However, in the context of spatial information, there are obstructions to this goal, such as lack of resources: technical (hardware & software), financial and human. Open Source GIS components, including spatial databases, spatial data servers and application toolkits, are being investigated as a means of making relevant, meaningful data available to communities. Mobile devices and the GSM network may also provide a simple, economical way for communities to collect data about themselves, and share this data with relevant decision makers.

Go to the Cell-Life Open GIS project  to see what we are doing in this area.