Crisis Mapping via crowdsourcing
What is crowdsourcing?
Crowdsourcing refers to the technique of tapping into the collective skills and intelligence of a population to complete a task. This typically occurs online and has allowed large websites like Wikipedia and YouTube to exist. In this particular discussion, crowdsourcing is used both when gathering data from a population through SMS texts and compiling the data to map out the impacts of a crisis.
What is ushahidi?
Ushahidi is part of the International Network of Crisis Mappers. The network defines itself as "the largest and most active international community of experts, practitioners, policymakers, technologists, researchers, journalists, scholars, hackers and skilled volunteers engaged at the intersection between humanitarian crisis, technology, crowd-sourcing, and crisis mapping." Ishahidi means testimony in Swahili and was created during the post election violence in Kenya in 2007 and 2008. It was used to record and map out reports of violence. Volunteers compiled these maps from reports submitted by those experiencing both violence and peace by text message and through the internet. Since then the network, consisting primarily of volunteers, has mapped out natural and man made crises around the world.
The below video was released by Ushahidi and outlines the manner in which the network works.
The below video was released by Ushahidi and outlines the manner in which the network works.
The below video is a TedTalk by Erik Hersman, who is heavily involved with Ushahidi and the field of crisis mapping through crowd sourcing.
The below video presents the use of Ushahidi in Haiti
Citations:
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, "Using technology to save lives in Sierra Leone." Last modified April 15, 2013. Accessed November 10, 2013. http://www.ifrc.org/en/news-and-media/press-releases/africa/sierra-leone/using-technology-to-save-lives-in-sierra-leone/.
Alslever, Jennifer. CBS, "What Is Crowdsourcing?." Last modified May 1, 2008. Accessed November 11, 2013. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-is-crowdsourcing/.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, "Using technology to save lives in Sierra Leone." Last modified April 15, 2013. Accessed November 10, 2013. http://www.ifrc.org/en/news-and-media/press-releases/africa/sierra-leone/using-technology-to-save-lives-in-sierra-leone/.
Alslever, Jennifer. CBS, "What Is Crowdsourcing?." Last modified May 1, 2008. Accessed November 11, 2013. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-is-crowdsourcing/.