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Plug-ins

Plug-ins are used to interface an OpenCARE node to the real world. This makes an OpenCARE node very flexible in conveying information across different relief/information systems. The information interface needs to cover both unstructured and structured information.

Unstructured information appears at ad hoc/uncoordinated information systems that publish information in ad hoc format such as:

• table dump on a web page
• spreadsheet download for roster of the victims
• PDF file

Unstructured information is parsed and converted to EDXL at an OpenCARE node before dissemination to other nodes in the exchange. These plug-in modules are suitable for bridging information with specific-purpose legacy systems where online collaboration was not a design goal. This concept proved it could work well during the 2004 tsunami disaster by using the commercial WebQL package, graciously loaned to a relief site.

As for relief/information systems which are flexible enough to do online queries, information from their databases would be converted into EDXL. Since database schemas for such applications rarely change, this kind of plug-in can be developed in advance before a disaster strikes.

Disaster relief packages we plan to interface are:

• Sahana
• CiviCRM
• OpenISES Tickets Computer Aided Dispatch program

Plug-in registry

As for Thailand's e-Government initiative, we are looking closely into the GDX (Government Data Exchange), for which some public information leads to true understanding of livelihood in disaster areas.

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Comment	Username	Time
Are we on the right track? Comments integrated into the document will be removed.	Admin	29 May 2006

-- TrinTantsetthi - 29 May 2006