at least one of which I have used before. You can find out more at his website or at his YouTube channel. Don't be put off by the Homeland Security 2.0 label he uses. His short videos are intended help empower ordinary people during times of emergency or disaster.
An Invisible Security Barrier for NGO's?
17/02/08 15:23
NGO compounds can be very vulnerable to civil
disturbance, especially when they become the focus an
angry crowd’s attention. Walls, fences and gates will
only slow determined rioters and not for very long at
that. Even armed guards are of little use. Guards
from a reputable private security company are
unlikely to be willing to fire upon a crowd of their
fellow countrymen, nor would humanitarian
organizations want them to. So the question is, how
does one slow the advancing crowd long enough for
staff to seek safety?
The Inferno invisible security barrier might be a solution worthy of consideration for at risk humanitarian organizations. The modules look like sleek high tech stereo speakers but they emit a wall of sound so unpleasant that it forces most people to leave the area immediately. Any intruder who doesn’t leave immediately faces the unpleasant prospects of vertigo and nausea and will have difficulty concentrating on the task at hand.
The system works by emitting a combination of sound frequencies from 2 to 5 kHz. Unlike the comparably loud scream of a regular siren the inferno’s unique frequency combinations have a disturbing but non-permanent effects on human physiology. The system won’t even cause hearing loss without repeated exposure.
Yes, a determined intruder could still get in, perhaps covering his ears, but recall that the intent is not to prevent entry. Rather, the intent is to delay the intruders long enough for staff to seek safety and for assistance to arrive. Like walls and fences you'll need to leave an escape route for staff.
The Inferno invisible security barrier might be a solution worthy of consideration for at risk humanitarian organizations. The modules look like sleek high tech stereo speakers but they emit a wall of sound so unpleasant that it forces most people to leave the area immediately. Any intruder who doesn’t leave immediately faces the unpleasant prospects of vertigo and nausea and will have difficulty concentrating on the task at hand.
The system works by emitting a combination of sound frequencies from 2 to 5 kHz. Unlike the comparably loud scream of a regular siren the inferno’s unique frequency combinations have a disturbing but non-permanent effects on human physiology. The system won’t even cause hearing loss without repeated exposure.
Yes, a determined intruder could still get in, perhaps covering his ears, but recall that the intent is not to prevent entry. Rather, the intent is to delay the intruders long enough for staff to seek safety and for assistance to arrive. Like walls and fences you'll need to leave an escape route for staff.
Gadget Roundup
20/01/08 07:22
NGO security is really about people... but a few
gadgets can't hurt either.
We've all worked in areas
where mobile phone coverage is spotty at best.
MOGO Wireless has a
wireless signal booster for mobile phones that
claims to reduce dropped calls and boost signal
strength. There is a home version that plugs into
the USB port of your laptop and also a mobile
version that plugs into the power port in your
car. The only down side is it seems they only do
800/1900MHz so globe trotting aid workers might
want to wait until other antennas are available.
I've been experimenting
with geotagging
lately. Its very useful for keeping track of where
you took your facility security, post-incident ,
and other photos. Most systems are still a little
kludgey but a friend pointed me to the GPS Photo
Finder. Simply carry it around while you take your
pictures. Later, put your camera's memory card
into the GPS Photo Finder
and all the location data is merged with the
digital photos. Your photos can then be used GPS
compatible photo software or sites such as Google Maps and Flickr.
Better Energy Systems has
introduced a couple of new models of their universal
solar battery charger known as the Solio.
I've used the original model for a couple of
years. It comes in really handy for keeping your
mobile phone and gadgets charged when you are
working in areas without reliable electricity. All
of the models are small enough to fit into your
field bag. It only takes about four hours of
tropical sun to charge fully... longer at more
temperate latitudes.
The only thing I don't like about the Solio is having
to carry all the little adaptors needed to support my
various phones, iPods and other gadgets. Of course
that's really not Solio's problem. I pray for the day
when gadgets come with standardized ports.
Twitter Tracking for NGO Security
18/12/07 16:31
Two months ago Twitter added the ability to
track keywords. Essentially this capability
means that whenever someone sends a public
update containing the word or phrase you’ve told
Twitter to track you’ll receive a copy of the
SMS.
Since its introduction I’ve been examining this feature’s potential utility for NGO security officers. I’ve tracked the names of several towns in trouble areas, the term Tsunami, and a variety of other keywords. The effort produced some positive results.
While most of the results were tweets sent by news services there were some other useful messages. On two occasions the messages containing tracked terms tipped me off hours before the issue made the media. On another occasion the issue never even made it to the mainstream media. In each case we were able to take pre-emptive action to reduce our potential risk.
There are caveats however. You get ALL public updates containing the search term, even ones in languages you don’t speak. It’s also surprising how terms are used sometimes. ‘Information Tsunami’ seems to be making its way into the modern lexicon. Apparently Tsunami is also the name of a very popular Sushi restaurant. It must be on the other side of the world from me because people’s lunchtime “enjoying Sushi at Tsunami” messages would arrive in the middle of the night. Needless to say I’m not tracking Tsunami any more.
Since its introduction I’ve been examining this feature’s potential utility for NGO security officers. I’ve tracked the names of several towns in trouble areas, the term Tsunami, and a variety of other keywords. The effort produced some positive results.
While most of the results were tweets sent by news services there were some other useful messages. On two occasions the messages containing tracked terms tipped me off hours before the issue made the media. On another occasion the issue never even made it to the mainstream media. In each case we were able to take pre-emptive action to reduce our potential risk.
There are caveats however. You get ALL public updates containing the search term, even ones in languages you don’t speak. It’s also surprising how terms are used sometimes. ‘Information Tsunami’ seems to be making its way into the modern lexicon. Apparently Tsunami is also the name of a very popular Sushi restaurant. It must be on the other side of the world from me because people’s lunchtime “enjoying Sushi at Tsunami” messages would arrive in the middle of the night. Needless to say I’m not tracking Tsunami any more.
BGAN Explorer 500 - Final Thoughts and Lessons Learned
12/12/07 17:26
Earlier I wrote about the new BGAN Explorer 500 we
were fielding. Well I’m back from the field and the
unit is set up and running so I thought I’d share a
few lessons learned and give my revised impressions
of the unit.
Lessons Learned
Impressions
Software:
Both the OS X and Windows versions of the connection software, called LaunchPad, are easy to install and intuitive to use. Tip: Ignore the installation guide and just follow the installer defaults. The documentation doesn’t seem to be current and you’ll end up with files scattered everywhere.
You can also access the BGAN via your regular browser. It gives you the functionality of LaunchPad plus allows you to make more advanced settings. Be warned though, most users it will find it to be a little more intimidating.
Hardware:
The Explorer 500 itself is pretty much ‘bomb proof’. It held up well to baking sun, monsoon rains, bouncing around the back of the truck, the attentions of a flock of hungry chickens, and a curious mutt named Max.
Overall: I’d recommend the Explorer 500 to anyone looking for a rugged, easily deployed voice and data system.
Pros:
Rugged
Portable
Easy to set up
Cons:
Lengthy and confusing documentation
Most NGOs will find it somewhat expensive
Lessons Learned
- Ensure you completely set up your account
before you go to the field. Some service providers
(like ours) want you to log in to their website to
activate your account before they’ll allow the BGAN
to make a data or voice connection. This is going
to be difficult if you are already in the field and
have no other reliable connection. I learned that
the hard way.
- Make sure the IT section either removes all
proxy settings on the computer you’ll attach to the
BGAN or that they give you administrator
privileges.
- Take lots of extra cable. Ten-meter lengths of
CAT 5 and telephone cable, plus a similarly sized
outdoor power cable should suffice. This might seem
like a lot but if you need to use it from inside a
bunker you’ll be glad of the extra length.
- Take backup cables. You never know whose dog
will decide to chew through them.
- It’s also a good idea to have a compass. There
is one built in to the unit but it is rather fiddly
and, depending on the angle you need to adjust the
BGAN to, it can be difficult to read.
Impressions
Software:
Both the OS X and Windows versions of the connection software, called LaunchPad, are easy to install and intuitive to use. Tip: Ignore the installation guide and just follow the installer defaults. The documentation doesn’t seem to be current and you’ll end up with files scattered everywhere.
You can also access the BGAN via your regular browser. It gives you the functionality of LaunchPad plus allows you to make more advanced settings. Be warned though, most users it will find it to be a little more intimidating.
Hardware:
The Explorer 500 itself is pretty much ‘bomb proof’. It held up well to baking sun, monsoon rains, bouncing around the back of the truck, the attentions of a flock of hungry chickens, and a curious mutt named Max.
Overall: I’d recommend the Explorer 500 to anyone looking for a rugged, easily deployed voice and data system.
Pros:
Rugged
Portable
Easy to set up
Cons:
Lengthy and confusing documentation
Most NGOs will find it somewhat expensive
A Periodic Table of of Visualization Methods
08/12/07 09:51
Visual-literacy.org
has a great periodic table of visualization
methods. You can find something here to help
tackle the most complex of analytical problems.
Periodic Table of Visualization Methods
Thanks Rick!
Periodic Table of Visualization Methods
Thanks Rick!
Smart Clothes for Disaster Relief
04/11/07 10:33
Disaster relief workers may soon benefit from a new
'smart' suit being
developed by I-Garment. The suit is intended to
help remedy safety and communications problems
faced by fire fighters but I can see its utility
for humanitarian disaster response as well.
The suit is intended to address three familiar problems;
1. the unavailability of standard communications means during disasters,
2. the lack of information as to the whereabouts and safety of relief workers during emergency efforts, and
3. the problem of acquiring and distributing timely geospatial data during an emergency.
If one were to combine the suit with CSIRO’s proposed power generating shirts it could even be self powered.
The suit is intended to address three familiar problems;
1. the unavailability of standard communications means during disasters,
2. the lack of information as to the whereabouts and safety of relief workers during emergency efforts, and
3. the problem of acquiring and distributing timely geospatial data during an emergency.
If one were to combine the suit with CSIRO’s proposed power generating shirts it could even be self powered.
BGAN Explorer 500 Unboxing
31/10/07 16:45
The BGAN Explorer 500 is tiny! That is the first
thing that struck me when I unpacked it. In fact it
is only about half the size of my MacBook Pro. At
21cm by 21 cm and weighing in at 1.3kg it is truly
portable.
For those who might not be aware BGAN stands for Broadband Global Area Network. Essentially it allows Internet and telephone connections via an INMARSAT satellite. The portability of this type of equipment makes it popular amongst journalists, disaster response worker, soldiers, and others working in remote areas or areas where the communications infrastructure has been destroyed.
The Explorer 500 package I received included the following:
You can connect your laptop to the terminal via USB, Ethernet, or Bluetooth. There are two power jacks, one to charge the terminal itself and one to charge the Bluetooth handset. You can also plug in a regular landline telephone if need be.
My one small quibble with the hardware is with the power cable for charging the USB handset. The terminal end seems quite delicate. I foresee it becoming easily clogged with dust or simply broken off with repeated use.
Software Setup
BGAN LaunchPad software for PCs (Windows XP) is included with the system. Despite the fact that some of the documentation suggests that it is PC only I was able to find a Mac OS X version (and an update) on a hand labelled CD. The documentation also suggests that the system is LINUX compatible but I have no way of testing this so we’ll just have to take their word for it.
Installing the OS X software was a little fiddly. The installer is very Windows like and installed bits and pieces all over the place. Unfortunately where the installer said it was going to install things was not where they were actually installed. When I ran the updater it generated an error that required me to find and open the install log. Come on! If I wanted to do that kind of stuff I’d buy a PC! Luckily the LaunchPad software seems to work fine despite the reported error.
I tried to test the system earlier today without success. Unfortunately the area around my office is cluttered with buildings and trees,not to mention nervous security forces. I wasn't able to get a good line of sight to the satellite so I’ll post more once I suitable open area and really put the system through its paces.
For those who might not be aware BGAN stands for Broadband Global Area Network. Essentially it allows Internet and telephone connections via an INMARSAT satellite. The portability of this type of equipment makes it popular amongst journalists, disaster response worker, soldiers, and others working in remote areas or areas where the communications infrastructure has been destroyed.
The Explorer 500 package I received included the following:
- EXPLORER
500 BGAN terminal
• Battery
• AC/DC power cable
• Vehicle accessory power adaptor cable
• Bluetooth handset
• Handset charging cable
• CAT-5 LAN cable
• USB cable
• CD-ROMs with software and manual
• “Quick Guide” and “Getting Started” pamphlets
You can connect your laptop to the terminal via USB, Ethernet, or Bluetooth. There are two power jacks, one to charge the terminal itself and one to charge the Bluetooth handset. You can also plug in a regular landline telephone if need be.
My one small quibble with the hardware is with the power cable for charging the USB handset. The terminal end seems quite delicate. I foresee it becoming easily clogged with dust or simply broken off with repeated use.
Software Setup
BGAN LaunchPad software for PCs (Windows XP) is included with the system. Despite the fact that some of the documentation suggests that it is PC only I was able to find a Mac OS X version (and an update) on a hand labelled CD. The documentation also suggests that the system is LINUX compatible but I have no way of testing this so we’ll just have to take their word for it.
Installing the OS X software was a little fiddly. The installer is very Windows like and installed bits and pieces all over the place. Unfortunately where the installer said it was going to install things was not where they were actually installed. When I ran the updater it generated an error that required me to find and open the install log. Come on! If I wanted to do that kind of stuff I’d buy a PC! Luckily the LaunchPad software seems to work fine despite the reported error.
I tried to test the system earlier today without success. Unfortunately the area around my office is cluttered with buildings and trees,not to mention nervous security forces. I wasn't able to get a good line of sight to the satellite so I’ll post more once I suitable open area and really put the system through its paces.
"...becoming a better NGO security officer"
29/10/07 18:36
I was feeling a little depressed over the weekend.
I’d reread Paul’s post on why he wasn’t
liveblogging the Global Symposium +5 in Geneva.
It bothered me. I could sense his frustration at what
he sees as the slow progress in the world of
humanitarian information exchange. Maybe I’m reading
too much into it but I thought I could detect a
similar sentiment at the NGO security blog in
recent weeks as well. Of course there
is a good chance it’s just me.
When I started this blog I had a vague idea that I could share some ideas and maybe pass on a little hard won wisdom. I suppose I also thought that I could, in a small way, influence the course of the NGO security world. Seeing people I respect have doubts made me question whether I could make a difference. In effect, “what the hell makes me think I can change anything when these guys, so much more articulate and educated than myself, are feeling stymied?”
Fortunately for me, and my mood, serendipity intervened. I received three packages. Two are ‘tech toys’ with a security bent (I’ll post about them over the next couple of days). I’m a geek at heart so shiny gadgets, software, and such always pick me up. It was the third package that really made the difference however.
OK, I confess that it wasn’t really a package per se but ‘three packages’ just sounds better. Actually it was a video I downloaded off the web and hadn’t watched until this morning. It’s a presentation by a guy named Stephen Downes at the National Research Council, Institute for Information Technology, in Canada. I won’t bore you with the details. You can watch it yourself below. Go ahead, don't let the lead frame fool you.
Stephen’s presentation made me realize that I had it wrong. This blog is not about me teaching. It’s about me learning. It’s about learning the way I always wanted to learn. It’s about me becoming a better NGO security officer... or maybe just better.
Through blogs, RSS feeds, email, YouTube, Skype and a myriad of other online tools I’m connected to, and learning from, people who aren’t afraid to push the boundaries and strive for something beyond the status quo. I have access to teachers who are also fellow students. I have access to fields of endeavour too niche for textbooks and lectures. When was the last time you saw a textbook about “Security Reporting, Accessible Maps and GeoRSS” or “YouTube for Security Training”?
All of this has been a round about way of getting to what I really want to say. To all my teacher-students out there, you are making a difference. Thank you.
Note: If you’re not sure if I mean you I probably do. You can also check out the sidebar on the resource page for some hints if you are still unsure.
When I started this blog I had a vague idea that I could share some ideas and maybe pass on a little hard won wisdom. I suppose I also thought that I could, in a small way, influence the course of the NGO security world. Seeing people I respect have doubts made me question whether I could make a difference. In effect, “what the hell makes me think I can change anything when these guys, so much more articulate and educated than myself, are feeling stymied?”
Fortunately for me, and my mood, serendipity intervened. I received three packages. Two are ‘tech toys’ with a security bent (I’ll post about them over the next couple of days). I’m a geek at heart so shiny gadgets, software, and such always pick me up. It was the third package that really made the difference however.
OK, I confess that it wasn’t really a package per se but ‘three packages’ just sounds better. Actually it was a video I downloaded off the web and hadn’t watched until this morning. It’s a presentation by a guy named Stephen Downes at the National Research Council, Institute for Information Technology, in Canada. I won’t bore you with the details. You can watch it yourself below. Go ahead, don't let the lead frame fool you.
Stephen’s presentation made me realize that I had it wrong. This blog is not about me teaching. It’s about me learning. It’s about learning the way I always wanted to learn. It’s about me becoming a better NGO security officer... or maybe just better.
Through blogs, RSS feeds, email, YouTube, Skype and a myriad of other online tools I’m connected to, and learning from, people who aren’t afraid to push the boundaries and strive for something beyond the status quo. I have access to teachers who are also fellow students. I have access to fields of endeavour too niche for textbooks and lectures. When was the last time you saw a textbook about “Security Reporting, Accessible Maps and GeoRSS” or “YouTube for Security Training”?
All of this has been a round about way of getting to what I really want to say. To all my teacher-students out there, you are making a difference. Thank you.
Note: If you’re not sure if I mean you I probably do. You can also check out the sidebar on the resource page for some hints if you are still unsure.
Twitter in Emergencies
13/10/07 11:25
This morning I came across Luis Suarez’s very
informative post about micro-blogging
in emergencies at elsua.net. His post led me
to a great YouTube
video by W David Stephenson.
David’s video led me to the American Red Cross’s twitter feed and their Safe and Well feed. Ike Pigott at Occam’s RazR has a great post that explains how Twitter can be used to keep the Safe and Well database up to date.
I left a comment on Ike’s site wondering about how to get the word out to the general public. After all most people wont be reading blogs like this before an emergency. While I was writing this post it occurred to me that Red Cross t-shirts would be the ideal medium. Just include the instructions for how to SMS the Safe and Well feed on the back of the shirt.
David’s video led me to the American Red Cross’s twitter feed and their Safe and Well feed. Ike Pigott at Occam’s RazR has a great post that explains how Twitter can be used to keep the Safe and Well database up to date.
I left a comment on Ike’s site wondering about how to get the word out to the general public. After all most people wont be reading blogs like this before an emergency. While I was writing this post it occurred to me that Red Cross t-shirts would be the ideal medium. Just include the instructions for how to SMS the Safe and Well feed on the back of the shirt.
Twitter Tracking for Security and an Answer
07/10/07 13:03
Twitter has added the
ability to track keywords. Now
whenever someone sends a public update
containing your word or phrase of interest
you’ll receive a copy of the update. How is this
useful for NGO security officers? I’m currently
tracking several towns in trouble areas,
Tsunami, and a variety of other keywords. You’re
only limited by your creativity. One word or
warning though: you’ll get ALL public updates
with the search term, even ones in languages you
don’t speak.
I've also finally added the solution to our geographic distribution analysis problem.
I've also finally added the solution to our geographic distribution analysis problem.
Social Networking Tools Part 2 - Twitter and Tsunamis
30/09/07 16:30
On 12 and 13 September there were a series of
earthquakes near Indonesia spawning fears of another
Asian Tsunami. It proved to be a good test of our
Twitter based NGO security tree.
I was in Mannar, Sri Lanka at the time and I didn’t have a useable Internet connection. My first warning of the situation came when a concerned staff member called wanting to know “when is the Tsunami going to hit!” As the fear of a Tsunami spread I started to receive more and more calls from staff. Soon the mobile system was completely overburdened in many parts of the country and creaking under the strain in others. The very slow, single line dial-up Internet connection continued to work but proved to be all but useless for gathering timely information.
Fortunately I quickly started to get SMS’s. Some came from feeds I was following on Twitter: BBC, Reuters, CNN, EQTW, etc. Others came directly or were forwarded from UNOCHA, the Sri Lankan Disaster Management Centre, the Met office, the police and assorted individuals. Twitter allowed me to quickly forward the useful ones to all my followers while limiting the strain on the overburdened mobile system.
There were some glitches however. I continued to receive forwarded text message warnings long after credible sources had given the all clear. In some instances it seems that text messages became trapped in the telephone companies’ SMS system and were released as the queue began to clear. In some cases staff, confused by contradictory information, continued to forward outdated information.
Unfortunately the biggest problem with the Twitter based NGO security tree was one of buy in. Only a fraction of the staff who were intended to be served by the tree had bothered to sign up. The manual SMS security tree, which had been left in place as a backup, failed for much the same reason.
Lesson Learned: While emergency communications tools continue to improve, and become easier to use, buy in remains the number one problem. NGO staff members, especially office staff, often prove reluctant to dedicate even minimal effort to their own personal security until it proves too late.
For some background, check out “Social Networking tools for NGO Security – Part 1”.
To see a live feed of the NGO Security stream check out the demo page here. There is a Jaiku based stream as well.
I was in Mannar, Sri Lanka at the time and I didn’t have a useable Internet connection. My first warning of the situation came when a concerned staff member called wanting to know “when is the Tsunami going to hit!” As the fear of a Tsunami spread I started to receive more and more calls from staff. Soon the mobile system was completely overburdened in many parts of the country and creaking under the strain in others. The very slow, single line dial-up Internet connection continued to work but proved to be all but useless for gathering timely information.
Fortunately I quickly started to get SMS’s. Some came from feeds I was following on Twitter: BBC, Reuters, CNN, EQTW, etc. Others came directly or were forwarded from UNOCHA, the Sri Lankan Disaster Management Centre, the Met office, the police and assorted individuals. Twitter allowed me to quickly forward the useful ones to all my followers while limiting the strain on the overburdened mobile system.
There were some glitches however. I continued to receive forwarded text message warnings long after credible sources had given the all clear. In some instances it seems that text messages became trapped in the telephone companies’ SMS system and were released as the queue began to clear. In some cases staff, confused by contradictory information, continued to forward outdated information.
Unfortunately the biggest problem with the Twitter based NGO security tree was one of buy in. Only a fraction of the staff who were intended to be served by the tree had bothered to sign up. The manual SMS security tree, which had been left in place as a backup, failed for much the same reason.
Lesson Learned: While emergency communications tools continue to improve, and become easier to use, buy in remains the number one problem. NGO staff members, especially office staff, often prove reluctant to dedicate even minimal effort to their own personal security until it proves too late.
For some background, check out “Social Networking tools for NGO Security – Part 1”.
To see a live feed of the NGO Security stream check out the demo page here. There is a Jaiku based stream as well.
Geographic Distribution Analysis Tools - Old School
16/09/07 08:08
You don’t need the latest and greatest GIS program to
do Geographic Distribution Analysis. While working in
the Allai valley after the Kashmir earthquake we
initially used a hand drawn map to plot community
sizes and locations, IDP movements, NFRI distribution
data, helicopter landing zone locations, and security
incidents. The original map was reproduced by the
simple expedient of tracing it on to new paper. For
several weeks it was the most accurate and most used
map of the valley.
How to make an all-weather, no power, low failure, Geographic Distribution Analysis system.
Step 1 - Assemble the following items:
• A map of the appropriate area
• Clear transparent self-adhesive laminate – Sometimes it is sold as shelf paper in the house wares section of department stores. Con-Tact or any similar brand will work.
• Chinagraph pencils – Also known as grease markers, Chinagraph pencils can be used on almost any surface, including Con-Tact paper.
• Paper – Ruled paper makes creating sketch maps easier.
• Toilet paper
• A large re-sealable plastic freezer bag.
Step 2 - Cover the map with the laminate. Its easier if you work with a partner. Cut a piece of laminate slightly larger than the map. Separate the laminate from its backing and slowly lower the laminate onto the printed side of the map. You’ll need to let it sag slightly in the middle so that your partner can press the laminate to the map starting at the centre and working slowly to the edges. If you practice a couple of times on a large sheet of paper you should be able to do it without trapping any air bubbles or making a lot of wrinkles.
You’ll now be able to use the Chinagraph pencils to mark the covered map. The annotations are waterproof but they can easily be removed by rubbing them with a bit of the toilet paper.
Step 3 - Fold the map.
Step 4 - Place everything inside the re-sealable bag.
That's all there is to it. Put the whole thing in your field bag or cargo pant pocket and it'll be ready whenever you need it. You can plot security incidents, checkpoints, IDP locations, damaged infrastructure, photo locations or any other location based data.
Tip: You might be tempted to use permanent markers on your Con-Tact covered map. Don't. The marker will slowly bleed into the soft plastic eventually leaving a permanent stain that even rubbing alcohol will not be able to remove.
How to make an all-weather, no power, low failure, Geographic Distribution Analysis system.
Step 1 - Assemble the following items:
• A map of the appropriate area
• Clear transparent self-adhesive laminate – Sometimes it is sold as shelf paper in the house wares section of department stores. Con-Tact or any similar brand will work.
• Chinagraph pencils – Also known as grease markers, Chinagraph pencils can be used on almost any surface, including Con-Tact paper.
• Paper – Ruled paper makes creating sketch maps easier.
• Toilet paper
• A large re-sealable plastic freezer bag.
Step 2 - Cover the map with the laminate. Its easier if you work with a partner. Cut a piece of laminate slightly larger than the map. Separate the laminate from its backing and slowly lower the laminate onto the printed side of the map. You’ll need to let it sag slightly in the middle so that your partner can press the laminate to the map starting at the centre and working slowly to the edges. If you practice a couple of times on a large sheet of paper you should be able to do it without trapping any air bubbles or making a lot of wrinkles.
You’ll now be able to use the Chinagraph pencils to mark the covered map. The annotations are waterproof but they can easily be removed by rubbing them with a bit of the toilet paper.
Step 3 - Fold the map.
Step 4 - Place everything inside the re-sealable bag.
That's all there is to it. Put the whole thing in your field bag or cargo pant pocket and it'll be ready whenever you need it. You can plot security incidents, checkpoints, IDP locations, damaged infrastructure, photo locations or any other location based data.
Tip: You might be tempted to use permanent markers on your Con-Tact covered map. Don't. The marker will slowly bleed into the soft plastic eventually leaving a permanent stain that even rubbing alcohol will not be able to remove.
Odds and Ends
12/08/07 10:49
Mashable.com has a collection of 60+ Collaborative Tools
for Groups. Is anyone out there up to the
challenge of an NGO Security Wiki?
I've always thought that something like the SPOT personal GPS tracker would be very useful for NGOs working in conflict zones and complex emergencies. According to the SPOT website it'll be out in November.
Sam at groundviews has a short piece on pledges in Sri Lanka. Wryly ironic.
I've always thought that something like the SPOT personal GPS tracker would be very useful for NGOs working in conflict zones and complex emergencies. According to the SPOT website it'll be out in November.
Sam at groundviews has a short piece on pledges in Sri Lanka. Wryly ironic.