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Benefits What does it look like?

A clear benefit of remote The most appreciated feature of the monitoring service is its ease of use and
monitoring is less exposure handy visualisation. In Figures 1 to 3, satellite imagery and ground photos were
of personnel in the field to used to check the execution of a road construction project. The on-line plat-
risk and security threats, but form, accessible only to the implementing agency, gathers both satellite images
financial and administrative and ground photos. The platform includes GIS tools to select images, measure
savings are also part of the features on the ground and zoom in and out. In addition the requesting agency
principal benefits. receives four periodic analysis reports from UNOSAT in .pdf format.

By combining remote moni-
toring and in-situ missions,
implementing agencies can
schedule their implemen-
tation monitoring plan in
advance. The remote moni-
toring reports are less likely
to be postponed or altered
by last minute logistical pro-
blems. Ground photos and
videos can be stored on-line
and offer a retrospective
implementation history that
FIGURE1 . The beginning of the project is documented in an image of the project site before
can be consulted at any time. construction starts, as shown in Figure 1 This image and Figures 2 and 3 are also useful to keep a record of
As a result, implementing the situation before the project.
agencies can plan and review
corrective measures when
needed.

In almost all cases, the remote
monitoring is less expensive
than in-field missions. When
these missions require secu-
rity arrangements and more
than one person, the diffe-
rence in cost can become
very important. In most cases
an optimal combination of
remote monitors and in-situ FIGURE2. After two months, the construction of the road is clearly visible in the satellite image
missions would result in a in Figure 2. The new image showing the road can be compared on-line with Figure 1 before the construc-
more affordable yet more tion using a "swipe tool" built into the on-line map. The tool allows the user to superpose the two images
using the computer mouse. The user can easily print out these images to make personalized maps or
performing project monito-
export the image to a document or a PowerPoint presentation to illustrate the status of the project on the
ring plan. In some cases the ground or prepare a mission to the project site.
use of this mix can spare the
implementing agency unplan-
ned cost caused by errors or
malevolent actions on the
project site.

The visual information pro-
vided by satellite and ground
imagery is objective and adds
an impartial documented
dimension to project monito-
ring that reflects on the rela-
tion with in-field contractors
and donors alike. Excerpts
FIGURE3. Ground photos and videos taken by field workers or even volunteer citizens using
from the UNOSAT perio- the UN ASIGN application for smart phones are automatically geo-tagged and uploaded to a server that
dic reports can be used to displays the location of the photos as blue icons on the on-line map (Figure 3). The requesting agency can
illustrate donor reports and use these photos/videos to look at the project site from different angles, see details close-up and read the
annotations made by partners in the field.
project reports.

Humanitarian 35