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Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team Responds In Nepal
An anonymous reader writes with news about the efforts of the The Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team to help in the aftermath of the earthquake in Nepal. The team asks those living in the affected areas to help out by reporting which buildings are damaged, which are still standing, and where fissures and other quake damage is located. Opensource.com has a profile of their efforts which reads: Since the devastating earthquake in Nepal, there have been responses from all over the world from relief agencies, governments, non-profits, and ordinary citizens. One interesting effort has been from the crowdsourced mapping community, especially on OpenStreetMap.org, a free and open web map of the world that anyone can edit (think the Wikipedia of maps.) The Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT), an NGO that works to train, coordinate, and organize mapping on OpenStreetMap for humanitarian, disaster response, and economic development, has mobilized volunteers from around the world to help map since the Haiti earthquake in 2010.
Our little group donated $1000 for helicopter fuel. Absolutely NO administrative costs either.
Don't be apathetic. Procrastinate!
On a slightly related note: I wanted to add minor resources like bike repair stations and water fountains in my city, and figured there MUST be an android app that would make this about as simple as "hold your phone over it for a bit to get an averaged position, now click this and then "water fountain".
Nothing that I could see was remotely this simple? Even the web editor is a nightmare of trying to figure out exactly how to do things...and the wiki didn't help much, either, with poor documentation on the various properties one can assign to an object.
Please help metamoderate.
Looking at the news stories they've either worked with or have some kind of relationship with MapAction?
http://www.mapaction.org/
Also worth a look: Look for search and rescue groups and similar in your area. They nearly always need help with their IT and in return you'll learn a load of new skills.
Go to http://www.tomnod.com/campaign/nepal_popvalidation_2015/polygon/random
From their site:
Help locate remote Nepali villages
As post-earthquake relief organizations turn their attention to Nepals most vulnerable rural areas, its imperative they have an accurate map of the nations remote populations. The map we create together will help teams know where to go and what to bring.
Start by looking at the pink polygon on your screen (you can use the area outside of the pink polygon as context, but only vote based on what you see inside the pink polygon). If the pink polygon contains a building, click the "Building(s)" button or press the "1" key on your keyboard. Use "Not sure" if your polygon is obstructed by clouds. A good rule of thumb is to only vote "Building(s)" if at least 50% of one building is within the polygon, but because each polygon presents a new scenario, we ask that you use your best judgement on which 3 choices to use.
This will be a very useful tool once they have internet access again or for the first time.
SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.