Charities can benefit greatly from web GIS because of the unique ability to measure
impact they have in communities they serve, with their stakeholders and potential donors
through web maps. The Trailblazer Foundation has been working in Siem Reap,
Cambodia, one of the poorest provinces in Cambodia, for nearly a decade. They primarily
install bio-sand water filters, in addition to other sustainable community development
projects in areas of greatest need. The web mapping application built for this project
allows the Trailblazer Foundation to analyze its impact in Siem Reap and share results,
all in a web-based environment. Spatial analysis was conducted to compare living
conditions of project beneficiaries over time, and compare to results throughout the
province as well as identify areas within Siem Reap that require more attention as a result
of significantly poorer living conditions measured by survey results. The interactive
application allows stakeholders with little to no GIS experience to explore the data and
inform themselves of the difference Trailblazer Foundation has made in the lives of rural
Cambodians. This project is an example of how GIS can improve lives by identifying
areas of greatest need and connecting those communities with the resources that enable
healthier lives.