Comments on: Mapless in Gaza

By: Assessing Gaza from an armchair in space | humanitarian.info

Assessing Gaza from an armchair in space | humanitarian.info — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:15:36 +0000

[...] my thoughts about being mapless in Gaza, I wanted to follow up on the work of UNITAR-UNOSAT, who have made the leap from the more basic [...]

By: Michael Howden

Michael Howden — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 01:06:43 +0000

I’m not sure if participatory mapping would be the complete answer – it’s still coming from a mapping perspective – although I don’t have any experience with it.

I think that it is the wrong approach to think: “Maps are great tools – aid workers need maps, so let’s make maps”, better to think: “What (information) do aid workers need? Can maps help them with that? How?”. I think that this might tie into the innovation fallacy – innovation being driven by tools, rather than problems.

I think that one of the main values of maps, is how it can be used as a canvas to display a wide variety of information.

One idea could be something along the lines of Google Street View – it would certainly be interesting to see a street view of Gaza at the moment. But short of being used as a publicity tool (such as http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/kroobay/webisodes.php) I’m not sure if it would solve any problems.

I also wonder if http://photosynth.net could, or already has had humanitarian applications

But here I go thinking about the tools that could be used…

By: Paul Currion

Paul Currion — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:27:06 +0000

Michael – participatory mapping is perhaps the missing link here?

By: Michael Howden

Michael Howden — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:38:15 +0000

I wonder if one of the problems to effective use of maps is that the general culture of humanitarian organizations exists at a much lower altitude, focusing on people. There is more emphasis on social relationships than geographical ones.

Once you go too high up, you can become detached from the people you are trying to help, although I do believe that it this geographical overview is essential to strategic planning.

Perhaps there is a challenge (and an opportunity) to link the birds-eye view with a more human(itarian) view.

Just a thought…

By: Mikel

Mikel — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:32:24 +0000

This whole OSM process was kicked off by a request for detail by a major humanitarian organization, gearing up for a potential operation in Gaza. No guarantees they will use our data, but there’s a very real possibility.

By: Paul Currion

Paul Currion — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:18:54 +0000

I think that individuals and communities affected by crisis are the most in need of timely and relevant data. I liked the idea of the Emergency News Agency you posted about, but I like much more the idea of involving beneficiaries in the information cycle at all points.

First responders should also be required by law (both civil law and donor contracts) to release their data into the public domain where there is no security issue around it. There is no justification for withholding data, and plenty of potential for it to be used more effectively.

(Of course we might be talking about different first responders – might be useful to clarify.)

By: Patrick Meier

Patrick Meier — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:43:44 +0000

Thanks for the post, Paul.

You’re absolutely right, if nobody uses the near real-time data, then what’s the point? Similarly, what’s the point of early warning if there is no link to early response? Crisis maps need to be used not just as maps but as *communication* tools, hence my argument for Mobile Crisis Mapping (MCP).

First responders are arguably in most need of near real-time data. How can they be assured that they receive timely and relevant data? Here are a couple thoughts:

*Ushahidi and Conflict Early Response*
http://earlywarning.wordpress.com/2008/12/26/ushahidi-and-conflict-early-response

*Crowdsourcing Warning AND Response*
http://earlywarning.wordpress.com/2008/10/17/crowdsourcing-warning-and-response