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.
