Re: [DDN] Progressive Uses for GIS Other Mapping Technologies
I posted a message on my blog today suggesting ways GIS could be used. We're piloting these in the Tutor/Mentor Connection. Visit the Program Locator at www.tutormentorexchange.net to see what we are doing. The important thing to recognize about using GIS in the disaster areas is that you need a three-part strategy. Finding ways to adopt a GIS to your purposes is just one-third of what you need. The other two parts of the strategy are: a) you need a way to collect data that shows who the agencies are that are providing needed services in any of the areas where a disaster caused a need for those services. This data collection and maintenance is a never ending challenge because the providers keep changing contact information and new people keep entering the mix b) you also need a way to advertising on a consistent, daily, long term basis, just the way McDonalds and other fast food people have been advertising fast food for the past 55 years. If you can do this as effectively, you can draw volunteers, donors, media and other stakeholders through your map to the places where help is needed. If anyone would like to help with this project, let me know. Dan Bassill Tutor/Mentor Connection Chicago on 9/1/05 9:14 AM, Chris at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello good people, I am beginning research into ways in which mapping technologies like GIS (1) are being used (and can potentially be used) to help avert or cope with humanitarian disasters. The tragedy of New Orleans has given me some insight into the potential and limitations for this use of geospatial technologies. Thanks to Andy Carvin for applying his blogging/networking skills to this problem and prompting this line of thinking. Recent discussion of geocoded pictures has also been stimulating. GIS is a sophisticated, robust technology that is being used to map and analyze data in numerous fields, especially environmental studies and public health. One of the most compelling features of GIS research is that it takes advantage of the contemporary wealth of data that is collected by all kinds of environmental monitors. (eg: weather is monitored constantly, and existing datasets can be mapped geospatially to discover, for example, patterns in flooding or to predict the best time to plant crops.) New Orleans has for some time been the subject of extensive GIS research because of it precarious position below sea level. The availability of this technology has, I feel certain, prevented or alleviated numerous problems created by the hurricane. I am interested in discovering similar, existing applications for GIS in poorer parts of the world. I would also like to find discussion/research of _potential_ uses, especially, again, in the context of poverty. The center for New Orleans GIS research is at Louisiana State University; they have an excellent website(2) that distributes their GIS data. I doubt that there is any much more sophisticated model of GIS research. What fascinates me is that, although I am new to GIS, it appears that there is a strong open source sensibility about their work -- the information is provided free and intended for extended use. How can this be expanded and reproduced? Thanks for any leads in this subject, Chris Blow http://www.pictr.org (1) Definition of GIS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gis (2) Louisiana state GIS research: http://www.publichealth.hurricane.lsu.edu ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
Re: [DDN] Progressive Uses for GIS Other Mapping Technologies
Chris wrote: New Orleans has for some time been the subject of extensive GIS research because of it precarious position below sea level. The availability of this technology has, I feel certain, prevented or alleviated numerous problems created by the hurricane. I'm not sure what you mean in this last sentence... do you mean 'could have'? And I would like to know what problems could have been alleviated with GIS in this regard... Since New Orleans was built, everyone knew there would be a problem - thus the flow of drainage from the river to the lake (which is non-intuitive). Nothing was really done... more technology to study the problem doesn't really guarantee that something could be done. Now, using technology to assure that something is done is something I agree with hands down. I am interested in discovering similar, existing applications for GIS in poorer parts of the world. I would also like to find discussion/research of _potential_ uses, especially, again, in the context of poverty. I beat this to death after the tsunami, as did others, and some of it was in the ARC project which we threw together. Trying to get things done is where I am focusing my efforts these days... If someone can guarantee that something will get pushed bureaucracy at this point, I'll help. If Moses had this amount of bureaucracy, he and his people would still be in Egypt. -- Taran Rampersad Presently in: Georgetown, Guyana [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.knowprose.com http://www.easylum.net http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/Taran Criticize by creating. — Michelangelo ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
[DDN] Progressive Uses for GIS Other Mapping Technologies
Hello good people, I am beginning research into ways in which mapping technologies like GIS (1) are being used (and can potentially be used) to help avert or cope with humanitarian disasters. The tragedy of New Orleans has given me some insight into the potential and limitations for this use of geospatial technologies. Thanks to Andy Carvin for applying his blogging/networking skills to this problem and prompting this line of thinking. Recent discussion of geocoded pictures has also been stimulating. GIS is a sophisticated, robust technology that is being used to map and analyze data in numerous fields, especially environmental studies and public health. One of the most compelling features of GIS research is that it takes advantage of the contemporary wealth of data that is collected by all kinds of environmental monitors. (eg: weather is monitored constantly, and existing datasets can be mapped geospatially to discover, for example, patterns in flooding or to predict the best time to plant crops.) New Orleans has for some time been the subject of extensive GIS research because of it precarious position below sea level. The availability of this technology has, I feel certain, prevented or alleviated numerous problems created by the hurricane. I am interested in discovering similar, existing applications for GIS in poorer parts of the world. I would also like to find discussion/research of _potential_ uses, especially, again, in the context of poverty. The center for New Orleans GIS research is at Louisiana State University; they have an excellent website(2) that distributes their GIS data. I doubt that there is any much more sophisticated model of GIS research. What fascinates me is that, although I am new to GIS, it appears that there is a strong open source sensibility about their work -- the information is provided free and intended for extended use. How can this be expanded and reproduced? Thanks for any leads in this subject, Chris Blow http://www.pictr.org (1) Definition of GIS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gis (2) Louisiana state GIS research: http://www.publichealth.hurricane.lsu.edu ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.