URISA’s GISCorpsURISA’s GISCorpsURISA OntarioURISA Ontario

Be Spatial ’09Be Spatial ’09

May 5, 2009May 5, 2009

Shoreh Elhami, GISPShoreh Elhami, GISP GISCorps Co-founderGISCorps Co-founder

www.giscorps.orgwww.giscorps.org

info@giscorps.orginfo@giscorps.org

SummarySummary

History/Model/VolunteersHistory/Model/Volunteers

GISCorps MissionsGISCorps Missions CompletedCompleted In Progress In Progress

Q & AQ & A

GISCorps started with a simple idea and GISCorps started with a simple idea and question:question:

Would GIS professionals be willing to Would GIS professionals be willing to volunteer their time and expertise – for a volunteer their time and expertise – for a

short time – to communities in need? short time – to communities in need?

History of GISCorpsHistory of GISCorps

GISCorps MissionGISCorps Mission

A Program of Urban and Regional A Program of Urban and Regional Information System Association Information System Association

(URISA), GISCorps coordinates short-(URISA), GISCorps coordinates short-term volunteer GIS services to term volunteer GIS services to communities in need worldwidecommunities in need worldwide

Areas of ServicesAreas of Services

Services are provided in areas of:Services are provided in areas of: Humanitarian reliefHumanitarian relief Human rightsHuman rights Disaster responseDisaster response Capacity buildingCapacity building Economic developmentEconomic development Community planning and developmentCommunity planning and development Health and education related activitiesHealth and education related activities Etc. Etc.

GISCorps is run by a Core CommitteeGISCorps is run by a Core Committeewe have several subcommittees....we have several subcommittees....

From Right: Ingrid Bruce, Mark Salling, Dianne Haley, Allen Ibaugh, Shoreh ElhamiFrom Right: Ingrid Bruce, Mark Salling, Dianne Haley, Allen Ibaugh, Shoreh Elhami

GISCorps Core Committee (CC) is responsible for:GISCorps Core Committee (CC) is responsible for: establishing relationships and partnerships with establishing relationships and partnerships with

recognized agencies & associations such as UN recognized agencies & associations such as UN agencies, GSDI, Peace Corps, and...agencies, GSDI, Peace Corps, and...

evaluating/screening agencies – after evaluating/screening agencies – after receiving a request receiving a request for volunteersfor volunteers – to make certain their objectives are in – to make certain their objectives are in synch with GISCorps and URISAsynch with GISCorps and URISA

developing job description – selecting a Project Managerdeveloping job description – selecting a Project Manager screening and evaluating volunteers - screening and evaluating volunteers - matching matching

volunteers’ expertise with project’s needsvolunteers’ expertise with project’s needs putting the volunteer in contact with the Partner Agencyputting the volunteer in contact with the Partner Agency monitoring and evaluating the outcomemonitoring and evaluating the outcome

GISCorps ModelGISCorps Model

Projects are Remote or On-siteProjects are Remote or On-site

GISCorps does not pay for its volunteers’ GISCorps does not pay for its volunteers’ expenses, on-site or remote missions, the Partner expenses, on-site or remote missions, the Partner Agency does; Agency does; a new change in policy allows for provision of a new change in policy allows for provision of

minimal assistance to qualified projectsminimal assistance to qualified projects

GISCorps guards strongly against promotion of GISCorps guards strongly against promotion of private interests or business goals of its volunteers private interests or business goals of its volunteers or sponsorsor sponsors

GISCorps Model GISCorps Model (continued)(continued)

Volunteers’ ProfileVolunteers’ Profile

Total registered volunteers:Total registered volunteers:

In October 2003 = 41In October 2003 = 41In October 2004 = 70In October 2004 = 70In August 2005 = 270 ( Indian Ocean tsunami)In August 2005 = 270 ( Indian Ocean tsunami)In October 2005 = 930 (Katrina)In October 2005 = 930 (Katrina)In April 2008 = 1,215In April 2008 = 1,215In April 2009 = 1,500+In April 2009 = 1,500+

Currently have over 1,000 registered ‘Friends’Currently have over 1,000 registered ‘Friends’ Volunteers have an average of more than 8 years GIS Volunteers have an average of more than 8 years GIS experienceexperience Over 35% of them teach or have taught GISOver 35% of them teach or have taught GIS

Volunteers’ LocationsVolunteers’ Locations

1,504 volunteers reside in 74 countries 1,504 volunteers reside in 74 countries (born in 82 countries)(born in 82 countries)

& in all continents& in all continents 85% of them reside in the US and Canada85% of them reside in the US and Canada

MissionsMissions2004-2009 2004-2009

Missions’ LocationsMissions’ Locations

As of April 2009, Engaged in 48 missions; As of April 2009, Engaged in 48 missions; deployed 131 volunteers: deployed 131 volunteers:

20 on-site missions; deployed 54 volunteers20 on-site missions; deployed 54 volunteers

28 remote missions; deployed 77 volunteers28 remote missions; deployed 77 volunteers

Deployments are to emergency as well as non Deployments are to emergency as well as non emergency missionsemergency missions

Missions 2004-2009Missions 2004-2009

Capacity Building, Training, Needs AssessmentCapacity Building, Training, Needs Assessment

Thailand – PRAD Thailand – PRAD (Partners Relief Development)(Partners Relief Development)/FBR /FBR (Free Burma (Free Burma

Rangers)Rangers) ; teaching ArcGIS to Burmese relief workers ; teaching ArcGIS to Burmese relief workers

Afghanistan – AIMS Afghanistan – AIMS (Afghanistan Information Management (Afghanistan Information Management

Service)Service)/UNDP /UNDP (UN Development Program);(UN Development Program); teaching ArcGIS & teaching ArcGIS & ArcGIS Server to AIMS staffArcGIS Server to AIMS staff

Dominican Republic – EWB Dominican Republic – EWB (Engineers without Border)-(Engineers without Border)- NYU: NYU: Polytechnic; teaching students how to collect and Polytechnic; teaching students how to collect and disseminate data via Google Earthdisseminate data via Google Earth

Advanced GIS training in New Orleans – BIA Advanced GIS training in New Orleans – BIA (Broadmoor Improvement Association)(Broadmoor Improvement Association)

Missions 2004-2009 Missions 2004-2009 (Non Emergency/On-Site)(Non Emergency/On-Site)

ArcGIS training in Thailand; PRAD/FBRArcGIS training in Thailand; PRAD/FBR

ArcGIS Server training in Afghanistan; ArcGIS Server training in Afghanistan; UNDP/AIMSUNDP/AIMS

EWB - NYU: Polytechnic; training on Google Earth; EWB - NYU: Polytechnic; training on Google Earth; Dominican Republic project, 2 VolunteersDominican Republic project, 2 Volunteers

Advanced GIS training Advanced GIS training in New Orleans: in New Orleans:

Broadmoor Improvement Broadmoor Improvement

AssociationAssociation

Spatial Analysis/Geo-Coding/Web App Dev.Spatial Analysis/Geo-Coding/Web App Dev.

Kenya and Ethiopia – EWV Kenya and Ethiopia – EWV (Enterprise Works VITA); (Enterprise Works VITA); spatial spatial modelling: exploring domestic rainwater modelling: exploring domestic rainwater harvesting’s potential as a sustainable resourceharvesting’s potential as a sustainable resource

Darfur & East Chad – AAAS Darfur & East Chad – AAAS (American Association for (American Association for

Advancement of Science);Advancement of Science); Geo-coding of locations of Geo-coding of locations of atrocities from various reportsatrocities from various reports

HealthCare Volunteers; Geo-coding locations of HealthCare Volunteers; Geo-coding locations of healthcare centres and volunteers & developing a healthcare centres and volunteers & developing a web interfaceweb interface

Missions 2004-2009 Missions 2004-2009 (Non-Emergency/Remote)(Non-Emergency/Remote)

Domestic Rainwater Harvesting (DRWH) Domestic Rainwater Harvesting (DRWH) Kenya and Ethiopia: EWV, 2 VolunteersKenya and Ethiopia: EWV, 2 Volunteers

Geo-coding Events in Darfur and East Geo-coding Events in Darfur and East Chad – AAAS; 5 VolunteersChad – AAAS; 5 Volunteers

Geo-Coding Healthcare locations; Geo-Coding Healthcare locations; HealthCare VolunteersHealthCare Volunteers

Conducted Training for a 4-H group in Collier Conducted Training for a 4-H group in Collier County, FloridaCounty, Florida

Taught a group of 4-H students how to use GPS Taught a group of 4-H students how to use GPS and GIS to map Barn Quilts in Sac County, Iowaand GIS to map Barn Quilts in Sac County, Iowa

Assisted a non profit organization in teaching GIS Assisted a non profit organization in teaching GIS to inner city students in Cincinnati, Ohio – 4 to inner city students in Cincinnati, Ohio – 4 VolunteersVolunteers

A new mission in Chattanooga, TNA new mission in Chattanooga, TN

Missions 2004-2009Missions 2004-2009K-12 MissionsK-12 Missions

GIS Training in Collier County, GIS Training in Collier County, Florida; 4-H ClubFlorida; 4-H Club

GIS/GPS Training in Sac County, Iowa; GIS/GPS Training in Sac County, Iowa; Mapping Barn Quilts; 4-H ClubMapping Barn Quilts; 4-H Club

Post tsunami missions (2) – Indonesia; 6 Post tsunami missions (2) – Indonesia; 6 volunteers volunteers

Post Katrina missions (4) – Mississippi; 33 Post Katrina missions (4) – Mississippi; 33 volunteersvolunteers

Missions 2004-2009Missions 2004-2009Emergency Response/On-SiteEmergency Response/On-Site

In Partnership with VVAF and UNJLC (5 volunteers) In Partnership with VVAF and UNJLC (5 volunteers) – March 2005; 30 days– March 2005; 30 days

IndonesiaIndonesia

GISCorps Volunteers… Damage Assessment: assisted in field data collection and information dissemination.

Nias IslandNias Island

MeulabohMeulaboh

West Coast of SumatraWest Coast of Sumatra

Banda AcehBanda Aceh

GISCorps Volunteers… GISCorps Volunteers… Created earthquake assessment Created earthquake assessment and provincial logistics maps.and provincial logistics maps.

A total of four missions

A total of 33 volunteers were deployed

Within the first 4 days, over 500 new volunteers signed up, over 3,000 emails were received, over 240 resumes were reviewed, and over 70 people were phone interviewed

The first 20 were deployed within 48 hours, they worked 12-hour shifts; the second group also within 48 hours

Hurricane Katrina Relief in partnership with Hurricane Katrina Relief in partnership with Mississippi EOC Mississippi EOC (Emergency Operation Centre)(Emergency Operation Centre) – Sept. 2005 – Sept. 2005

GISCorps Volunteers: First Deployment, GISCorps Volunteers: First Deployment, Hurricane Katrina Disaster ReliefHurricane Katrina Disaster Relief

Upon arrival, the team started to work right away on Search and Rescue related tasks:

Over 200 addresses were translated to longitude/latitude and handed out to US Coast Guard Rescue helicopters; over 75 lives were saved on that Sunday (09/04) alone; these addresses were either given by the stranded/injured people or someone would spot them and call the EOC with incomplete address information. GIS volunteers would find their location (at times using Google Map, Map Quest) and then hand it over to SAR staff

The resulting information was mapped on a daily basis for strategic and logistical as well as reporting purposes

Hurricane Katrina Relief in partnership Hurricane Katrina Relief in partnership with MS EOCwith MS EOC

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Gulfport

Moss Point

Gautier

Pascagoula

Wiggins

Picayune

Bay St. Louis

Pass Christian

Ocean Springs

Long Beach

Waveland

Lumberton

Purvis

D'Iberville

McLain

Lucedale

Poplarville

Tylertown

Biloxi

Leakesville

§̈¦59

§̈¦110

£¤90

£¤49

£¤98

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/ 10 0 105

Kilometers

5 0 52.5

Miles

State Boundary

County Boundary

City/Town

Major Roads

Minor Roads

Interstates

Rescue Missions

Urgent Medical Evacuations9/6/05 0600Hours

156 Total Recoveries

Post tsunami mission – India; 7 volunteers; in 2005 Post tsunami mission – India; 7 volunteers; in 2005

Post Cyclone Nargis missions (2) – 34 volunteer, Post Cyclone Nargis missions (2) – 34 volunteer, in May 2008in May 2008

Missions 2004-2008Missions 2004-2008Emergency Response/RemoteEmergency Response/Remote

In partnership with Seeds India and Map Action: In partnership with Seeds India and Map Action: deployed seven (7) volunteers for over one month to deployed seven (7) volunteers for over one month to recreate the physical layout and development pattern recreate the physical layout and development pattern of erased villages in Andaman Islands of India as of erased villages in Andaman Islands of India as they existed before the tragedy; heads-up digitizing they existed before the tragedy; heads-up digitizing from “Pre-disaster” imageryfrom “Pre-disaster” imagery

All communications via emails and FTP sitesAll communications via emails and FTP sites

Post Tsunami Mission; March 2005Post Tsunami Mission; March 2005Andaman Islands, India Andaman Islands, India

Phase One: First request for 20 volunteers on Phase One: First request for 20 volunteers on May 9May 9thth

Phase Two: Second request for 20 more Phase Two: Second request for 20 more volunteers on May 21volunteers on May 21stst

Job Descriptions were developed with assistance Job Descriptions were developed with assistance from UNOSAT Project Managerfrom UNOSAT Project Manager

An email broadcast went out to all volunteers and An email broadcast went out to all volunteers and list serves on May 9list serves on May 9thth

Cyclone Nargis Missions – Myanmar (Burma)Cyclone Nargis Missions – Myanmar (Burma)In partnership w/ UNOSAT In partnership w/ UNOSAT

(United Nations Operational Satellite Applications Program)(United Nations Operational Satellite Applications Program)

Within 48 hours, Mission Managers selected a Within 48 hours, Mission Managers selected a Project Manager on the GISCorps side and 19 other Project Manager on the GISCorps side and 19 other volunteers; volunteers; (From US, Canada, England, Germany, Cyprus)(From US, Canada, England, Germany, Cyprus)

Tasks included:Tasks included: Digitizing locations of damaged structures such as Digitizing locations of damaged structures such as buildings, pagodas, monasteries (assembly points), as buildings, pagodas, monasteries (assembly points), as well as roads and bridges from well as roads and bridges from ““Post-disaster”Post-disaster” imageryimagery and from Google Earth interface; Pre-disaster imagery Google Earth interface; Pre-disaster imagery was used to identify the damagewas used to identify the damage

Digitizing locations of roads and bridges from Digitizing locations of roads and bridges from “Pre-“Pre-disaster”disaster” imagery imagery

Cyclone Nargis Missions – Phase OneCyclone Nargis Missions – Phase One

GISCorps Volunteers… GISCorps Volunteers… Digitized various featuresDigitized various featuresFrom Google Earth InterfaceFrom Google Earth Interfaceand a variety of imageriesand a variety of imageries

UNOSAT … UNOSAT … Created many maps from Created many maps from GISCorps volunteers’ workGISCorps volunteers’ work

On May 21On May 21stst, UNOSAT requested another 20 , UNOSAT requested another 20 volunteers volunteers

A new Project Manager was selected from among A new Project Manager was selected from among the first phase volunteers; looked for the new team the first phase volunteers; looked for the new team among the latest applications; among the latest applications; (From US, Canada, Germany, (From US, Canada, Germany, Cyprus, Taiwan)Cyprus, Taiwan)

Tasks included:Tasks included:

Digitizing “only “ buildings, pagodas and monasteries Digitizing “only “ buildings, pagodas and monasteries (assemply points) (assemply points) from from “Pre-disaster”“Pre-disaster” imagery but for a imagery but for a larger area; work started on Tuesday May 26larger area; work started on Tuesday May 26thth

Cyclone Nargis Missions – Phase TwoCyclone Nargis Missions – Phase Two

What’s Critical?What’s Critical?

Clear direction from the Partner AgencyClear direction from the Partner Agency

Selection of the Project Manager & Assistant PMSelection of the Project Manager & Assistant PM

Volunteers’ access to a collaborative environment (i.e. Volunteers’ access to a collaborative environment (i.e. wiki) to allow for posting information and sharingwiki) to allow for posting information and sharing

Fast Internet connectionFast Internet connection

Have as much documentation available/accessible Have as much documentation available/accessible

Having someone from the region on the team Having someone from the region on the team

Cyclone Nargis Missions – Lessons LearnedCyclone Nargis Missions – Lessons Learned

Image availability critical (post and pre)Image availability critical (post and pre)

Google Earth: Pros and ConsGoogle Earth: Pros and Cons Overlay limitation & attribute population Overlay limitation & attribute population (Arc2Earth (Arc2Earth

license donated by Brian Flood)license donated by Brian Flood)

Free, easy to useFree, easy to use Time difference, language barrierTime difference, language barrier

Disaster response projects are always rushed and Disaster response projects are always rushed and by nature unpredictable; Flexibility is of utmost by nature unpredictable; Flexibility is of utmost importanceimportance

Cyclone Nargis Missions – Lessons LearnedCyclone Nargis Missions – Lessons Learned

Mozambique (1 vol, Netherlands): change Mozambique (1 vol, Netherlands): change detection using QuickBird imagery from two years detection using QuickBird imagery from two years for a national park for a national park (detecting evidence of gold panning)(detecting evidence of gold panning)

Zambia (1 vol, NY): trend analysis on Zambia (1 vol, NY): trend analysis on environmental data collected for South Luangwa environmental data collected for South Luangwa Conservation Society Conservation Society (looking for patterns in locations of (looking for patterns in locations of poached poached elephants, meat drying racks, poachers’ routes and footprints, gunshots heard, snared elephants, meat drying racks, poachers’ routes and footprints, gunshots heard, snared animals, etc.)animals, etc.)

Oregon (3 vols, WA, FL, IL): Disaster Oregon (3 vols, WA, FL, IL): Disaster preparedness exercise with a county in Oregon preparedness exercise with a county in Oregon via HumaniNet via HumaniNet (a non-profit organization in Oregon) (a non-profit organization in Oregon)

Projects in Progress…..Projects in Progress…..

Panama (2 volunteers from Calgary): design of Panama (2 volunteers from Calgary): design of an online questionnaire to collect information on an online questionnaire to collect information on Panamanian orphans in urban areas of the Panamanian orphans in urban areas of the country country (geo-locating in the 2(geo-locating in the 2ndnd phase) phase)

Upcoming: GSDI Upcoming: GSDI (Global Spatial Data Infrastructure – multiple projects)(Global Spatial Data Infrastructure – multiple projects), , North Korea data collection project, and more…North Korea data collection project, and more…

Projects in Progress…..Projects in Progress…..

Need a volunteer to build an IMS for our volunteers Need a volunteer to build an IMS for our volunteers and projects (with live connection to our database)and projects (with live connection to our database)

Need a volunteer to work with our finance Need a volunteer to work with our finance subcommittee in setting up mileage donation for our subcommittee in setting up mileage donation for our volunteersvolunteers

Need volunteers for the Disaster Response Need volunteers for the Disaster Response Subcommittee (DRS):Subcommittee (DRS): conduct research on existing disaster response protocols; for conduct research on existing disaster response protocols; for

North America and internationallyNorth America and internationally develop a wiki sitedevelop a wiki site More…More…

Interested in helping?Interested in helping?

At the heart of volunteerism are the ideals of service and solidarity and the At the heart of volunteerism are the ideals of service and solidarity and the belief that together we can make the world a better place.belief that together we can make the world a better place.

Volunteers do not ask, “why volunteer?”, but rather “when?”, “where?” and Volunteers do not ask, “why volunteer?”, but rather “when?”, “where?” and “how?”. “how?”. These dedicated and courageous individuals are important partners in the These dedicated and courageous individuals are important partners in the quest for a better, fairer and safer world. quest for a better, fairer and safer world.

Kofi Annan, 5 December 2003Kofi Annan, 5 December 2003

www.giscorps.orgwww.giscorps.org

info@giscorps.orginfo@giscorps.org