Work Samples professional + academic research 2009-2012 megan marini
Contents research
Conclusion
Adaptive Capcity
1
Water Assessment System
6
Archive
11
CSUD
15
Adaptive Capcity Innovation processes for new ICTs Post-Earthquake Haiti Fall 2011 - Spring 2012 Program Masters Thesis Professor S. Srinivas
Conclusion
Abstract New information and communication technology (ICT) platforms that emerged during the humanitarian response to the 2010 earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, have been hyped for their ability to spatialize and coordinate disaster relief efforts and, more broadly, to assist short-term mitigation efforts. This research examines the role of recent innovations in ICT in augmenting the adaptive capacity of the Haitian state to carry out mitigation and adaptation planning. This work takes the stance that domestic innovation produces more suitable/well-adapted technologies for emerging economies and looks beyond individual innovations to examine the underlying structural issues that either facilitate or discourage these processes. Methodology + Research Process My design uses a mixed methods approach and is structured to understand the efficacies and limitations of different applications of new SMS-based ICTs in order to assess the utility and feasibility for incorporating these technologies into the governmental framework. My research began with a review of existing literature on adaptation planning, failed states, decentralization and participation, technological innovation in emerging economies, and open source software. Case studies, analysis of system work flows, participant observation and interviews were used to assess the state and local uptake of three different mobile and open source platforms, including: Ushahidi/Noula, SIS-KLOR, and OpenStreetMap. The process was as follows: I. Inventory of actors and new ICTs II. Personal observation of access to ICT in Haiti and communication behavior and document review III. Document review: budget, plans, and policy surrounding ICT and intellectual property IV. Mapping of system work flows V. Semi-structured interviews
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CASE 1: UNICEF -> DIRECTION D’EAU POTABLE ET ASSAINISSEMENT (DINEPA) Data Synthesis + Analysis As a preliminary assessment, I conducted a survey of emerging platforms and the key actors who facilitated the introduction of new information and communication technologies in the 2010 Haiti disaster response, this was used to narrow down and select my case studies - one in each sector (public, private, and civil). Following this, three platforms were selected as my case studies. Mapping of work flows enabled me to see how many local and foreign actors were involved in each platform as operated under both foreign and local organizations. Additionally, this allowed me to assess how many derivative applications were developed from each platform (derivatives are also another indicator of innovation). These case studies were compiled into a chart in which I could compare the scalability, suitability, adaptability, government uptake, derivatives, and demand of each platform.
KEY
UNICEF
communication vector uncertain communication vector
DINEPA
Field Enumerator
test results
Field Enumerator
SMS’d
SMS’d
test results
chlorinated
OUTCOMES
test results
+
+
chlorinated
CTE SMS’d
chlorinated
app
SIS-KLORR SIS-KLOR
decoded + cleaned
actor NGOs
funder
notify
Unicef georeferenced + mapped
domestic foreign
UN Clusters
decoded + cleaned CTE
notify
DINEPA issues + requests
Ministry of Health
UNICEF
DINEPA
definitive closed loop systems
0
0
derivative applications
0
0
foreign actors
3
1
local actors
1
4
state actors
0
3
tapped into humanitarian response
Yes
Yes
Unicef
CTEs DINEPA UNICEF
JAN 2010
OCT 2011 DEC 2011 FEB 2012
existing local solution. One can speculate or hypothesize as to whether the Noula platform was a direct derivation or imitation of the international Ushahidi software, but from the initial problem identification down to the different software’s employed by both organizations, it seems more likely that Noula was less
CASE 2: HUMANITARIAN OPENSTREETMAP TEAM (HOT) -> COMITE OPENSTREETMAP D’HAITI (C-OSM.HA) and imitation and more a domestic innovation.
Using semi-structured interviews, I was able to piece together the evolution of each platform stemming from its conception/ innovation to the adaptations made to the software to isolate the key differences, and the adoption of the technology by local institutions and organizations - particularly those of the state. I used a scarcity induced innovations (SII) matrix to determine the nature of the innovation.
Suitable solution for DC No suitable solution for DC
Existing AIC Solution
No AIC Solution
Technological transfer?
Locally developed solution to problems posed in DCs ? X
Ushahidi and Sahana existed but were impractical Solution but not suitable?
No solutions?
Fig 4.4: Scarcity induced innovations (SII) Matrix to determine the nature of the innovation (Srinivas & Sutz, 2008)
Unique features?
KEY
HOT
The Noula platform departs from Ushahidi’s model in many aspects of the execution:
C.OSM-HA
OUTCOMES
1. Categorization: The Noula platform differs from Ushahidi in the it’s categorization of events, the Noula platform incorporated more long-term needs such as ‘Employment and Socio-economic
OSM
COSMHA
1
1
2-way
communication vector
Assistance’ where as the Ushahidi platform was looking more specifically communication at crisis events. In flows
another observation, Noula has fewer variations in categorization than Ushahidi, who’s categories
uncertain communication vector app actor
derivative applications
0
0
foreign actors affected 8 2. Call center: The call center enabled Noula to create direct linkages between the disaster
4
local actors community in Port au Prince and the humanitarian response, most likely one of the main reasons0
2
were constantly broadening.
state actors
0
0
tapped into humanitarian response
Yes
Yes
why Ushahidi wasn’t as successful as Noula. The operators are Solutions S.A. staff and speak funder
Kreyol.12
domestic foreign
COMITE D’OPEN STREET MAP D’HAITI (C-OSM.HA) HUMANITARIAN OSM TEAM (HOT)
JAN 2010
4
12 According to an IFRC Beneficiary Communications Evalution, 85% of Red Cross beneficiaries surveyed were happy with Noula’s call center. JAN 2011
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CASE 3: COMMUNICATION FLOW/SYSTEM ANALYSIS: USHAHIDI -> NOULA
KEY
USHAHIDI
NOULA Case 1: Ushahidi Haiti / Noula
OUTCOMES Ushahidi
Noula
2-way communication flows
0
3
closed loop systems
0
2
derivative applications
0
4
foreign actors
8
2
local actors
0
3
state actors
0
2
tapped into humanitarian response
No
Yes
Noula SMS Medic
communication vector uncertain communication vector
SMS
app
State Department
InSTEDD
• 3 2-way flows of communication Mission 4636• 2 definative closed loop systems coordinate • 4 derivation applications + 4636 • 2 Foreign Actors funds • 3 Local Actors • 2 state actors • Tapped into formal CrowdFlower humanitarian response
immediate advice
advice + counseling
Solutions S.A.
translate
actor
Program 16-6
KEY:
Georgia Tech School of Comp Science georeference
funder
communication vector
UHP Fletcher School
funding vector
georeference
respond
Marines Southern Command
Noula
Ushahidi
Foreign Actor
rss feed
foreign
georeference + record
uncertain vector Domestic Actor
domestic
177
respond
Red Cross
Program 16-6
Funders/Donors
respond
US Coast Guard
Radyo Tap Tap questionaire
respond
app
IOM
Office for Public Security
Police Department
respond
respond
Noula UHP
3000 Jan 2010
2000 1000 0
NOULA USHAHIDI 2010 JAN FEB
MAY
SEPT
Feb 2010
May 2010
TOTAL MESSAGES RECEIVED PER MONTH
Data Synthesis + Analysis Cont. To inform recommendations, I tested existing theories on intellectual property regimes (IPR) and innovation specifically one hypothesizing that there exists a trade-off between the imitation of foreign technologies and domestic innovation. I analyzed ongoing plans in the ICT sector, intellectual property rights policy and legislation, and periodicals and public statements made by political authorities to understand the institutional framework and the political importance placed on modernization of ICTs. Furthering this, I collected data on patent applications filed by Caribbean countries with similar socio-economic profiles as well as the number of domestic IP (intellectual property) related decrees in each country and the number of international IP treaties each country is engaged in. Using this data, I ran rudimentary regressions to uncover the relationship and statistical significance of patent applications (an innovation indicator/variable) and international treaty memberships/domestic IP decrees.
PATENT APPLICATIONS IN CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES <1998-2011 16
12 The Bahamas
8 Cuba
4 Dominican Republic Jamaica
Haiti
0
250
99 20 0 0 20 0 1 20 0 2 20 0 3 20 0 4 20 0 5 20 0 6 20 0 7 20 0 8 20 0 9 20 10 20 11
19
98
19
Challenges Above all, logistical and time constraints posed significant challenges to the comprehensiveness of the research and analysis. Document and periodical reviews were used in lieu of certain surveys that I had anticipated on conducting.
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Fig 3.1 Graph of patent applications per year in varying Caribbean countries [Source: US Patent a Office Patent Technology Monitoring Team (PTMT)].
IPR Strength & Innovation DOMESTIC IPRDomestic STRENGTH + INNOVATION
200 200
Patent Applications
150
Domestic IPRs
Patent Appli
100 100
Domestic IP
50
0 0 Cuba Cuba
6
Jamaica Jamaica
Dominican Dominican Republica Republic
Bahamas Bahamas
Haiti Haiti
Fig 3.2 Graph of total patent applications and number of domestic IP related decrees per Caribbean co US Patent and Trademark Office Patent Technology Monitoring Team (PTMT), World Intellectual Prop Organization (WIPO)].
WAS
water assessment system Benin, West Africa
Spring 2012 Program mobile technology platform Professor P. Mechael; M. Berg Collaborators C. Rackish; M. Mielke
Abstract The goal of this seminar was to become familiarized with new media and information and communication technologies for social change and development. The final deliverable was to develop an ICT platform/system that can address a major development issue. In our case, water was identified as our target issue since access to potable water remains one of the most fundamental challenges for developing communities. To this effect, water scarcity, sensitization, water system quality, and maintenance pose the greatest obstacles to the provision of water access, especially in rural environments. However, for the purposes of our application, we will focus primarily on the later three since physical access to water in resource poor areas remains an issue that cannot be easily addressed by information and communication technologies.
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Methodology + Research Process The research began with a competitor analysis for water assessment systems ; and a technology analysis wherein it was decided which issues could be confronted by a technology platform. As a second component, challenges and risks associated with water service provision were assessed. From here we narrowed down a particular intervention zone in which to implement a mobile technology platform to address this issue. The following phase was the development of a conceptual budget for pre-assessment, system development, training, piloting, iterative design and monitoring and evaluation in our focus area: Benin. Following the specification of a site area, we conducted a stakeholder and institutional analysis to identify breakdowns and inefficiencies in communication flows that this platform could help to bridge and key actors to engage. Subsequent to this, a system assessment of engaged actors was conducted to ensure that interoperable standards between partner organization databases and platforms were considered. Additionally, a framework for monitoring and evaluation was established to plan for iterative design and impact assessment. Challenges Designing and planning for a theoretical technology platform made this project especially challenging. My project group made the decision to define the focus area as narrowly as possible and select an area in which we have had prior experience with so as to ground the project in reality. In this way, our platform could feasibly be implemented.
SYSTEM INTEROPERABILITY Supplier Systems
Water Community
WAS Water Department Systems
+ Health Department Systems
EXISTING WATER CHAIN OF COMMAND
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1
TESTING + MONITORING WORK FLOW
Regional Dept. sends a bi-monthly reminder SMS to village water comittee to conduct water testing
Department of Health identifies areas in need of behavior change to conduct sensitization activities. National Ministry of Health
+
5
3 1 Regional Dept. Water Call Center + Maintenance Hub
4
Village Water Comittee
2 Water comittee conducts test and submits test results via SMS report, which is entered into an automated database via RapidSMS
Database is shared with national departments of water and health for long-term monitoring purposes.
National Department of Water Direction de lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;information dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;eau
Department of Water monitors nitrate and flouride levels over the long-term. If contamination is detected, the department will take action to close down water pump and locate a new source.
2
MAINTENANCE WORKFLOW Watter committee sends SMS alert to regional government detailing system failure or specific restocking needs (such as chlorine tablets or powder or specific system parts/filter). Village Water Comittee
1
2 4 3
Receipt that pump is fixed or supplies were delivered is sent so ticket can be closed.
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Regional Dept. Water Call Center + Maintenance Hub
Regional Dept. places a voice call to Water Committee with DIY instructions. If this does not fix the problem, a technician is sent to do repairs or restock supplies.
SMS message is entered into an automated database. Regional call center operater opens a ticket and forwards information to responsible officials or in-house technician for coordinating repair or restock.
Archive
kay e sante nan ayiti st. marc, haiti
2009-2011 Program Community Wellness Complex Organization ARCHIVE Institute Supervisors P. Williams, J. Guttierez, K.Kocarek Abstract My involvement with Kay e Sante nan Ayiti has been very hands-on over a 3-year period, I served primarily as a field researcher and project assistant manager. ARCHIVE was approached by an organization based in St. Marc, Haiti that provides psycho-social care for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). As housing is a critical concern amongst PLWHA - a condition still very much stigmatized in Haiti ARCHIVE was asked to develop a community wellness and housing complex to service this vulnerable population. Since roughly half of all PLWHA will develop Tuberculosis (TB) in their lifetime, ARCHIVEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primary focus was to provide housing that can decrease the transmission of this highly infectious disease through improvements in living conditions such as decreased occupancy, increased ventilation, and various material and design strategies. In order to solicit innovation in design, it was decided to host an international design competition for the housing prorotypes. Methodology The research team chose to create surveys to recreate a model of the study area using a method called computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling - this was in order to understand how Haitians traditionally build homes and how well the traditional materials allow for ventilation and other factors that ARCHIVE had proven to contribute to the transmission of Tuberculosis (TB). This model was used to create a baseline of housing conditions in the area against which to compare future improvements in housing conditions during the occupancy period. Any decrease in the rate of TB would be measured using indicators proven to impact TB (mechanical/natural ventilation, crowding, air flow, particle count, relative humidity, temperature) and would be used as variables against controls such as construction materials and methods/design; the significance of a relationship would be tested using a chi squared test (a statistical analysis).
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Research Process This extensive study began with preliminary investigations into field conditions, this includes primarily document and periodical review. The next phase of research involved myself independently conducting ethnographic studies in the field over a three-month period to understand common issues and daily lives of PLWHA. The purpose of this site visit was also to establish the parameters and criteria for a housing design competition and to establish a baseline for housing conditions. To establish design and programmatic parameters I conducted numerous semi-structured interviews, photographic and video documentation, site surveys, material pricing analysis, and community design charrettes. In order to create a CFD model to establish baseline housing conditions, 60 surveys were administered and data loggers were placed in each home to measure environmental conditions such as relative humidity, temperature, particle counts, and ventilation over a 30-day period. The result of this research was compiled into two compendiums which were distributed amongst competition participants. Data Synthesis + Analysis While I compiled the collected data into a comprehensive database in which each question was coded to prepare for preliminary regressions no analysis has been conducted thusfar. This is due to postponed funding, and a delayed construction period. Once construction is completed and the occupancy period has begun, then analysis will be conducted to determine the significance of housing interventions to improvements in health.
SITE ANALYSIS
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
OUTCOME
Challenges This particular research project involved many challenges, mostly stemming from the obvious language barrier. I quickly learned Haitian Kreyol in order to effectively communicate with locals and administer surveys. Additionally, since this research involved an extremely sensitive population, privacy was of utmost concern. Any disclosure of the HIV status of PLWHA patients could result in significant damage to the livelihood and personal relationships of patients. Visitations to homes were further complicated because many are dependent on family members who do not know the HIV status of the patients. I was able to overcome these challenges by working closely with social workers at the partner/client organization to understand the family and living situation of each patient visited. I personally ensured the security of the survey documents and did not outwardly asking revealing questions in close proximity to family members when I knew this was a risk. Implementation Construction of the first two housing prototypes : Shutter Dwelling and Maison Canopy occured during 2012 - Breathe House still in progress.
CSUD
Planning praxis Cote Sud, Haiti
Fall 2011 - Spring 2012 Program Regional Planning Initiative Organization Center for Sustainable Urban Development (CSUD) Supervisor J. Klopp; E. Marcello
Abstract The first Earth Institute Millenium Village Project (MVP) outside of Africa was scheduled to take place in the south coast of Haiti in conjunction with a larger regional planning initiative entitled the Initiative Cote Sud (CSI). The Center for Sustainable Urban Developmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role in this project was to contribute a local integration and higher education component. Our work focused on understanding local governance and planning processes within this region in order to integrate the CSI into the existing framework and advise on community engagement strategies. Methodology + Research Process Our research began with a colleague of mine who conducted semi-structured interviews on the ground to unearth the framework of existing local planning processes. During this time, she collected extensive documents on the subject. My role in the research project was to conduct a literature review on planning, higher education systems, land tenure, and political economy in Haiti and the Caribbean. From here, we discovered that planning practice was a largely neglected subject matter. We chose to conduct a document review of the collected plans in order to better understand such processes and the political dynamics and actors involved in decision making.
For this, I analyzed 20 planning documents to understand existing planning processes for technical data collection and input, community and local knowledge input, planning agents versus implementing agents, costing, consideration of larger plans, etc. After this was completed, follow-up site research and interviews would be conducted to asses the status/success of each plan. The success of each plan would be compared against the variables listed in the document review to understand key components that contribute to successful (both politically and outcome-based) plans. Challenges The primary challenges associated with this particular research concerned dealing with the discrepancy of interpretation and variable inputs given by different team members contributing to the document review. In this instance, the work was delegated to a singular person (myself) so that a inputs were standardized.
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