Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Big Data: A Natural Solution for Disaster Relief | SmartData Collective

Big Data: A Natural Solution for Disaster Relief | SmartData Collective: Terrestrial challenges, on the other hand, are currently more amenable to big data. One of big data’s true strengths lies in crisis mapping, the process of using visualizations, footage, analysis and apps to get an overview of a disaster as it evolves. Google’s Superstorm Sandy Crisis Map tracked the course of last winter’s storm, with video footage, evacuation routes and emergency aid centers. The UN commissioned the Digital Humanitarian Network to track the real-time effects of Typhoon Pablo in the Philippines. Among other efforts, social data was analyzed to provide a detailed, real-time map of displaced people, fatalities, crop damage, broken bridges and more.

Hundreds of Red Cross Disaster Relief Workers Helping in Mississippi

Hundreds of Red Cross Disaster Relief Workers Helping in Mississippi: Hundreds of American Red Cross disaster relief workers are in Mississippi with more arriving over the Presidential holiday weekend.

"Close to 300 Red Cross volunteers are on the ground in South and Central Mississippi providing disaster relief and comfort to those affected by last weekend’s tornadoes and floods,” said Tinika Fails, Volunteer and Training Manager for the American Red Cross Mississippi Region. “Thanks to these dedicated folks, yesterday we were able to provide more than 2,000 meals, 2,000 snacks and 2,000 disaster relief items to people in the impacted areas.”

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Japan disaster relief effort boosted by 'goodwill gold rush' | World news | guardian.co.uk

Japan disaster relief effort boosted by 'goodwill gold rush' | World news | guardian.co.uk: Japan disaster relief effort boosted by 'goodwill gold rush'

Anonymous donor from northern Japan sends eight gold ingots worth �160,000 to Ishinomaki, where 3,000 people died