Project description:

Using open source data, this investigation documents how the mismanagement of drinking water facilities in Egypt has caused a decline in the per capita quota and an increase in the percentage of the underserved population with no full access to water.

Impact reached:

The impact was a better understanding of the issue of the water crisis in Egypt and its causes, and how it can be avoided, and who are the parties responsible for the crisis.

Techniques/technologies used:

Data collection and analysis was done through Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. Excel was used for its functions that hepled analyze data and answered questions. Data visualization was done through Neo4j Bloom, and the data folder and messages were visuzalized using the Tableau program and Datawrapper.

What was the hardest part of this project?

The hardest part of the investigation was analyzing the data due to its sheer volume. The investigation relied on databases from 2011 through 2019. The investigation relied on more than 20 databases, and each database contained at least 5 data parts. Therefore, analyzing the data, identifying the appropriate parts for the investigation and excluding the excess data, was the hardest and most time-consuming part

What can others learn from this project?

What can be learned is how to use data to be the basis of an investigative report, and not just data to support the investigation, but have a data-driven investigation. Not only that, but how to use data display tools such as Flourish, Datawraper and others, to produce the best visuals from data in a way that makes it easier for the reader to understand. Lastly, data makes it easier for the journalist to confront sources. When you talk with data and numbers which are from official sources and bodies, the source will not be able to deny them and will instead begin talking about the reason behind the numbers.

Project links:

arij.net/investigations/inv-data02/