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In times of disaster, social media can provide an on-the-ground view of what's happening, who needs help, and where they're located. But this high volume of information can be overwhelming for relief organizations. A new set of micro-tasking apps, called MicroMappers, are trying to solve this problem so relief organizations can help volunteers pinpoint exactly where help is needed and identify useful (not to mention valid) social media data. TechSoup's Senior Content Manager Ariel Gilbert-Knight details how the MicroMappers apps work in the Guardian Global Development Professionals Network, a blog associated with The Guardian.
The Guardian Professional Network is a space where professionals can share knowledge and expertise around global development and social justice. The authors come from varying sectors, including NGOs, government agencies, academia, and business. The network is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as other global sponsors.
For more resources and products around disaster planning, check out TechSoup's Disaster Planning and Recovery page. Additionally, make sure to get a copy of The Resilient Organization, TechSoup's disaster planning guide for nonprofits and public libraries. And for more on how innovative technology is changing disaster response efforts, read Technology's Impact on Disaster Relief.
Image: aboyandhisbike
Ginny Mies is a Content Curator at TechSoup Global.
Terrific addition to topics (crowds in disaster response, IT in disaster response, etc.) that have come up many times on the TechSoup Community Forum:
Introducing MicroMappers for Digital Disaster Response
forums.techsoup.org/.../126685.aspx
United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) uses crowd-sourcing to explore solutions
forums.techsoup.org/.../128559.aspx
Crowd-Sourcing the Nation: Using Volunteers for Enhanced Data Collection for USGS
forums.techsoup.org/.../129101.aspx
Humanity Road - nonprofit using tech re: disaster relief
forums.techsoup.org/.../128155.aspx
Can emergency management and disaster response organizations convince Twitter users to use their organizations' apps instead?
forums.techsoup.org/.../128369.aspx
Trilogy Emergency Relief App - another mobile tool from IFRC
forums.techsoup.org/.../126284.aspx
online registry for donated items after a disaster - how to make it happen?
forums.techsoup.org/.../128011.aspx
What tools exist that facilitate communication between organizations during a disaster, what more are needed?
forums.techsoup.org/.../106642.aspx
1st International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Management
24 to 25 March 2014
forums.techsoup.org/.../128167.aspx