GIS for Rural Marketing Application layout and functionalities "LinCompass" is designed as a modular application. Modules are based on three broad requirements: 
At various levels problems were encountered mainly the non-availability of data at one source. For some of the districts, desired data could not be found for which either data was gathered manually or was processed. Process of collection took approximately two months. Also there were errors in the data: such as missing data, wrong figures etc. Data was then cleaned thoroughly to remove such errors. Market Analysis To identify the potential markets application offers various procedures such as prioritizing districts according to the required parameters or assigning the pre-decided list of places to be covered for further analysis. Thus making selection process flexible. These procedures as a result provide user with identified potential market on the basis of desired parameter depicted on the map. 2.1.1. Identification of potential market - Prioritization of districts. The Function of district prioritization enables the user to rank the districts based on desired parameters and weightage. User can prioritize districts with the option of national or state level considering only the rural areas, or urban areas or both. "LinCompass" has identified approximately forty parameters related to demographic, infrastructure, agriculture, civic, and economic information. User can prioritize districts by selecting any or all of these parameters and by assigning desired weightage to them. Finally the application ranks the districts based on the composite Index value (index provided by the client). This facilitates selection of below the line district. District priority index becomes the first step towards Below the Line (BTL) campaign planning. |