As the  outputs of   months-long   efforts of technology development trickle in,  CISCAI and its in-country teams have recently initiated  information, education and communications (IEC) activities to effectively transfer  the various  developed technologies  among its stakeholders.  The first of such attempts  was   the conduct of the  1st Training on the Use and Application of the CISCAI Geographic Information System  (GIS), held  at the headquarters of the  NetNam Corporation in Hanoi, Vietnam last 28 January 2010.  

The two trainees  of the maiden training or  technology hand-over   of the CISCAI  GIS  were Dr. Nguyen Cong Khanh the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) of the  Vietnam Ministry of  Health  (MOH) and  Dr. Van Dang Ky of the Department of Animal Health (DAH)  under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development  of Vietnam.  Providing the lectures were Messrs. Le Hoang Phuong,  Pham Truong and Nguyen Vu of the  Information Center of Natural Resource and Environment (CIREN) - Vietnam Ministry of Natural  Resources and Environment and Mr.  Minh Tien “ NetNam.

The day-long inception  Training  consisted of an introduction   of the GIS system by  CIREN staff.   CIREN incidentally is the developer of the CISCAI GIS, in coordination with and guidance from the NetNam Corporation.  Mr. Phuong   presented the purpose and the detailed technical   design of the CISCAI GIS, which focused on the  data classes, the architecture of the GIS and the various  open source technologies that were integrated during the development process.  

The Training also  provided the  various techniques on field data collection and classifications  (i.e.  different types of surveys) , methods of  data transfers from field to the central offices, data quality control/assurance and validation, and information, and (sensitive health) information censorship issues. CIREN staff also took the opportunity to consult with the DAH and NIHE personnel, who are the ultimate users of the GIS system, on the usability and friendliness of the developed  system.   Later in the day, CIREN provided user and administrative accounts to NIHE and DAH, the ultimate users of the developed system.