Papers by Sandie Walton-Ellery
IBM Journal of Research and Development
An effective response to humanitarian crises relies on detailed information about the needs of th... more An effective response to humanitarian crises relies on detailed information about the needs of the affected population. Current assessment approaches often require interviewers to convert complex, open-ended responses into simplified quantitative data. More nuanced insights require the use of qualitative methods, but proper transcription and manual coding are hard to conduct rapidly and at scale during a crisis. Natural language processing (NLP), a type of artificial intelligence, may provide potentially important new opportunities to capture qualitative data from voice responses and analyze it for relevant content to better inform more effective and rapid humanitarian assistance operational decisions. This paper provides an overview of how NLP can be used to transcribe, translate, and analyze large sets of qualitative responses with a view to improving the quality and effectiveness of humanitarian assistance. We describe the practical and ethical challenges of building on the diffusion of digital data collection platforms and introducing this new technology to the humanitarian context. Finally, we provide an overview of the principles that should be used to anticipate and mitigate risks.
Bangladesh confronts extreme levels of traffic congestion and air pollution, with resulting traff... more Bangladesh confronts extreme levels of traffic congestion and air pollution, with resulting traffic accidents and health problems for those who live in urban areas. Potential alleviation of these problems lies in the progressive closure of sections of Bangladesh's major cities to motorised traffic so as to prioritise the use of rickshaws in those sections. Rickshaws are an efficient, versatile and sustainable form of t ransportation. Virtues of this solution include the practicality of its implementation and the way in which it takes account of, and utilises, Bangladesh's existing strengths. Outcomes include less congested and saf er roads; less noise and pollution; enhanced accessibility; and rickshaw pullers being more valued and held in higher regard. Implementation brings with it the possibility of economic, social and welfare improvements for low - and middle- income people of Bangladesh. Prioritising rickshaws and non -motorised transport prioritises environmental qu...
Bangladesh confronts extreme levels of traffic congestion and air pollution, with resulting traff... more Bangladesh confronts extreme levels of traffic congestion and air pollution, with resulting traffic accidents and health problems for those who live in urban areas. Potential alleviation of these problems lies in the progressive closure of sections of Bangladesh's major cities to motorised traffic so as to prioritise the use of rickshaws in those sections. Rickshaws are an efficient, versatile and sustainable form of t ransportation. Virtues of this solution include the practicality of its implementation and the way in which it takes account of, and utilises, Bangladesh's existing strengths. Outcomes include less congested and saf er roads; less noise and pollution; enhanced accessibility; and rickshaw pullers being more valued and held in higher regard. Implementation brings with it the possibility of economic, social and welfare improvements for low - and middle- income people of Bangladesh. Prioritising rickshaws and non -motorised transport prioritises environmental qu...
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Papers by Sandie Walton-Ellery