iCons in Medicine: Japan

Monday, April 11, 2011

On Crisis Mapping

Web-based mapping tools have been used to track disease outbreaks, and more recently have been employed in response to natural disasters. Many humanitarian relief efforts have employed crowd-sourcing as a means to gather and share information. By utilizing crowd-sourcing tools including digital maps, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other interested parties can collaborate more effectively and improve humanitarian relief responses to natural disasters. For example, crowd-sourced maps can provide disparate networks of volunteers with a simplified way to share information, and can give local relief workers a clearer picture of the situation on the ground as they establish priorities for food, shelter, sanitation services, and healthcare facilities.

The web-reporting platform Ushahidi has been used by human rights and humanitarian aid workers to document and track progress during and immediately following crisis and natural disaster situations. Unlike other similar tools, Ushahidi is open source, and allows for information to be input using cell phones and other web-connected devices. Specialized versions of the Ushahidi crisis-mapping tool are frequently developed following natural disasters, including the recent earthquake in Japan, to allow individuals on the ground to text the locations of individuals in need of assistance or the locations of clinics or hospitals. Recent iterations of Ushahidi have integrated “check-in” functionality as well, further simplifying the process of adding data to the map.

Though crisis-mapping tools were utilized following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the majority of their use was by international aid organizations. In contrast, updates to the Japan Crisis Map have been posted by volunteers, government employees, and others. By encouraging the active participation of more individuals, these types of crisis maps can give a fuller understanding of the situation on the ground. In addition, representatives from academic institutions are participating in efforts to examine the data gathered using crowd-sourced crisis maps and identify ways of improving how information is shared during and immediately following natural disasters. A recent report entitled “Disaster Relief 2.0: The Future of Information Sharing in Humanitarian Emergencies” is guiding these efforts by examining how new technologies can influence emergency relief work. The report documents how technology was used during the earthquake in Haiti and in the weeks and months following to locate survivors, provide information about where to receive assistance, and gather donations for aid organizations.

According to experts, “the crisis-mapping response to the earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010 was striking proof of the potential of new mapping tools,” and by examining the successes and shortcomings, the tools and technologies can be improved faster, and more efficient.”

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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Using the Internet to Assist Japan

On March 11, 2011, Japan was struck by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake – the fourth largest in the world since 1900 - proceeded by a massive tsunami. Reports indicate that at least 550,000 people have been displaced, and at least 10,000 have lost their lives. In the hours and days following these disasters, individuals and organizations have utilized the Internet as a “virtual crisis center,” using websites particularly social networking sites, to share information and locate friends and family members.

According to Ezra Gottheil, an analyst at Technology Business Research, “Social communications, like Twitter, and social networking sites, like Facebook, are at their best when big news is breaking.” As seen following the recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, humanitarian aid organizations have used social networking websites to solicit donations. Individuals have also used the sites to share information about their experiences on the ground and reconnect with friends and family members. Online Social Media, an organization which tracks social media services, reported that just an hour after the earthquake hit Japan, Twitter was experiencing 1,200 tweets per minute, many of them containing hashtags related to the tragedy. Facebook was similarly flooded with posts, which students in the U.S. and Japan are working together to use to paint a picture of the extent of the tragedy.

Large corporations have also created portals to help individuals locate loved ones and provide information about where to obtain medical assistance, food, potable water, and shelter. Google’s Person Finder database, available in Japanese, English, Korean, Chinese, and Portuguese allows users to enter a name and search for missing persons or post updates about people who they know are safe. A local version of the crisis-mapping tool, Ushahidi, has also been created and put in place. Ushahidi allows individuals in Japan to text or input online the locations of trapped people or clinic locations which are then plotted on a map so that users can easily pinpoint where people may be trapped, dangerous areas that should be avoided, and locations where food and clean water can be obtained.

Patrick Meier, director of crisis mapping and new media at Ushahidi, notes that “Ten percent of this [sharing of information] is the technology, and the other 90 percent is the people…That’s truer and truer as the technology gets easier to use.” As technology use and adoption becomes more widespread, the use of technology during the rescue and recovery period is likely to increase. By utilizing existing information and communication technologies and developing new ones, outcomes following natural disasters can be improved.

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FEMA Online Guide to Disaster Preparedness

Mobile applications that can prepare you for or provide assistance in a disaster situation: