Due to the varied nature of IED contamination, the concentration and sheer number of sources of data and information, especially in an urban area, require a high degree of management checks and controls. MA organisations, whether operators or NMAAs, should organise an IM unit with dedicated systems and tools. An MA organisation’s IM system should encompass:
• Information governance framework. This should ensure the information is protected and secure;
• Configurable taxonomy, or classification system. Allowing flexibility as operations change in scale and manner; • Unified visibility with full text search and advanced search functions. Accessing a unified and fully visible user interface to retrieve information allowing users to find information easily;
• Organisation alerts and dashboard. This visually displays schedules, progress and disposition alerts;
• Compatibility across all potential platforms and technologies. Use of web applications (apps) has increased data gathering efficiency. Compatibility must be a key attribute when choosing the applications. Apps must, at a minimum, compliment IMSMA.
4.2.1.GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) MA is inherently geographic, and with the challenges of buildings and structures grossly contaminated with EO in the urban area, the geography is three dimensional. Many project types are using GIS for gathering, managing and analysing data. It analyses spatial location and organises layers of information into easily understandable visual language using mapping, which allows users to see multiple perspectives at once. GIS reveals deeper insights into data, such as patterns, relationships and situations, helping organisations make better-informed decisions and share information effectively.
WHAT IS IMSMA?
First released in 1998, the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) is software designed to support the needs of the mine action community for decision support, monitoring and reporting. Core elements of IMSMA include a ‘PostgreSQL’ database engine and a GIS for displaying information on maps. Its client / server architecture enables stand-alone installations for small mine action programmes as well as client / server installations for large programmes with many users distributed across multiple sites and organisations.
Image 4. IMSMA example (Source: GICHD)
Clearance reporting
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