GNSS-Low cost Survey Equipment
Funding Area: Critical shared infrastructure / Infraestructura compartida critica
Problem Statement: In this era, data plays a critical role in social and economic development. However, many developing countries are falling behind due to the high cost and proprietary nature of data collection software and tools, particularly in the field of surveying equipment. This limitation impedes knowledge transfer to young professionals and drives up the cost of essential services, such as land surveying for obtaining title deeds and accessing financial aid. Openmap Development Tanzania, through its experiences in conducting industrial training and community mapping initiatives, has observed that surveying students are taught using expensive proprietary software and tools, leading to difficulties in practical application after graduation. Additionally, numerous communities lack legal proof of land ownership because they cannot afford expensive surveying services. To address these challenges, OMDTZ and its supporters have invested in a low-cost GNSS receiver using UBLOX, capable of delivering high accuracy in real-time kinematic mode. They have successfully utilized this product in various projects, including drone imagery processing, drainage mapping, and surveys in Tanzania and Uganda. The OMDTZ aims to create a user-friendly surveying product accessible to all, reducing manual configurations and monitoring. This will make surveying affordable for young professionals and Tanzanians, enabling them to secure title deeds and produce high-accuracy data for advanced modeling..
Proposed Activities: Upgrading the hardware, case designing, and printing (5 months) Timeline: Month 1 to Month 6 Expertise and Resources: Hardware engineers, 3D modelers, 3D printers, prototyping materials, and tools. Design and print a power distribution board. Timeline: Month 1 to Month 3 Expertise and Resources: Electrical engineers, PCB designers, prototyping materials, PCB fabrication services, and soldering equipment. Adding Bluetooth modules for data transmission to mobile devices (Rover and base station) (3 months) Timeline: Month 1 to Month 3 Expertise and Resources: Embedded systems engineers, wireless communication experts, firmware developers, Bluetooth modules, and testing equipment Adding an LED Display for the Base station and Rover (2 months) Timeline: Month 4 to Month 5 Expertise and Resources: Embedded systems engineers, display technology specialists, software developers, LED displays, and testing equipment. Design Device Case for 3D printing (4 months) Timeline: Month 1 to Month 3 Expertise and Resources: Industrial designers, 3D modelers, 3D printers, waterproofing materials, and prototyping equipment Product testing (Ongoing, throughout the development process) Timeline: Continuously from Month 1 to Month 18 Expertise and Resources: Quality assurance team, testing equipment, field testing, data analysis tools, and iterative development process. Mobile Application Development (3 months) Timeline: Month 4 to Month 6 Expertise and Resources: Mobile app developers, UI/UX designers, mobile development platforms, and testing devices. Documentation and User Manual Development (2 months) Timeline: Month 5 to Month 6 Expertise and Resources: Technical writers, graphic designers, documentation tools, Community Workshops and Capacity Building (1 month) Timeline: Month 6 Expertise and Resources: Workshop organizers, subject matter experts, training materials, and venue. Monitoring and Support (6 months after product completion) Timeline: Month 19 to Month 24 Expertise and Resources: Technical Support Team, Feedback Collection Mechanisms, and Community Engagement Data Post-processing automation (2 months) Timeline: Month 6 to Month 7 Expertise and Resources: Software developers, Python programmers, data transformation tools, and GPS data expertise.
Openness: Open Source Codes and Software: The code for the mobile application, automation software, script, operating system software, and the 3D case design will be made open so that other developers, academics, and enthusiasts can access and contribute to the project's long-term. Documentation of User Manuals: The team will create comprehensive documentation, including user manuals and troubleshooting guides. Making these materials publicly available will enable users outside the immediate project team to understand and operate the GPS receiver effectively. Engaging a Broader Community: The team plans to engage a community through workshops and capacity-building activities. These workshops will not only introduce potential consumers (surveyors, students, etc.) to the product but also provide insights into the open source codes available. This engagement will encourage users to contribute to the project's repository, share feedback, and potentially suggest improvements. Continuous Monitoring and Feedback Gathering: To maintain openness and transparency, the team plans to continuously monitor the product's performance in the field for at least six months. This feedback will help to identify potential issues, areas for improvement, and insights from real-world users, fostering a collaborative approach to product development. Open Source Hardware: The team will use open source hardware, ArduSimple, which will make it easier for the greater community to customize the tool.
Challenges: Technical Complexity: Developing a user-friendly, low-cost GPS receiver with advanced functionalities can be technically challenging. Ensuring seamless integration of various components, such as Bluetooth modules, LED displays, and power distribution boards, may require extensive testing and optimization; however, the team had extensive experience with the device, as well as the ability to engage larger technical communities that had previously expressed interest and sought their support and advice. Also, this action will help to solidify the sense of community ownership because they will be involved throughout the process. Budget Constraints: The requested budget of $25,000 is insufficient, but the OMDTZ team will offer some equipment such as calibrated GNSS antenna, ardusimple, Raspberry pi zero, connections, and SD cards that were used in past activities. Furthermore, the majority of the work will take place at the OMDTZ lab, which has the majority of the equipment, such as 3D printing, and at some point, some personnel will be paid by OMDTZ to invest their time in either testing or documentation, as a very modest budget was allocated to that category. Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring compliance with local regulations for the use of the GPS receiver for cadastral surveying
Neglectedness: Yes, the team have applied from the World Bank in the Drainage mapping whereby the objectives were to training and skills-building to university students on geospatial tools and high accuracy GPS i.e Ublox GNSS receivers and to generate updated data that is open and accurate for actionable flood risk modeling and flood scenario generation purposes in Kahama, Kigoma, Morogoro and Sumbawanga municipalities. The assignment intended to be a good practice example of how low-cost technology can support resilience building and planning through producing high-quality spatial information with locally accessible tools and device
Success: The success of the proposed project can be evaluated based on key performance indicators (KPIs) and milestones, as follows, Affordability and Accessibility: Percentage reduction cost of the GPS receiver compared to proprietary alternatives. Increased access to surveying equipment for individuals and communities previously unable to afford it. User-Friendliness and Ease of Operation: User feedback and satisfaction surveys regarding the ease of operating the GPS receiver. Number of positive reviews and testimonials from users on the User interface and features. Technical Performance: Accuracy and precision of the GPS receiver, measured in centimeters, in both real-time kinematic (RTK) and Precise Point Positioning (PPP) modes. Number of successful data collection projects conducted using the GPS receiver, demonstrating its reliability and performance. Adoption and Community Contribution: Number of workshops conducted and the level of engagement from surveyors, students, and stakeholders in adopting the open-source GPS receiver. Number of community contributions to the project's repository, including bug fixes, feature additions, and code improvements. Openness and Collaboration: Number of downloads and usage of the open-source mobile application, automation software, and 3D case design files. Sustainability: Continued usage and adoption of the GPS receiver by users beyond the project's initial phase.
Total Budget: USD 24,896
Budget File: pdf
Affiliations: The proposal is affiliated with OpenMap Development(OMDTZ)
LMIE Carveout: Yes, this project fits within the category of projects led by organizations in Low and Middle-Income Economies (LMIEs), with OMDTZ being based in Tanzania
Team Skills: Iddy Chazua is a GIS and Tech Lead at OMDTZ with work experience in several countries such as Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Liberia, DRC and Indonesia and has extensive experience in data analysis and visualization, data management, configuration of data collection tools such as OpenDataKit, ODK central servers and GNSS. With his expertise, Iddy has successfully led numerous projects including Zanzibar Solid Waste Management Value Chain Optimization Study, Ramani Huria, Open Skies Fellows, Greater Kampala Integrated Flood Resilience Partnership, and Tanzania Nationwide. Iddy's responsibilities include assisting with technology development, overseeing initiatives, training teams, and ensuring compliance. Hawa Adinani is the Director of Community Programs at OMDTZ. She manages teams, oversees field operations, and engages with key project partners. With 5+ years in the open geospatial data field, community mapping, and communication, Hawa has led strategic partnerships in Rwanda and DRC and previously served as a partnership and communications lead and communications specialist. She also serves as OMDTZ communications advisor. Elia Dominic, has 8 years had experience in management, modeling and analyzing flood data, drainage mapping in Tanzania and Mali, remote sensing and GNSS technology capacity builder to the community and students from various universities in Tanzania. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Housing and Infrastructure Planning from Ardhi University.
Submission Number: 78
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