Gaza mapping initiatives
Tue, 6 Jan 2009 00:00 GMT
As the situation continues to deteriorate in Gaza there is a great need for better maps of the crisis situation for use by relief agencies and other people on the ground.
Listed below are several initiatives that are addressing this need for information.
OpenStreetMap (OSM) -- a project that aims to create a free editable map of the world using GPS devices, aerial photography and other free sources -- has started collating information. They are looking for people familiar with Gaza's street names, features etc. to enhance the bare geometries of the current OSM map.
If you know the area or have contacts in the region please get in contact with OSM which is using a wiki to co-ordinate the work.
Several U.N. agencies are also providing information. UN OCHA Occupied Palestinian Territory (UNOCHA oPt) are in addition to the production of humanitarian situation reports supplementing them with overview maps.
UNOSAT also has created and continues to update a Gaza crisis map which depicts the reported attack by Israeli and Hamas forces (25 Dec 2008 - 5 Jan 1008).
The New York Times has also created a map which includes timelines of the latest attacks by Israeli air forces and Hamas.
The Al Jazeera news team are collaborating with Ushahidi (the website that was developed to map the reports of post election violence in Kenya in 2008) and Souktel (an IT non-profit that helps aid agencies manage crisis responses via mobile phone) to document the latest information for the region. Information can send by text to: +45609910303 - Start it with GAZA. You can also, SMS 37191 / +45609910303 - Twitter: @ajgaza http://labs.aljazeera.net/warongaza/
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