[okfn-za] okfn-za Digest, Vol 19, Issue 18

Sat May 18 04:43:22 UTC 2013

Hi Nimi

I'm also not a coder but  have you checked out the OKFN School of Data project? Loads of really helpful links and books to get you started. Helped me immensely! 

Where are you based? I'm in Cape Town and feel that same data hunger 
Kelsey 
—
Sent from Mailbox for iPhone

On Thu, May 16, 2013 at 9:36 PM, null <okfn-za-request at lists.okfn.org>
wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
>    1. Request for help: creating an open African mining database
>       (Nimi Hoffmann)
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 11:40:16 +0200
> From: Nimi Hoffmann <Nimi.Hoffmann at gmail.com>
> Subject: [okfn-za] Request for help: creating an open African mining
> 	database
> To: "okfn-za at lists.okfn.org" <okfn-za at lists.okfn.org>,
> 	hackshackers-johannesburg at googlegroups.com, 	Rufus Pollock
> 	<rufus.pollock at okfn.org>, Andrew Saxe <asaxe at stanford.edu>
> Message-ID:
> 	<CAGCd-D5fwGw4nG6eu3Eu1jr_Q=OUs8Ba61-Qzdy9eKSKa1sW1g at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> Hi all
> As far as I'm aware, there's currently no open continental database for
> measuring and comparing the actions of extractive industries across
> the African continent. The little data that exists is hidden or is behind a
> paywall. The poor quality of data is compounded by the lack of transparency
> in the sector, the lack of oversight by African governments, and the low
> levels of investigative research and journalism.
> This data poverty has bummed me out for too long. I'm greedy for
> continental data which is collected, organised and curated so that it is
> verifiable and actionable.
> In my quest for an open, relatively comprehensive database, I'm planning to
> create a platform for crowdsourcing information from specialists and
> affected parties. The areas covered are incidents related to water, land,
> labour, violence and finances.
> To this end, I have two requests for help. One for hacks, the other for
> hackers.
> First, I'm not a coder, and I'm not sure how to set up this database. I'd
> considered using CKAN, but I got a little confused by the site. If anyone
> can point me to an online architecture for setting up a database, that
> would be wonderful.
> Second,  I've got a rough first draft of the variables I'd like to capture.
> It would be fantastic if some of you guys could take 20 minutes out of your
> day to look at it and briefly let me know - am I missing any
> importantquestions; could some questions be dropped or modified? Problem
> areas are highlighted in yellow in the document. I'm also planning to try
> and integrate this with other open data, such as financial data from
> OpenCorporates, Money to Metal and EITI (where it exists), as well
> asMiningAtlas, an application of google maps to
> mines. The idea is that one should be able to cross-check data with other
> sources, as well as try to use techniques such as GIS for checking some of
> the larger environmental claims. If you have thoughts on this, do let me
> know as well.
> There are two documents. The first concerns the design, and the second
> concerns design notes. If you want to make changes to the design, please
> add them as track changes. If you want to make notes, or comment on the
> workflow or potential problems, please do so in the design notes. Comments
> in the margins get very messy after a while!
> Please note: first *data freeze* *is* *30 May.* Just so's this project
> doesn't get stuck in cyber limbo.
> If anyone is interested in taking a more active role in the project, please
> do let me know. The more the merrier :)
> Cheers,
> Nimi
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