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Donated software boosts productivity |
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 MapAction has been donated licences for Global Mapper GIS software for use in its work.
The Global Mapper software includes powerful tools to display, convert and edit most image, elevation and vector datasets. This is potentially useful on missions in parts of the world where a range of GIS data formats may be encountered. MapAction volunteer Kirsty Ferris remarked: "This software will be a very useful set of tools for us because we often get a weird and wonderful collection of data in the field, and Global Mapper is quick and easy to use". MapAction already benefits from the free use of a range of commercial GIS software, including the ArcGIS suite from ESRI, ERDAS Imagine, and ET Geowizards. For more information about Global Mapper visit www.globalmapper.com. |
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Pakistan mission continues despite bombing |
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 A MapAction team member in Pakistan had a lucky escape on the 9th June when she was caught in the terrorist attack on the Pearl Continental hotel in Peshawar.
Anne Frankland was in the city for one night, training United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) personnel on data collection methods for use in the current emergency in North West Frontier Province. Anne had just gone to bed when the blast shattered the windows of her room and blew down the door. She survived with only minor injuries but five humanitarian agency staff died in the blast. She said about the event: "The air was full of dust, it was hard to see. The building was rumbling and I thought it was going to collapse. Afterwards, our WFP colleagues really looked after me and the Pakistani people have been very warm, caring and concerned." Anne returned to Islamabad where she is continuing her MapAction mission in support of the Logistics Cluster. Two other MapAction team members are also deployed in Pakistan, where more than 2 million people have been affected by conflict between the government and insurgent groups in the north-west of the country. Anne is an experienced member of MapAction and it is her second time in Pakistan, having deployed there in 2005 following the Kashmir earthquake disaster. MapAction's Operations Director Nigel Woof said: "This appaling attack slaughtered both Pakistani and international humanitarian staff who are working to help people in desperate need. We're obviously deeply relieved that our team member escaped relatively unscathed but our thoughts are also with those who have lost colleagues and family." |
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Lively debate on disaster mapping |
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 MapAction and Alertnet jointly ran an event that examined the future on mapping in the aid world, on 4 June. The seminar was held at the Thomson Reuters headquarters in London and attracted representatives from international NGO's, UN agencies and other humanitarian organisations.
The event, entitled 'Mapping for Communications Planning and Advocacy' was filmed and can be accessed online via the following page: A clash of cultures between aid work and mapping? Nick McWilliam of MapAction, who chaired the discussion, remarked: "You can't respond to a disaster without first asking a lot of questions about 'where'." The problem of making a 'business case' for investment in mapping resources was debated at the seminar. The question of who will pay for new technologies -- and the data, much of which remains proprietary -- is not yet clear. The morning plenary sessions were followed by workshops on several technical subjects, including using Google Earth, and how to find map data sources for aid projects. Picture: REUTERS/Daniel Munoz |
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Fresh funding for MapAction |
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 The UK Government's Department for International Development (DFID) has announced a substantial two-year funding grant for MapAction. The grant totals £291,000 and follows on from a previous grant under DFID's Conflict and Humanitarian Fund.
MapAction's Director David Spackman commented: "This is excellent news for the charity as it provides essential financial security for our emergency mapping service, in an otherwise tough financial climate. In fact, the grant will cover an expansion of our work, which is in growing demand by our beneficiary organisations. DFID is a hard-nosed funder and their confidence in us is therefore doubly gratifying." The grant covers a substantial proportion of MapAction's core costs until March 2011. However, the charity's fundraising efforts from other sources will be accelerated to enable additional humanitarian work to be done. Plans include the expansion of MapAction's programme of assistance to help organisations in developing countries to use GIS and related methods to reduce disaster risks. Other MapAction donors encompass a range of grant-making trusts, corporate donors and individuals. One of the most important 'hidden' sources of support is the charity's volunteer group, pivoting on thirty or so committed GIS and other professionals who give their time free of charge to deliver the emergency mapping service in response to humanitarian emergencies around the world. |
 MapAction has published the first edition of its Field Guide to Humanitarian Mapping. The guide, which is downloadable free, will help aid organisations to use geospatial tools and methods in their work in emergencies. There are tutorials for Google Earth and open-source GIS software. Click here to access the guide. |
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