![\"\"](\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/11\/Ex-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nExhibit 1 <\/strong>[1] describes an innate human desire for purpose, connection, and the ability to contribute to something bigger than oneself. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) [2] has been tapping into this universal desire for purpose since 1863. This report aims to outline how the IFRC employs a crowdsourcing approach to the curation of crisis maps during disaster relief operations, as well as some of the coordination challenges and opportunities associated with such endeavors.<\/p>\n A primary objective of the IFRC is the prevention and alleviation of human suffering [3]. One of the ways the IFRC contributes to this objective is through disaster preparedness and response initiatives. In the immediate aftermath of a crisis, the IFRC must answer three key questions: (1) where were people during the disaster, (2) how many people are affected, and (3) what are their primary needs. [4] Considering the IFRC must always be prepared to quickly and accurately answer these questions for disasters in any country and that it is a non-profit organization with few fulltime employees, human capital is a constraint in the disaster relief data acquisition process. Moreover, some of the world\u2019s most vulnerable people live in communities that are not visible on digital maps, exacerbating the difficulties associated with answering the aforementioned critical questions. [5]<\/p>\n To gather information regarding the damage associated with a disaster, the whereabouts of victims, and current risks that are missing from digital maps, the Red Cross, Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team, and Doctors Without Borders founded an organization to support the curation of crisis maps. [6] Since 2014 over 63,346 volunteers have made 42,503,857 edits to Missing Maps, an open, collaborative project in which volunteers map areas where humanitarian organisations are trying to meet the needs of vulnerable people. [7] Exhibit 2 <\/strong>outlines how data is collected from volunteers through open innovation.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Open innovation also allows the IFRC to acquire data immediately after a disaster via social media, and victims can geo-tag various requests for resources which helps the IFRC visualize where resources need to go and bucket the various requests into categories, such as medical, food, or trapped people. Exhibit 3<\/strong> provides an illustration of food requests on a Ushahidi[2]<\/a> crisis map after the Haitian earthquake. [8]<\/p>\n When speaking with first responders, one learns that \u201cby far, the number one challenge in responding to any crisis is communication and coordination among the various agencies responding to the crisis. It is one of the most critical elements and one of the hardest to get right.” [9] A National Guardsman who responded to hurricane Harvey also echoed this sentiment, stating: \u201cit\u2019s great to get a lot of engagement from folks on the ground but sometimes we receive too much data to decipher and synthetize quickly into action plans, let alone coordinate with other responders.\u201d [10]<\/p>\n For open innovation to be more effective at the IFRC, it must apply the participatory data collection approach to not only those requesting resources, but also those providing resources. Exhibit 4<\/strong> shows why an interagency map [11] in an essential mechanism for connecting victims with resources.<\/p>\n Similar to US military operations & intelligence [12] team structures, data collected from individuals and organizations on the ground needs to be collected and synthetized by a centralized unit and then matched with the organizations that have the required resources to meet those requests.\u00a0 The IFRC needs to take ownership of this interagency map and ensure it provides the features listed in Exhibit 5 <\/strong>[13].<\/p>\n It is recommended that the IFRC leverage its partners, specifically Facebook, for the execution of this map. Facebook is a viable host for the interagency map because the map must be on a platform that is open to the public and intuitive to the user. Fortunately, the IFRC has already begun a partnership with Facebook by utilizing population maps which help determine where communities are located after a disaster [14]. Moreover, Facebook has implemented a limited version of the interagency map concept by attempting to provide a central location for individuals to provide and request support, as seen on their website in Exhibit 6 <\/strong>[15]. The IFRC should work with Facebook, governments, and organizations to bolster this platform. Subsequently, the IFRC and its partners should formalize and market the interagency map so that all responders and governments are aware of the platform.<\/p>\n While open innovation has tremendously benefit disaster relief and has lots of potential for further impact, not all individuals who have access to public crisis maps are well intended. Some nefarious groups may utilize crisis map information to target relief workers or lure responders into dangerous situations with fake requests. [16] How can the IFRC validate the legitimacy and intent of requests to protect their volunteers without limiting public access to this critical information?<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> The IFRC and its partners also host mapathons\u2014often with academic institutions\u2014around the world, where volunteers collect information such as water points, medical facilities, and pieces of land that are prone to erosion.<\/em><\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Ushahidi is another open source platform that leverages Web 2.0 technologies to integrate data from a variety of sources, including phones, social media, and email to provide crisis maps to relief organizations and the general public.<\/p>\n Word Count: 798<\/p>\n [1] Hutchinson F. John, Champions of Charity, War and the Rise of the Red Cross (New York, NY: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group 1996)<\/p>\n [2] Daniel Palmieri, \u201cHow warfare has evolved \u2013a humanitarian organization\u2019s perception: The case of the ICRC, 1963-1960\u201d Historical Research Officer at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 2015, pg. 985<\/p>\n [3] Wiem Chamsi, \u201cA short way to explain the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and my National Society\u201d, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, April 3, 2017 https:\/\/media.ifrc.org\/innovation\/2017\/04\/03\/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-red-cross-red-crescent-movement\/<\/a>, accessed November 2018.<\/p>\n [4] Red Cross, \u201cData: A vital tool for disaster response,\u201d https:\/\/www.redcross.org\/about-us\/news-and-events\/news\/Data-A-vital-tool-for-disaster-response.html<\/a>, accessed November 2018<\/p>\n [5] Huiji Gao and Geoffrey Barbier, Arizona State University, Rebecca Goolsby, US Office of Naval Research, \u201cHarnessing the Crowdsourcing Power of Social Media for Disaster Relief,\u201d Cyber-Physical-Social Systems,http:\/\/startides.net\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/files\/Harnessing-the-Crowdsourcins-Power-of-Social-Media-for-Disaster-Relief.pdf<\/a> , accessed November 2018.<\/p>\n [6] Missing Maps Organization, \u201cAbout,\u201d http:\/\/www.missingmaps.org\/<\/a>, accessed Novembre 2018.<\/p>\n [7] Missing Maps Organization, \u201cHow we work,\u201d http:\/\/www.missingmaps.org\/<\/a>, accessed Novembre 2018.<\/p>\n [8] Huiji Gao and Geoffrey Barbier, Arizona State University, Rebecca Goolsby, US Office of Naval Research, \u201cHarnessing the Crowdsourcing Power of Social Media for Disaster Relief,\u201d Cyber-Physical-Social Systems,http:\/\/startides.net\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/files\/Harnessing-the-Crowdsourcins-Power-of-Social-Media-for-Disaster-Relief.pdf<\/a> , accessed November 2018.<\/p>\n [9] Interview with Dr. David Barash, Emergency Relief Physician, Chief Medical Officer of the GE Foundation, November 11th<\/sup>, 2018.<\/p>\n [10] Interview with SFC, Special Forces Weapons Sgt., Texas National Guardsman, November 10th<\/sup>, 2018.<\/p>\n [11] Huiji Gao and Geoffrey Barbier, Arizona State University, Rebecca Goolsby, US Office of Naval Research, \u201cHarnessing the Crowdsourcing Power of Social Media for Disaster Relief,\u201d Cyber-Physical-Social Systems,http:\/\/startides.net\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/files\/Harnessing-the-Crowdsourcins-Power-of-Social-Media-for-Disaster-Relief.pdf<\/a> , accessed November 2018.<\/p>\n [12] Interview with Former Captain, US Army, Troop commander (Afghanistan and Middle East), November 8th<\/sup>, 2018.<\/p>\n [13] Huan Liu, Geoffrey Barbier, and Gao Huiji, \u201cPromoting Coordination for Disaster Relief \u2013From Crowdsourcing to Coordination,\u201d Computer Science and Engineering Arizona State University Working Paper, accessed November 10th 2018.<\/p>\n [14] Facebook research, \u201cnetwork coverage, power, and displacement,\u201d https:\/\/research.fb.com\/new-data-tools-for-relief-organizations-network-coverage-power-and-displacement\/<\/a>, accessed November 7th 2018.<\/p>\nHarnessing the Power of Crowds at IFRC<\/h2>\n
Crisis Mapping<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/h3>\nChallenges & Recommendations<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nOpen Question<\/h3>\n
Sources<\/strong><\/h1>\n