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At the forefront of this effort, the GICHD serves as a key provider of information management advisory services and support for explosive ordnance risk reduction. With its mission to equip partner organisations with modern tools and know-how, the GICHD aims to support national authorities in making evidence-based operational and strategic decisions.

This is achieved by providing modern, secure and reliable information management systems which compile, store, analyse and share information that is timely and accurate. To ensure these systems are used effectively, the GICHD offers capacity building to align processes, technology and data with skilled personnel.

IMSMA Core – the GICHD's information management tool

The GICHD developed the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA), with the latest version called IMSMA Core. We constantly adapt IMSMA to use the latest technology available to better gather, analyse, and visualize data. To support national authorities and partners at all levels of critical decisions, the latest generation of IMSMA (IMSMA Core) is built by configuring geographic information systems (GIS) tools, primarily from Esri.


Information Management eLearning Modules

Learn  more  about  GIS  and  IMSMA  CORE  through these self-paced online modules and discover that this technology plays an important role in many aspects of our lives. Disaster recovery, environmental management, and peacekeeping operations are just a few uses for geographic information systems. The GICHD and its partners also use GIS to reduce the impact of mines and other explosive ordnances (EOs) throughout the world.

The modules are intended for participants from National Mine Action Programmes and their Operating Partners who are or will be posted to Information Management positions within their respective organisations.

Register for the training

Guide To Systems Engineering For Humanitarian Information Management

This Guide introduces theoretical and practical methods for using systems engineering to deploy information management systems that support mine action, peace monitoring, disaster risk reduction and other humanitarian initiatives. Systems engineering enables the successful design, deployment, operation and decommissioning of systems.

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History of Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA)

IMSMA was first developed in 1999 and has represented a cornerstone of GICHD’s support to the mine action community ever since. IMSMA was designed specifically to fill a gap in available technical solutions for capturing mine action information and its requirements, at a time when Information Management was heavily underutilized in the sector. 

History of IMSMA

Within the scope of our persistent drive for continuous improvements, LMAC has ongoing implementation of the IMSMA core. The system allows for effective and rapid data collection, easy access to information for better informed decision-making, and enables any authorized user, including donors, to have an up-close view of all relevant mine action statistics and activities, in particular the progress of land release operations.

General Jihad Al Bechalaani Lebanon Mine Action Center (LMAC) Director

Information Management Publications

English

Inclusive Data Management in the Mine Action Sector

At the GICHD, we are challenging how data practices in the mine action sector address gender, diversity, and equality, through a comprehensive exploration of interpretations of gender, diversity, and the do no harm principle...

07/03/2024
Inclusive Data Management in the Mine Action Sector
  • Available in English
  • GICHD
English

Guide To Systems Engineering For Humanitarian Information Management

The Guide to systems engineering for humanitarian information management introduces theoretical and practical methods for using systems engineering to deploy information management systems that support mine action, peace...

25/04/2022
Guide To Systems Engineering For Humanitarian Information Management
  • Available in English
  • GICHD
English

Enhancing Humanitarian Mine Action in Angola with High-Resolution UAS Imagery

The peaceful use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) increases significantly when their cost and complexity are reduced. Fully autonomous, ultralight unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are now commercially available. There are numerous...

18/12/2018
Enhancing Humanitarian Mine Action in Angola with High-Resolution UAS Imagery
  • Available in English
  • Olivier Cottray (GICHD), Inna Cruz (GICHD), Luan Jaupi (Halo Trust), Shadrack Sequesseque (MAG)
English

Enhancing Mine Action Operations with High-Resolution UAS Imagery

Following a two-year feasibility study, The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) last year moved its unmanned aircraft system (UAS) program into its operational testing phase, working with The HALO Trust...

01/12/2016
Enhancing Mine Action Operations with High-Resolution UAS Imagery
  • Available in English
  • SenseFly

Collaborative ORDnance Data Repository (CORD)

Until recently, the mine action and broader humanitarian disarmament community have relied on ORDATA for ordnance information. However, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, James Madison University and...

15/12/2015
Collaborative ORDnance Data Repository (CORD)
  • Available in
  • Dionysia Kontotasiou and Olivier Cottray
English

UNISDR Scientific and Technical Advisory Group Case Studies 2015 | The use of Geographic Information Systems for environmental impact assessments in Mine Action

The 'do no harm' approach to mine action requires that mine action organisations consider the possible negative impacts of mine clearance operations. They must ensure they do not lead to longer-term vulnerability or threaten...

15/05/2015
UNISDR Scientific and Technical Advisory Group Case Studies 2015 | The use of Geographic Information Systems for environmental impact assessments in Mine Action
  • Available in English
  • Gianluca Maspoli and Angela de Santis, GICHD
English

ERW Contamination in the Pacific Islands

The legacy of explosive remnants of war (ERW) has affected the daily lives of Pacific Islanders for more than 70 years. ERW contamination in the Pacific stems from conflict between the Allied forces and Japanese forces during...

01/12/2014
ERW Contamination in the Pacific Islands
  • Available in English
  • Justin Smith, GICHD
English

Modifying IMSMA Training: The Mine Action Information Management Qualification Scheme

The Mine Action Information Management Qualification Scheme (MIQ) is a new training tool for the Information Management System for Mine Action. It was created in response to the Next Generation version of IMSMA, the newest version...

01/04/2011
Modifying IMSMA Training: The Mine Action Information Management Qualification Scheme
  • Available in English
  • Aurora Martinez,GICHD, Erikson Daniel, GICHD

Fact sheet on Hillshade Imagery

 In this fact sheet :

31/03/2008
  • Available in
  • GICHD

Fact sheet on Country Mask Shapefiles

 In this fact sheet : 

31/03/2008
Fact sheet on Country Mask Shapefiles
  • Available in
  • GICHD

Information Management Team

Steve Hellen

Steve Hellen

Head of Information Management
Anna Paiuc

Anna Paiuc

Programme Officer, IMSMA
Wendi Pedersen

Wendi Pedersen

GIS Solutions Advisor, Capacity Strengthening
Advisor, Information Management

Sulaiman Mukahhal

Advisor, Information Management
Andrew Kesterton

Andrew Kesterton

Technical Development Coordinator, Capacity Strengthening
Programme Manager, IMSMA

Henrik Rydberg

Programme Manager, IMSMA
Geoservices Technical Advisor, IMSMA

Harry Kendall

Geoservices Technical Advisor, IMSMA
Eleanor Cervigni

Eleanor Cervigni

Advisor, IMSMA
Noor Zangana

Noor Zangana

Programme Manager, Capacity Strengthening
Advisor, Capacity Strengthening

Erkin Huseinov

Advisor, Capacity Strengthening