Foko Ushahidi and FrontlineSMS for an SMS Alert System in Madagascar
Ariniaina and I were supposed to present the Foko-Ushahidi platform during the last BarCamp but we lacked time. I’ll try then to write here what we’ve been through (here in Madagascar) to get this SMS Alert System up and running.
I can’t talk on behalf of Lova and those who (are abroad) worked hard and fought to have this project see the light because I knew we were not the only ones who had troubles. The main goal was to set up a system that will allow people to submit reports from where they are and being given that mobile phones are more well spread and used here than Internet the option of “using SMSs” was the ideal solution. Lucky enough, the software Ushahidi has already an embeded system that can manage SMS submissions.
The other tool that often works with it is FrontlineSMS. In fact, it’s a desktop software which you install on your PC to be able to receive and send texts. The only problem is that it doesn’t work with any mobile phones. As I said here, it was hard to find the required ones. When Lova was still in the US he sent us the necessary fund to buy the phone and the data cable. At the time we thought of dealing with a Nokia 3220 or a Motorola L6i. It was during the unrest and all the shops were looted or robbed. Therefore closed. It didn’t help us much. Pakysse and I had spent about two weeks to look for the phones but we just could not find and the phone with its appropriate data cable. Knowing this, Lova contacted the developers of FrontlineSMS and they rushed a beta release that works with Clickatell IntelliSMS. A web sms-gateway that can work with FrontlineSMS. We set everything up and sent SMS tests. It worked, we could receive the texts and in FrontlineSMS and in Foko-Ushahidi. But it was not what we excpected. Clickatell uses email to send back the texts that have been sent to your account and it only recognizes numbers from which a text was sent to. A bit complicated you may say. So to make it clearer, we were obliged to text someone (via FrontlineSMS and Clickatell) before this latter could text us back then submit a report. Plus the SMS coast was high. At that point, it was getting really complicated. We let it go like this for some weeks before Lova arrived in Madagascar. An important part of the reports were submitted through the web form.
A week ago, Lova could buy a phone that works with FrontlineSMS. It may help you guys, a Sony Ericsson w200i works like a charm.
How to submit reports
You have two main ways to submit report on Foko-Ushahidi.
On the web : if you have an available internet connection visit http://foko.ushahidi.com and then click on “Soumettre”. You just fill out the form prompted to you (make sure you give all the required information).
By SMS : (+261)334069111 is our number. Send us your report with the place where it happened and the core information. We may reply you back to ask for more details. And please don’t hide your numbers, we won’t disclose any private information concerning our sources.
The process of verifing and confirming reports
In this video Lova explains (fr) the process to avoid as maximum as possible rumors on the platform. This one is composed of few points.
– Blogger’s ethic : assume his writings, we know who he is, his online history
– Digital proofs
– The strength of the number and the wisdom of the crowd
– Ushahidi swift river
- Asking for more details from the sender
- Report verified but not confirmed
- Report confirmed by other sources
- Report officially confirmed
Great post, and helpful to go through some of the challenges you faced. Congratulations again on your response to the local troubles.
One small correction – the reply (via email) functionality came through IntelliSMS, not Clickatell. But good to hear you now have a truly local number and are fully up-and-running.
All the best as you move forward.
Ken
Thank you to both the FrontlineSMS and Ushahidi team help and the little correction Ken. I do hope it will help FrontlineSMS users in some ways 🙂
You really did a Great Job Tahina. Keep it up.
great jog Tahina 🙂
Great job, man ! I really thought you were going to present this project during the Barcamp Madagascar 2… but fortunately, you can always blog it !!
Very good post and initiative. The main problem in Madagascar is the cost of connecion, so this kind of solution is very useful. Bue how about the security, and the information of de the number , Who care about that ?
Thank you so much guys, I do appreciate 🙂
Achille52 > FrontlineSMS and Ushahidi uses secure channel to send sensitive data and the back end of the website is protected. From our side, we won’t disclose any private information about the senders 🙂
Is the use of Ushahidi strictly informative and professional? Can it be used for entertaining?
Why not lol. But so far it has been used for more serious things 🙂
Hello Tahina. I’m evaluating the use of SMS for monitoring systems in Madagascar. I’m very interested to learn more about your experience implementing FrontlineSMS in Madagascar. Could you email me at your convenience?
Thanks!