Applied Information Technology

Data Management System Development and Implementation

In South and Southeast Asia, and in the United States, CADI worked with national and local government agencies to design and implement database management systems, management information systems, decision support systems, and computer simulation models. In India, CADI developed a data management and decision support system to assist irrigation department managers with planning, operating, monitoring, and evaluating irrigation systems. Relational databases and computer models were established for data and information requirements used by irrigation system managers. GIS was used to manipulate and analyze digital maps, establishing relationships between spatial and tabular data to provide visualization of irrigation and agronomic performance information. Local staff was trained to use these systems.

In Thailand, Indonesia, and the United States, CADI designed sophisticated and practical computer simulation models. Working with FAO and Thai government officials, CADI developed a watershed simulation model integrating climatologic, hydrologic, and landuse data to predict the effects of landuse changes within a watershed. Working with USAID/Washington and USAID/Jakarta, CADI developed a computer model for calculating water and energy requirements, and a cost/benefit analysis of groundwater irrigation systems in Indonesia and Bangladesh. In the United States, CADI assisted the City of Denver's Board of Water Commissioners to design a water resources planning and water allocation model, integrating diverse components such as: (a) a geo-relational database to store model input and output; (b) a GIS system showing river networks and model nodes; (c) an existing water allocation model; (d) a graphical user interface (GUI) to facilitate user operations; and (e) several data conversion interfaces to move data seamlessly between model components. Using the simulation model, CADI trained users to edit the model input data in the database, run the water allocation model with the updated input, and store model output data back into the database.

Geographic Information Systems and Image Processing

CADI staff members have been involved in developing and implementing GIS and image processing projects in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States. In Indonesia and Nepal, CADI worked with USAID and national governments to develop a computerized system for monitoring and evaluating training activities and the turnover of government-managed irrigation systems to farmer management. Both systems integrated relational databases, GIS, and a GUI. Maps were developed at the district level displaying the location and number of training courses given and participants taught, as well as showing various aspects of turnover progress from a national scale down to the scale of canals in a particular irrigation system.

In the United States, CADI worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Forest Service and the National Land Management Planning Research Group to develop and test new analysis systems and tools that integrate GIS, GIS based models, and optimization systems to support forest ecosystem planning and management. CADI also developed an ecosystem management framework for planning and designing projects in 190,000 acres of US National Forest, including providing the GIS coordination for the project to link tabular and spatial data.

In El Salvador, CADI provided digital analysis of Landsat-TM data for mapping forest and fuel biomass resources, watershed management, resource conservation, and reforestation. In Egypt, CADI evaluated alternative methods for characterizing and mapping soil salinity and water table levels in the Nile Valley through electromagnetic inductance, and interpretation and classification of Landsat-TM digital data.

Development of Data Warehouse and Map Services

In Indonesia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, CADI worked with national government agencies to design and implement to establish a sustainable national water resources data warehouses. Services included: established a fully operational data center with the latest software and hardware; identified the essential data required to support water resources planning and management; populated the data warehouse with integrated tabular and spatial digital data/information; demonstrated the power of the data warehouse with technical applications; upgraded network systems with fiber optic and network switch technologies; trained staff in GIS, DBMS, remote access, GUI, DMI, and data warehouse O&M; prepared a set of guidelines and standards for data management; and published data on the Internet for worldwide access.

Need Assessment and Work Plan Development

CADI has worked extensively in Asia and the United States to conduct GIS needs assessments and develop comprehensive IT workplans. In Myanmar, CADI strengthened the capabilities of the Ministry of Forestry in computer technologies including GIS in order to support computerized national action plans for watershed and landuse planning. Working with USAID in India, CADI developed a program for the Irrigation Departments' computerization efforts, including a workplan for computer-assisted irrigation design and management, an applied IT training program, and workplans for three water resources information systems. In the United States, CADI worked with the US Department of Agriculture-Forest Service to prepare new computer hardware and software configurations, focusing on database access and GIS capabilities. Working with state agencies, CADI prepared a GIS strategy plan, including a five-stage process for implementation, identification of needed data, a data flow and management network/model, and identification of organizational support for the new information network.

Computer Hardware and Software Design, Assessment, Evaluation, and Resell

In Asia and the United States, CADI evaluated and recommended computer systems and software programs to meet project, management, and cost requirements and needs. In China, CADI worked with the ADB and Chinese government officials to evaluate the technical and financial performance of irrigation systems, leading to recommendations for computer systems and software for management and cost recovery needs. On a USAID project in India, CADI staff evaluated and recommended indigenous computer systems to meet irrigation project design and management requirements. Working with the US Department of Agriculture-Forest Service, CADI was involved in the sale of Unix workstations, complete with ArcInfo.