Sending GPS Coordinates from your Thuraya to Twitter
Humanitarian Mapping on Mobile Phones?
Map Maker is an Android application for creating maps in a disaster zone. It is designed to allow aid workers to quickly and easily create a map of the area they are working in. After a disaster such as a hurricane or earthquake the landscape can change so fundamentally that existing maps are rendered out of date. Knowing things like which roads are passable, where field hospitals are and suitable aircraft landing areas makes it far easier to manage an emergency.
Unfortunately the video has no audio and there are very few details. If this turns out to be more than vapourware I'd like to see some additions to support NGO security. Labels and tags for minefields, no-go areas, checkpoints, safety hazards etc. would be very nice.
If the creator of this program is out there listening I'd love to beta test this!
Gadget Roundup
We've all worked in areas
where mobile phone coverage is spotty at best.
MOGO Wireless has a
wireless signal booster for mobile phones that
claims to reduce dropped calls and boost signal
strength. There is a home version that plugs into
the USB port of your laptop and also a mobile
version that plugs into the power port in your
car. The only down side is it seems they only do
800/1900MHz so globe trotting aid workers might
want to wait until other antennas are available.
I've been experimenting
with geotagging
lately. Its very useful for keeping track of where
you took your facility security, post-incident ,
and other photos. Most systems are still a little
kludgey but a friend pointed me to the GPS Photo
Finder. Simply carry it around while you take your
pictures. Later, put your camera's memory card
into the GPS Photo Finder
and all the location data is merged with the
digital photos. Your photos can then be used GPS
compatible photo software or sites such as Google Maps and Flickr.
Better Energy Systems has
introduced a couple of new models of their universal
solar battery charger known as the Solio.
I've used the original model for a couple of
years. It comes in really handy for keeping your
mobile phone and gadgets charged when you are
working in areas without reliable electricity. All
of the models are small enough to fit into your
field bag. It only takes about four hours of
tropical sun to charge fully... longer at more
temperate latitudes.
The only thing I don't like about the Solio is having
to carry all the little adaptors needed to support my
various phones, iPods and other gadgets. Of course
that's really not Solio's problem. I pray for the day
when gadgets come with standardized ports.
Smart Clothes for Disaster Relief
The suit is intended to address three familiar problems;
1. the unavailability of standard communications means during disasters,
2. the lack of information as to the whereabouts and safety of relief workers during emergency efforts, and
3. the problem of acquiring and distributing timely geospatial data during an emergency.
If one were to combine the suit with CSIRO’s proposed power generating shirts it could even be self powered.
Odds and Ends
I've always thought that something like the SPOT personal GPS tracker would be very useful for NGOs working in conflict zones and complex emergencies. According to the SPOT website it'll be out in November.
Sam at groundviews has a short piece on pledges in Sri Lanka. Wryly ironic.