When a magnitude 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti in 2010, it left three million people affected in the aftermath. An immediate response to the crisis was critical as numbers of the dead and injured skyrocketed into the hundreds of thousands.

 

 

 

One unexpected consequence that arose from this crisis was the way volunteers from around the world worked together to offer their support. Instead of simply donating money and supplies, members of the Open Street Map community banded together to create the most comprehensive digital maps of Haiti available. This was a precious resource that helped humanitarian agencies to identify damaged infrastructure such as blocked roads or damaged buildings, so that they would be able to operate more swiftly and efficiently.

 

 

 

Eight years on, crisis mapping has emerged as one of the most important practices in humanitarian work. Crisis mapping refers to the collection and analysis of crowd-sourced data for various purposes when an emergency occurs. This data can be used to create more accurate and up-to-date geographical maps, to call attention to the locations of trapped survivors, to provide real-time information on dangerous situations, and so on.

 

 

 

Unlike in crises in the past, the availability of Internet access, prevalence of smart phones and widespread use of social media has made it easier and faster for information to spread. When accurate data is provided, emergency services will be able to identify the areas which are most in need and respond efficiently. This is especially helpful when resources are limited, or when the situation is pressing because of time concerns.

 

Questions:

 

1. What’s the passage mainly about?

 

2. When did the earthquake strike Haiti?

 

3. Who helped create the crisis map in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake?

 

4. Which of the following is not mentioned as an application of crisis mapping?

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