International expert meeting on crowdsource mapping for disaster risk management and emergency response

In recent years, technological advancements have made it possible for Volunteer and Technical Communities (V&TCs) i.e. OpenStreetMap, Ushahidi, Sahana, CrisisMappers, Virtual Disaster Viewer, Google MapMaker, INSTEDD and others to provide increasing support to disaster risk management and emergency response efforts. Important cornerstones of this virtual effort are the possibility to access and take advantage of satellite imagery as well as the use of other space-based technologies such as telecommunications satellites and global navigation satellite systems.

The United Nations recognizes the importance of such new methodologies for disaster risk management and emergency response. This is demonstrated in the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ involvement in requesting the establishment of a crisis mapping platform in Libya and in the support the United Nations Foundation and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs provided to the 2011 Harvard Humanitarian Initiative Report, “Disaster Relief 2.0: The Future of Information Sharing in Humanitarian Emergencies.” Taking note of the need to connect these pioneering communities with the space industry as well as the disaster management community the UN-SPIDER Programme is carrying out a number of activities with the view to identifying and organising specific actions that could ensure a closer cooperation among the three communities (crowdsource mapping, disaster management and space technology communities). The UN-SPIDER Programme is ideally positioned to conduct this project given its mandate and its role within the United Nations which is to promote the use of space-based information; its established networks bringing together national institutions responsible for disaster management and emergency response, as well as other end users, and space solution experts; and its technical foundation, particularly in the area of information technologies.