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- Maps 2.0 – Geospatial Tools for Nonprofits and Humanitarian Relief
Maps 2.0 – Geospatial Tools for Nonprofits and Humanitarian Relief
Voting Summary (Elevator Pitch):
Maps 2.0, a collaboration already under way, will launch the first online resource for nonprofit and humanitarian organizations to share best practices in geographic information systems (GIS) and digital mapping tools.
Supporting organization:
HumaniNet
URL:
http://www.humaninet.org/index.html
City:
Portland
State/Region:
Oregon
Country:
USA
Give and Take: Describe your project's top three needs
Type of expertise needed:
Management Expertise Maps 2.0 needs:
- Staff to manage research, volunteers, and Web resources
- A Web ecosystem for content management and delivery
- A nonprofit GIS convening in late 2007
- Assistance with fundraising strategy
Type of expertise needed:
Marketing/Media Expertise
The Maps 2.0 team would benefit from assistance in e-marketing and outreach to the nonprofit community and building communities of practice within the three sectors: humanitarian, community nonprofit, and civic engagement. Media and strategic marketing support would also be valuable!
Type of expertise needed:
Other
The Maps 2.0 partners are seeking sponsors and planning assistance for a convening that will bring together GIS experts and practitioners, nonprofit users, and sponsors to reach more nonprofits, gain greater visibility, and stimulate vigorous dialogue and collaboration.
Project Vision Statement & Potential Social Impact:
Since the Asia tsunami disaster in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, a growing number of nonprofit and humanitarian organizations have recognized the tremendous potential of Web-delivered maps and map-based analysis. Google Earth and other Web services have demonstrated the power of online mapping tools, often known as geographic information systems (GIS) or geospatial analysis.
The HumaniNet team and our nonprofit partners believe that this revolution in mapping tools will change the way we think about projects with social, environmental, and humanitarian purposes. Geospatial, map-based data management will improve program monitoring and evaluation, reporting, overall transparency with beneficiaries and donors, and the speed and effectiveness of humanitarian responses.
A growing number of nonprofit teams and initiatives have begun to use geospatial tools to create maps for disaster teams, study environmental and global warming trends, and analyze "layers" of data in community projects. While there are hundreds of examples and success stories, there is no single clearinghouse for sharing best practices, learning of new open source GIS tools, and connecting with others in the nonprofit community with common needs.
Maps 2.0 will establish the first nonprofit online resource for sharing best practices in GIS and digital maps. In partnership with Aspiration and Mercy Corps, HumaniNet has already formed an advisory team for creating a volunteer-based community of practice in GIS.
Using Aspiration's Social Source Commons and other Open Source collaborative tools, the Maps 2.0 team will review and post significant and promising GIS developments and facilitate networking with other GIS experts and users. HumaniNet's experience in leading collaborative communities and partnering with over 100 global organizations will be a key advantage.
The Maps 2.0 community will be a quantum boost to the nonprofit and humanitarian teams that are otherwise "on their own" to find, evaluate, and implement map-based tools in support of such projects as community action, affordable housing, preserving endangered species, water and agricultural development projects, and of course disaster response.
Sustainability (financial) model:
Maps 2.0 will have the benefit of a number of Open Source tools, donated services, and relevant experience to sustain the project over the long term:
- An already-formed team of expert advisors with experience in GIS and knowledge of field user needs
- HumaniNet's online Community Center for core team collaboration (Open Source software, minimal hosting costs).
- Aspiration's Social Source Commons, an open forum which will enable participants to share lists of GIS tools and data layers, exchange ideas, and discover new solutions (Open Source software, no hosting costs)
- Broad access to user organizations through existing networks and Web sites – HumaniNet in global humanitarian support, and Aspiration in a wide spectrum of nonprofit missions
- HumaniNet's five-year record of leading collaborative online communities, engaging technology volunteers, publishing best practices, and partnering with nonprofit and humanitarian teams.
Following launch, Maps 2.0 will be maintained on a sustainable basis at a funding level of approximately $500 per month, enabling new GIS projects and subcommunities to leverage the content and the active network of users, volunteers, and geospatial technology experts.
Technology Vision:
A revolution in Web-delivered digital maps and map-based analysis is under way and will change the way nonprofits solve social, environmental, and humanitarian problems. It is vital that nonprofit and humanitarian teams leverage these proven and powerful technologies.
Potential obstacles:
Maps 2.0 is a small project that has enormous leverage as an enabler for nonprofit and humanitarian organizations. It is feasible in every way, using established Open Source platforms, a proven model of collaboration, and already-identified expert volunteers.
The only significant risk is that the project team may receive more inputs than can be processed by the team, both before and after the launch. There are many GIS technologies that are in use or development, and the team will depend upon users to identify the most promising.
Resource Needs:
The participating partners seek $10,000 of funding for project management, hosting, and expenses to launch the online GIS community resource over a six-month period. The cost of launch includes:
- Project management
- GIS technology team and research leadership
- Hosting, conferencing, and incidental expenses
A follow-on project, with larger scope, is also being planned that would expand the Maps 2.0 project to include a "help desk" function, leadership of GIS subcommunities, expanded content, and Webcasts and full case studies of success stories.
Key Milestones:
HumaniNet, Aspiration, and Mercy Corps have outlined the following project plan:
Phase 1, Project Plan – under way; detailed plan complete by May 15. A GIS community will also be set up on Social Source Commons by that date, with announcements to the HumaniNet and Aspiration networks. Advisory Team and Research Team identified to lead the community of practice, which will utilize an online discussion group for cross-fertilization and reporting.
The Advisory Team and Research Team will hold a monthly review by Webcast or conference call.
Phase 2, Research and Review (Months 1-3) – to begin when funding is secured. The Research Team will invite nonprofit users and GIS practitioners to submit known tools and available data sets for evaluation and enter them in Social Source Commons. The invitation will be sent to a number of nonprofit and humanitarian networks. The Research Team will create and maintain a list of best practices in the HumaniNet Community Center and evaluate the entries based on user experience, performance, and maturity of the GIS tools.
Phase 3, Publicize (Months 4-5) – publication of results, on Web sites (including NetSquared), in e-newsletters, and through other Web media.
Phase 4, Project Review (Month 6) – project review and evaluation of success. Measures of success will include:
- Number of opt-in members to community of practice
- Number of GIS tools and data sets submitted, reviewed, and posted
- Feedback and testimonials from nonprofit and humanitarian members
Based on the Month 6 final project report from the Research Team, the Advisory Team will conduct a final review and document their conclusions and recommendations.
Project Summary:
Since the Asia tsunami disaster in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, a growing number of nonprofit and humanitarian organizations have recognized the tremendous potential of Web-delivered maps and map-based analysis. Google Earth and other Web services have demonstrated the power of online mapping tools, often known as geographic information systems (GIS) or geospatial analysis.
The HumaniNet team and our nonprofit partners believe that this revolution in mapping tools will change the way we think about – and manage - programs with social, environmental, and humanitarian purposes. Geospatial, map-based data management will improve program monitoring and evaluation, reporting, overall transparency with beneficiaries and donors, and the speed and effectiveness of humanitarian responses.
Maps 2.0 will establish the first nonprofit online resource for sharing best practices in GIS and digital maps. In partnership with Aspiration and Mercy Corps, HumaniNet has already formed an advisory team for creating a volunteer-based community of practice in GIS.
Using Aspiration's Social Source Commons, a proven Open Source platform, the Maps 2.0 team will review and post significant and promising GIS developments and facilitate networking with other GIS experts and users. HumaniNet's experience in leading collaborative communities and partnering with over 100 global organizations will be a key advantage.
The Maps 2.0 online community will be an energetic, volunteer-driven initiative that will change the way many nonprofits present information and collaborate to solve difficult problems, using the power of GIS.
For an example of maps used by relief teams, see the UNOSAT map of the Solomon Islands (1MB pdf file) following the April 2 tsunami.
Comments
let's support this!
Your project seems very interesting and useful. I hope you can get all the help that you need . A recently launched website aiming to help get funds/ budget for projects like this may help you get it done as soon as possible… Check out www.micro-capital.com.
Let’s support this project!
Rio
Maps 2.0: A non-profit view of the GIS landscape
Connecting people with real-world experience, to help them figure out what works and what doesn't, has always been at the core of HumaniNet's activities. I like this approach because it's not about reinventing wheels, but rather telling stories about wheels: what works off-road, how hard it is to change a tire quickly in the field, what kind of pump will work best, and how much pressure to put in the tire based on the terrain and other needs of the situation.
Maps 2.0 would create a growing library of the kind of on-the-ground insight that is so critical for successfully implementing technology projects. In addition, developers will get attention for their projects and feedback to improve them, and supporters and funders will have an expanded perspective of the non-profit GIS landscape. Such a resource would benefit a broad and diverse set of organizations.
Maps 2.0, Please check our Imanote, our software tool
Yesterday we posted Imanote our software tool on Net (2) Case Studies. You should check it out because you kmight be able to use it in your project.
Best regards,
Lily
ImaNote
We'll look forward to checking it out, Lily - looks very interesting. Thank you!
maps 2.0
Go Maps 2.0
We love Maps 2.0!
Aspiration is really psyched to partner with Humaninet in moving the vision of Maps 2.0 forward.
Humaninet has a practical, field-tested and long-term vision for how mapping tools and better documentation about the same can help humanitarian efforts and in general benefit social change organizations.
And we can't wait to make more exciting announcements about fun things we're cooking up to make the world a mappier place!
Excellent Initiative
Access to maps, especially those that provide a summary and analysis of available data, is essential to timely and effective disaster response. I strongly support any initiative that will facilitate this, especially one that will capture the best from those actively engaged in this arena. Having benefitted from the excellent support services Humaninet currently provides and knowing the level of professionalism and attention paid to detail that is the norm for the Humaninet collaborative, I am excited at what the outcome of Maps 2.0 will be.
Robert Patton
Emergency Management Coordinator Asia region
Has great potential to meet a real need
Greg,
I'm glad to see this project being launched. It is quite timely, and has great potential to serve the rapidly-growing GIS needs of international humanitarian and relief & development programs.
The GIS world is changing so rapidly and, thankfully, more people with excellent GIS knowledge and experience are wanting to get directly involved to make a difference. I see Maps 2.0 being a strategic service to link valuable information and expertise with critical needs around the world.
Mike O'Rear, President
Global Mapping International (www.gmi.org)
Addressing key obstacle to wider and more effective use of GIS
Maps 2.0 can be as helpful for GIS tools as TechSoup is for broad-based IT tools. The domain of knowledge is more narrow and deeper, so the need for expert guidance and assistance may be felt more sharply.
While GIS has been incorporated with success into the environmental/conservation community, it is by and large a missed opportunity – and a huge one – in the humanitarian relief and development one. There are some notable demonstrations of success, and these are exceptions, not the rule. This project addresses a major obstacle to adoption as common and effective practice.
Geospatial Knowledge & Technology Transfer (win/win for NGOs)
Maps 2.0 will provide maximum benefit to any NGO or Humanitarian Relief Organization interested in bringing mapping tools to their organization.
Providing sound, unbiased, information on best practices and implementation advice on all types of geospatial technologies will enable NGOs to select the best tools for their specific organizational needs.
Desiring continued success for others, MAPS 2.0 envisions more than just handing over a "GIS black box" and walking away. Rather, this group seeks to educate, collaborate and partner with NGOs and Humanitarian Relief Organizations - transferring not only geospatial technology, but also providing relevant applied geospatial knowledge.
--Harold Feinberg
public-private partnerships
HumaniNet is one of the three most effective, inclusive and productive consortia working to improve emergency communications and tech operations in the field of disaster response and humanitarian relief. The Disaster Resource Network relies on HumaniNet as a source of information on current developments in the field, which in turn we use to help business/industry leaders in the communications and technology sectors improve the quality and value of their contributions to international disaster response.
KathleenConnolly, Associate Director
Disaster Resource Network, An Initiative of the World Economic Forum
MyMaps
Gregg,
I've asked this of a few mapping projects (just out of curiosity)- does Google's release of MyMaps change your goals/strategies, etc?
Just curious,
Phil, Cauzoo
The current strategy
The current strategy proposed by Maps 2.0 and Humaninet is still appropriate to the NGO, Non-Profit and Humanitarian Relief communities. Building up the geospatial awareness and GIS capabilities of these communities is as the heart of the effort.
Google's MyMaps is a great step forward for users of Google Maps & the increased ability to put the vector onto the Google Earth interface as well makes MyMaps even better for users.
However, where Google Maps GE (and most other mashup technologies as well) still fall short is in the area of analysis. Analysis is the heart of GIS & Remote Sensing whereas most mashups are concerned with map display.
MAPS 2.0 will encourage and most certainly leverage the use of mashup technology, but for now most of the tools for web based geospatial analysis are either commercial or open source tools, requiring at least some development.
In other words the map (in GE, Virtual Earth, World Wind) is often just the starting point for many other questions.
--Harold Feinberg
MyMaps
Great question, Phil,
The Maps 2.0 team will evaluate anything that is helpful to nonprofits and humanitarian groups, including MyMaps, from the user perspective. There are usually special considerations, for example testing how the tool works over a satellite or cellular connection (disaster relief), suitability of the maps for the project, training and usability factors, etc. If nonprofits use it with success, we will let the community know.
I'll ask some of our GIS experts to weigh in also.
Gregg, HumaniNet
Now there's a project that needs support!
As one who has been in disasters all over the world, I can tell you first-hand that this is a much needed tool.
Also, as one who will now be looking seriously into tapping into this resource, and as one who will be doing so in the midst of disasters and wars, I hope their potential obstacle concerns are not realized.
This is one deserving of support. I'm anxious to meet these people.
Randy Roberson - Disaster Logistics
H.E.L.P.
rroberson@disasterlogistics.org
www.disasterlogistics.org
Good to hear. This means the
Good to hear. This means the development cycle will be a lot quicker and that’s something we can all look forward to.
Best wishes,<a href="http://freeworlddvd.com/">Freeworlddvd</a>.
Actual need for integration & support
Maps 2.0 - a community of practice
Partnership with ReliefWeb?
Gregg - Great idea, and quite a large scope. Will your project attempt to partner with already existing mapmakers in the humanitarian realm like United Nations' ReliefWeb?
See: http://reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/doc114?OpenForm
Yes - collaboration is the right approach
Thanks for asking, JC - yes, we have been in touch with ReliefWeb for over two years and will definitely look to them and others with proven geospatial solutions. And not only for disaster relief - the community of practice should include HungerMaps and any GIS team that is willing to share their success stories.
Last year, we hosted Sebastian Naidoo, a ReliefWeb director, on a Webcast that was very well received. The GIS community should look at Webcasts as an excellent means of cross-fertilization.