Census and survey field monitoring system 

Overview 

To support the digital transformation of census processes, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has developed several essential tools. One such tool is the Field Monitoring Dashboard System, designed to enhance the oversight of census field operations. This web-based dashboard improves digital census operations by providing real-time monitoring of data and performance metrics, allowing for the immediate identification and resolution of issues related to performance and data quality.


Intuitive graphs and charts visualize complex data, enabling census managers to assess key indicators and make informed decisions quickly. The dashboard tracks performance against predefined benchmarks and targets, helping managers monitor progress and pinpoint areas that need attention. Alerts and notifications further ensure that critical situations are promptly communicated, mitigating potential risks. Additionally, performance trends over the census period are displayed to assist in adjusting strategies for streamlined and successful operations.  It is accessible from any device at any time and has user-friendly interfaces to facilitate use for efficiency of census processes.

Key features 

  • Real-Time Monitoring: Provides a live view of key indicators, enabling near real-time monitoring of operations. This instant access helps identify and address issues as they occur.
  • Dynamic Data Analysis: Users can quickly analyze census data through dynamic charts and graphs, supporting informed decision-making and improving operational outcomes.
  • Open-Source, Adaptable, and Scalable: Built with state-of-the-art open-source tools, the dashboard is adaptable to various environments and scalable for managing large volumes of data. It integrates seamlessly with industry-standard database management systems and supports geographic functionalities.
  • Customizable Design: The generic, customizable design makes the dashboard suitable for a variety of census and survey monitoring needs.
  • Alert System: Configured to send both email and in-app notifications, the dashboard ensures that users are immediately alerted to critical information, enabling prompt responses.
  • Free and Open Source: The entire system is free and open source, with the source code available on GitHub to encourage collaboration and continuous improvement.

The current version of the dashboard presents data through four key artifacts:

  • Charts: Visually display performance or quality indicators. These charts can be tailored to meet user needs and effectively represent underlying data.
  • Scorecards: Provide quick, single-number insights into performance metrics or critical quality data from census operations.
  • Maps: Overlay performance data on geographical maps, using traffic light symbols to indicate different performance levels.
  • Reports: Offer detailed information by enumeration areas to help identify regions that require intervention. These reports complement the visual data provided by charts and scorecards.

Use

This application is designed for offices conducting censuses and surveys.

Resources

  • Starter kit https://github.com/tech-acs/chimera-starter-kit
  • User Manual: For detailed installation and usage instructions, please refer to the documentation website.
     

How to get started 

The dashboard is built on a census/survey dashboard starter—a scaffolding framework for the popular PHP Laravel framework—and is constructed on top of the Laravel Jetstream starter kit. This setup provides an ideal starting point for your dashboard with a variety of built-in features. 
Hosting Requirements for the Dissemination Toolkit
Hardware:

  • •    4 or more processor cores
  • •    32GB RAM
  • •    250GB or more storage

Software:

  • •    Operating System: Ubuntu 22.04 is strongly recommended (but not required)
  • •    PHP: Version 8.2 or later
  • •    Database: PostgreSQL (version 14 or later)
  • •    Web Server: nginx is preferred (but not required)

Other Provisions:

  • •    The server must be publicly accessible, preferably via a domain name.
  • •    Mail-sending capability (SMTP, IMAP, or equivalent) is required.
  • •    Remote access (preferably via SSH) is necessary for deployment and configuration.
  • •    Census result data should be prepared in “long” format.

Additional Details

  • •    Fully open source under the MIT License.
  • •    Code Repository:

Available on GitHub.

  • Project Management:

Managed using Kanban boards, discussion boards, and regular stand-up meetings.

  • •    Documentation:


Tech Stack:

  • o    PHP, Laravel, PostgreSQL, PostGIS
  • o    Plotly, Leaflet
  • o    Ubuntu, Nginx, Redis
  • o    Docker, Ansible, Git
     

Contact 

For more information, please email: ecastats@un.org