Latest Contributions by WilliamTarpai

GREAT WORKS ESRI - Keep it up. Looking forward to seeing how mappers involved in sustainable development (and the SDG challenge process) can get more involved.    University of California and California State Universities students and professors are taking the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) challenge seriously.  Pleased to learn more about any new collaborations with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network 10 year of collaborations for sustainable development  ... View more

Thanks LizArmstrong.  wow.   I wanted to reach out prior to achieving a success story if that is possible.  So many human lives are at stake.   Image diverting a country's largest freshwater lake, an action that will displace up to 100,000 people from their homes to save more densely populated areas from surging floodwaters.  Read about it - Pakistan-flooding of a lake to save citizens  "100,000 people could be affected by the breach of the lake, which is used for water storage, but he said the move would help save more populated areas and also reduce water levels in other, harder-hit regions." Really pleased ESRI for the wonderful things you are doing to make our world a better place, by helping us achieve successful SDG outcomes in countrie   ... View more

As 2022 begins, I wanted to respond to this 'aged' post because so much is happening related to the SDGs, and ESRI's efforts to bring onboard new players to engage in achieving SDG success stories needs to be recognized and complemented.   OK, I'm biased as Charlie and his team helped me get better oriented to mapping and spatial analysis tools.  20 hours + spent in 'coffee hour learning sessions' was excellent foundation.  Recently, I completed 11+ hours of American Red Cross mapping training (which ESRI was a partner), and took part in the MLK Day Mapping exercise with Red Cross youth and young professionals involved in DRR activities.   I'm currently collaborating with Rotary Clubs of District 5330 colleagues (from around  a 2 county region of the Inland Empire) on Human Trackking sensitivity training.  I'm trying to describe the importance of the SDG challenges, not only globally, but  in the US as well, AND encourage members of this platform community to get involved.   ... View more

Marcus, Congratulations keep up the good works.... Having worked in countries with demining issues, I'm happy to hear you are able to use ESRI products to help improve the lives of residents who no doubt do NOT need more trauma in their lives. regards, William Tarpai (UNHCR retired) ... View more

Christina, Glad to see a Riversider onboard.   I wonder whether you could advise, help or possibly mentor me to map 101 GIS coordinates for ponds in NE Thailand?  As an example, I was given this data for the ponds  =                                               Day mapped   Altitude 15.157068 102.775462 6/10/2019 180 meters ... View more

Welcome Clement, I wanted to say hello from Riverside, California. We have a sister-city in Obuasi so I try to network with people from Ghana, especially those with GIS skills working in development. Keep up the good works. William Tarpai ... View more

HI Michelle, I have 2 country projects that I need to get mapped out, 1) in Thailand, and 2) in Ethiopia. Next month, in March 2019, a group of our members, including the Arlington Rotary club will be making a trip to Thailand to visit the farms and attend an inauguration ceremony organized by the Thai Rotary Club and the Northeast Water Foundation. The group will be arriving in Bangkok on the 23 rd of March and fly to Khon Kaen on the 24th of March. The inauguration service and the visitations of the Ponds (created by the project) will be on the 25th of March 2019. I would like any hints or guidance that might help our team map out, and create data points which might prove helpful to decision making in the future. Thanks William ... View more

Greetings!  My name is William Tarpai.  I’m a UNHCR professional officer retiree, in my 70s.  I’m also President-Elect for the Arlington Rotary Club of District 5330 in southern California which has 60+ clubs, dedicated to social good.  I participated in a United Nations High Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Peace-Building and Sustaining Peace in New York in April 2018. Where do you work and what is your role?  I’m a Globalization consultant, promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (17) challenge during Agenda 2030 (2015-2030). Bringing new players to the table to achieve successful SDG outcomes is what I perceive as my major role, AND why I want to be involved with YOU. What GIS success have you had this year and what product did you use? (big or small - no win is out of bounds) Participating in my first ESRI on-line training What is your expertise (GIS related or not), and how can that help the community? More than three decades working in support of refugees and internally displaced persons globally, going to places not on well traveled international tourism paths.   I am actively involved with supporting students and young professionals to gain skills sets and experience required to succeed in the global humanitarian assistance and development job markets. ... View more

GREAT POST Charlie!   I am a retiree, who enjoyed a long career internationally, working in more than a dozen countries with UNHCR.  I am currently a World Bank Group trained 'Community Manager', who had the honor of attending a UN High Level Political Forum on PEACE BUILDING AND SUSTAINING PEACE at the UN HQ in New York City in April.  It was such an honor to get an invitation from the President of the United Nations General Assembly to participate with a large global audience.   As a UN retiree, I hold a UN Grounds Pass which allows me to escort up to 2 students during UN events.  Imagine sitting on the floor of the UNGA, ECOSOC, or any of a number of formal meeting rooms during UN meetings....   I am writing related to a current global crisis - 400,000 children who need help go back to school   I would like to urge US students and their teachers who want to help these children, that they can add-value to planning efforts to design and prepare the ground-work for stateless, refugee children who want to go to school to be able to start learning....  Is this a type of project that could be realized, especially if some global funding were available to facilitate it??? ... View more

This post is relevant to me, especially as a newcomer to the ESRI world. Your insights are focused and honed to a growth mindset which is important to collaborations for development.  I am a World Bank Group trained 'Community Manager', and am currently focused on helping refugee children (up to 4 million not able to attend school in various refugee camps around the world, as well as those fortunate enough to have been able to return to their homes (which still lack infrastructure [i.e. lack of electricity, lack of wifi access, and many, many more issues] and resources to get the children in schools).   Specifically referencing, stateless refugees from Myanmar, take a few moment to review this link which will help focus attention on the type of GIS and mapping needs required to plan infrastructure for return (Educational opportunities).  30,000 of these children in the Bangladesh refugee camps responded to a survey asking whether they had 1 or more family members killed since August 2017....  Imagine, many want to go home - many came from villages that no longer exist.... Back to this post - trying to put together a 25 member Rapid Responder team to focus on efforts to assist planning for return by mapping modern villages (which would include schools (on-site housing for teachers), health care and community centers, and everything we might image (after surveying potential returnees) what they would need in their villages....  ... View more