Scottish thinkWhere Powers Humanitarian Disaster Response 

Cloud-based management tool by Scottish thinkWhere gives first responders and aid agencies faster access to up to date and accurate maps.

Scottish GIS company, thinkWhere, is playing a vital role in enabling the delivery of emergency response and aid to areas hit by natural and humanitarian crises. Working with HOT – the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team, thinkWhere has developed an advanced cloud-based mapping management system.

Coordinating the work of tens of thousands of people around the world, the OSM (OpenStreetMap) Tasking Manager will improve the efficiency of map production, giving first responders and aid agencies faster access to up to date and accurate maps.

One of the world’s most technically effective humanitarian groups, US-based HOT specialises in collaborative mapping for disaster preparation, response and recovery.

HOT acts as the interface between the OpenStreetMap community, a collective of volunteers that use aerial photography, satellite imagery and low tech field devices, such as GPS, to map features and infrastructure as well as people and events, and relief organisations.

HOT works alongside organisations such as the Red Cross,  Médecins Sans Frontières and the World Bank and, as well as post disaster support, HOT is working to improve risk models and grow the OpenStreetMap community in countries such as Tanzania, Uganda, Liberia, Indonesia and Turkey.

“Coordinating the activities and contributions of more than 60,000 ‘digital humanitarians’ around the world is a complex task,” commented Tyler Radford, Executive Director of HOT.”

“The latest technical developments by thinkWhere will dramatically improve our capability and help speed the delivery of aid to disaster areas.  The OSM Tasking Manager enhances mapper engagement with better communications and feedback, and easier validation of contributed data.  It will also give us better scalability with improved project creation and management, and easier third party integration.”

“Up to date and accurate information is critical when it comes to humanitarian crises, and while commercial mapping solutions are available, they often focus on services and facilities rather than essential infrastructure and ground features,” added Alan Moore, Chief Executive of thinkWhere.

“By working with HOT to develop the OSM Tasking Manager, we can help ensure the people on the ground have the information they need when they need it.”

Radford concluded, “Finally, we are grateful for the ongoing support from the USAID GeoCenter and the Australian Government – via the Indonesia Disaster Management Innovation program – both long term supporters of HOT in facilitating the OSM Tasking Manager project.”

The relationship with HOT arose as a result of thinkWhere’s association with its charity partner MapAction, an organisation that gathers crucial data at the scene of emergencies and natural disasters and conveys it visually to first responders and relief organisations.

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