User guide
User Guide
Introduction
Welcome to the UNDP Encyclopedia of African Borderlands. This user guide is designed to provide you with a comprehensive walkthrough of our website, enabling you to navigate and utilize the wealth of information available on African border zones. Whether you are a researcher, policymaker, or enthusiast, this guide will help you access and analyze the data effectively.
Registration and Login
To get the most out of our website, you need to create an account or log in to an existing one. This step is crucial for navigating the page and accessing detailed data.
Location: Top right of the screen.
Instructions:
- Click on the "Register" or "Log In" button.
- Follow the prompts to create a new account or enter your credentials to log in.
Navigation Banner
Our navigation banner makes it easy to explore individual state-state borderlands. We have organized 106 borderlands in alphabetical order based on the first country in the pair, so Algeria-Libya will appear, but Libya-Algeria will not.
Location: Top of the page.
Instructions:
- Click on the dropdown menu to select a borderland.
- Use the alphabetical listing to find the desired borderland quickly.
Links to Key Resources
We have provided easy access to essential information and support through our links section.
Location: Below the introduction banner.
Links Provided:
-
Information on Data Sources:
Learn about the sources of our data and their licenses. -
User Guide:
Access this guide anytime for help. -
FAQs:
Find answers to frequently asked questions.
Our interactive continental map is a powerful tool for exploring African borderlands.
Features
Map Details:
- Black lines represent Africa's internal border network.
- Green zones represent the 30km buffer zone around borders.
- Blue zones detail all level two administrative zones that make contact with borders.
Interactive Elements:
- Hovering over administrative zones reveals information about their state, region, and district name.
Map Controls:
- Zoom in/out buttons.
- Full-screen button.
- Layers tab to change the base map (Satellite image or Open Street Maps) and toggle key features (Cities, Refugee Camps, etc.).
Instructions:
- Hover over the administrative zones to see detailed information.
- Use the zoom buttons on the left to focus on specific areas.
- Click the full-screen button for an expanded view.
- Use the layers tab to switch between map views and toggle features.
These tabs allow you to explore borderlands by various criteria.
Tabs Provided:
-
By Length:
Lists borders by their length. -
By Landmass:
Lists borders by the landmass of the regions they encompass. -
By Population:
Lists borders by population. -
By Population Growth %:
Lists borders by population growth percentage.
Instructions:
Click on any tab to sort the borderlands according to the selected criteria.
Search Functionality
The search function at the bottom of the front page enables you to quickly find and explore any African borderland.
Location:
Bottom of the front page.
Features
- Search through all African borderlands.
- Images of administrative (blue) and 30km (green) borderlands.
- Clicking an image takes you to the individual borderland page.
The core substance of the UNDP Encyclopedia of African Borderlands lies within the individual borderland pages. These pages provide detailed, focused insights into specific border regions, offering a wealth of data and interactive features to help you understand the unique dynamics at play in these areas. Each borderland page is designed to be a comprehensive resource for researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders interested in the socioeconomic and environmental aspects of African borderlands.
Interactive Map
Each borderland page features a detailed interactive map with extensive embedded data.
Features:
- Detailed Data: Specific to the border between two countries, including population and landmass of each border district, flooding and drought risk.
- Layers Tab: Additional options to toggle layers for Schools, Hospitals, ACLED Violence Data (last 10 years), concentrations of populations, infrastructures, and violence, and border crossing points.
Instructions:
- Use the layers tab to toggle additional data layers.
- Hover over specific areas to see detailed information about population, landmass, and risks.
Static Map Images
These static images provide additional context and are available for download.
Location: Below the interactive map.
- Downloadable static images of the borderland zone.
- Location on the continent.
- Satellite view showing the physical appearance of the terrain.
Features:
Instructions:
Click on the image to download a high-resolution version.Shape Files Download
We offer downloadable shape files for users who utilize GIS tools, allowing you to isolate datasets within the borderland space.
Location:
Next to the static map images.Features:
Downloadable shape files for GIS tool users.Instructions:
Click the download button to obtain the shape files.CSV Files Download
Download detailed data in CSV (Excel) format for further analysis.
Location:
Below the map.Features:
Access and download CSV files containing counts of different data aspects within the borderland zone (e.g., number of hospitals, violent incidents, etc.).Instructions:
Click the download button to obtain the CSV files.Conclusion
The UNDP Encyclopedia of African Borderlands website is a comprehensive tool designed to provide detailed insights into African border zones. We hope this guide helps you make the most of the resources available, enabling you to contribute to the understanding and development of African borderlands. Thank you for using our platform!