In Mae Hong Son province, around 40% of the Karen population lacks access to clean drinking water and adequate waste disposal. Karen Hilltribes Trust (KHT) is a charity organization in the United Kingdom that collects donations to support disadvantaged communities in Mae Hong Son, northern Thailand.
KHT aims to broaden its outreach in the UK, raising awareness about its charity and inspiring donations. However, potential donors face challenges understanding KHT's work due to limited knowledge about Thailand, the Karen, and the geography of the mountainous north. To enhance efficiency and productivity, we propose creating an interactive web-based map. This map will offer a user-friendly interface, allowing users to pan, zoom, and explore village locations. Additionally, it will provide detailed information about each facility, facilitating a better understanding of KHT's impactful initiatives.
To create a functional interactive map, these are important components that need to be constructed.
Data gathering: The component is mainly responsible for the necessary information to either be displayed or implemented by other components.
The database after collecting all necessary data: The database serves to collect and combine all data in a convenient, searchable form, to facilitate implementation by other components.
Configuring a database hosting system: To allow our stakeholders to pull the data and display it on the map, Configuring a database hosting system takes part in being responsible for this task.
The integration of the interactive map and the KHT pages: This component is responsible for integration between the map and KHT page which involves the design and the deployment document.
Methodology: Overview of architecture diagram
Rest APIs and retrieving data from the Database server
After the database construction, Two Python components were created to perform the rest APIs and retrieve data from the database server task: PostgreSQL.py and api_provider2.py.
Results:
Gathering geographical data
Retrieving KHT project data and Configuring Database Schema
We have stored the village table, project table, and village table that are stored on the Database Server. The rest of the tables will be stored in our next semester.
Implementing rest API to retrieve data from the Database server
Currently, the Apex virtual machine contains the PostgreSQL database which has our database including the geographic data. Furthermore, the Apex virtual machine is running the APIprovider program allowing clients to retrieve the village data and project data using given URLs. The results are shown below.
Designing an engaging interactive map
Our interactive map has some basic features, such as showing KHT charity data on a map. However, we still need to add some more advanced features, such as calculating the distance between two villages.
Embedding map in the KHT website
The website prototype features a map that shows information on the village and the KHT project. The map is located under the KHT mission section, which is the first thing that visitors see when they enter the site. The map will help the user learn about the Karen community’s issues, the village’s details, and the project’s goals.
Future Plan
● Embed our developed interactive map into the actual KHT website
● Finish making the code to filter all the data from CSV files
● Insert all the data from the Database Schema into the Database
● Finding and displaying villages, hospitals, or schools that satisfy geographic
constraints, such as distance radius from a target.
● Do the geographical calculations for the interactive map function
● Get a sustainable server
● Discuss getting the feedback from KHT
● Refine the API URL by getting the domain name and using https instead of http
to make it more secure.
