AIT has several knowledge management initiatives including (1) teaching and research on ICT4D using a multidisciplinary approach, (2) developing infrastructure and open source tools like Greenstone and Plone, and (3) collaborating regionally on projects with the Thai government and UN agencies. Some examples provided are an ICT4D program established in 2003, research on networks and software, and case studies including a digital library for Thailand's environmental ministry and a wiki system implemented for UNESCAP that received positive feedback.

1. AIT Initiatives in
Knowledge Management
15 February, 2007
Paul Janecek
Computer Science and Information Management
&
ICT for Development

2. Introduction
Knowledge Management activities at AIT
• Teaching and Research
• Multidisciplinary approach to ICT for Development
• Infrastructure and Tools
• Research and development using Open Source tools
and Open Standards
• Greenstone, DSpace, Plone, ...
• Regional Focus
• Collaboration with regional universities,
governments, and international organizations
• Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
• UN Agencies: ESCAP, APDIP

3. Teaching and Research

4. Teaching and Research
ICT4D Initiative
• Background of ICT program at AIT
• established by Finland in 2003
• academic initiative to address “digital divide”
• combination of existing fields:
• Computer Science and Information Management
• Telecommunications
• visiting faculty position from Finland
• mixed results
• popular: 20+ MSc students per year
• limitations of technology-centric approach to complex
multidimensional problem
• Not innovative approach to ICT4D

5. ICT4D Initiative
Strategic Position of ICT4D
• Lessons Learned from ICT4D Projects:
• ICT has great potential for empowering
individuals and communities in developing
countries
• development-focused initiatives are most
successful when ICT is means not end
• Multidisciplinary approach to ICT4D at AIT:
• equal participation from all schools in AIT:
• Engineering and Technology (SET)
• Resources and Development (SERD)
• Management (SOM)

6. ICT4D Initiative
Teaching and Research
• Components
• Teaching
• Links with programs in Sustainable Development, Disaster Mgmt
• Creation of new ICT4D courses, such as:
• ICT for Disaster Management
• ICT Infrastructures in Rural Environments
• Research
• Infrastructure:
• Towards ubiquitous access, Open Source, Open Standards
• Multidisciplinary collaboration on development projects
combining social and technological expertise
• ICT for Rural Development Planning, Disaster Management, ...
• Application development, Outreach, ...

7. Infrastructure and Tools

8. Infrastructure and Tools
Some KM Building Blocks Used at AIT
• information management systems
• digital libraries (e.g., Greenstone, DSpace )
• content management systems (e.g., Plone)
• learning management systems
• e.g., VClass developed in AIT’s intERLab
• social software
• weblogs (“blogs”)
• wikis (e.g., wikimedia)
• semantic web technology
• semantic modeling
• standard languages (e.g., XML, OWL, etc.)
• networking technologies
• ad-hoc and sensor networks, etc.

9. Infrastructure and Tools
Case 1: Blog + Digital Library
• Blog + DL-based KM System
• based on Blojsom and DSpace
• Thiti Vacharasintopchai, current PhD Student

10. Regional Focus

11. Regional Focus
Sample of KM Research Projects
• Case 2: Digital Library for DEQP
• Department of Environmental Quality Promotion,
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
• Case 3: Escapedia
• Wiki and Document Management System for
UNESCAP

12. Regional Focus
Case 2: Digital Library for DEQP
• Department of Environmental Quality Promotion,
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
• based on Greenstone open source digital library
• Student project, CSIM, 2004 Jittriya Kraewprak
Trichada Siricharoenchai
Bossaporn Eiempornchai
Natapon Chasombat
Ajaree Naco
Pagaporn Pengsart
Thadthong Bhramanee

13. Regional Focus
Case 3: Escapedia
• UNESCAP Knowledge Management for
Technical Cooperation (KM-TC)
KM-TC System version 1.0 User Manual
• Tjerah Leonardo, MS Thesis, 2006
The Welcome screen is displayed.

14. Case 3: Escapedia
Knowledge + Results Based Management and know
a knowledge resource that supports activity of decision making
management. The aim of Knowledge Structure is to support management by m
the knowledge resource visible and bringing it into the mainstream of organiz
• Multidisciplinary Thesis decision making (Gordon, 2005).
• Supervised by CSIM andwere obtained and gathered within the knowledge requiremen
Knowledge areas SOM
knowledge creations in the results framework. The knowledge structure cons
• Information Management areas which are: Best Practice, Project, Document, and E
four main knowledge
The overall knowledge structure can be described in the following Figure 4.2.
• Wiki
• Document Management System
• Organizational Management
• Results Based Management

15. technical cooperation projects were used as the information base. The KM-TC System
consisted of four main components which were translated from the knowledge
structure. These four components were: UNESCAP Encyclopedia (Escapedia),
Case 3: Escapedia
Project Management System, Document Management System, and Expert Mapping
System. Each system component was interacting with other components through the
Architecture
Knowledge Search Engine. Information from these four components were then stored
in their respective tables in the Knowledge Repository level. The overall model of the
KM-TC system is described at Figure 5.1.
Figure 5.1 KM-TC System concept model

16. This chapter explains how to view, add, and edit the Escapedia of KM-TC
System®. Follow the steps below to view, add and edit the Article in
Case 3: Escapedia
Escapedia.
Wiki View Article in Escapedia
You can click on “Escapedia” on the left side navigation menu from any
• Wiki on UNESCAP projects and subjects
page in the system.

17. Cautions:
Case 3: Escapedia You can only add and update information related to project document in the
PMS. You cannot add new project in the PMS, since the system will update
the project classifications from the existing E-TC Database.
Projects
View Project in Project Management System (PMS)
• Catalogthecan click on “Project” on the left side navigation menu from any page
You
in
of projects ...
system.

18. Case 3: Escapedia
Projects
KM-TC System version 1.0 User Manual
• ... sort and filter on wide range of criteria ...

19. Add and Edit Information in Project Management System (PMS)
Case project profile page
The
3: Escapedia provides you with the project classifications th
Projects
are updated from the existing E-TC database. You cannot change t
project classifications but you can add and edit the project docume
progress reports, and terminal report. Click on the “Project Document”
• Profile shows project details and related
edit the project document.

20. This chapter explains how to view and add document, and edit the
Case 3: Escapedia document profile in the Document Management System (DMS) of the KM-TC
System®. Follow the steps below to view, add and edit information in DMS.
Documents
View Document in Document Management System (DMS)
• CatalogYou canthe system.“Document” on the left side navigation menu from any
ofinproject documents
page
click on

21. Case 3: Escapedia
Documents
• Results:
• Very strong positive feedback from users
• Student hired by UNESCAP to fully implement
system for internal Knowledge Management

22. Conclusions

23. Conclusions
• AIT initiatives in Knowledge Management
• Teaching and Research:
• Multidisciplinary ICT4D initiative
• Infrastructure and Tools:
• Fundamental research in networking
• Applied research in software
• Regional Focus
• Collaborations with regional universities,
governments, and other partners

24. Paul Janecek
<paul@cs.ait.ac.th>
Computer Science and Information Management
School of Engineering and Technology
Asian Institute of Technology
Thailand