Update 5: Multiple Geospatial Resources for the Haitian Earthquake Efforts

Throughout this past week, we’ve continue to add more resources on how the geospatial community is assisting the rescue efforts for the Haitian earthquake (*Updates):

Maps & Web Services

• USGS
• USGS Hazards Data Distribution System
• ERDAS Web Service (UPDATED Jan.22)
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: ReliefWeb)- Haiti population maps
• U.S. Army Geospatial Center

Satellite Imagery

• DigitalGlobe - WorldView-2 Imagery (free, but registration required)
• DigitalGlobe - Haiti Coverage map (pdf)
• GeoEye
• RapidEye
• Spot Image
  • *Spot’s Imagery coverage
• AEgis Technologies - 3D database
• NASA -  Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument on NASA’s Terra spacecraft captured this false color image of Haiti, on January 21, 2010
• MDA-Radarsat-2
• NOAA Imagery
  • KML File of NOAA Imagery
• NASA Airborne Imagery
• *Pictometry

Community Source mapping websites

• OpenStreetMap
• Google MapMaker
• CrisisCommons.org (Wiki)
• NationsOnline

Mapping Portals

• National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) portal - UPDATED (Jan. 22) - NGA has analysts en route to Haiti in support of U.S. SOUTHCOM and Department of State. Deployed analysts will provide geospatial intelligence products and services. NGA has already provided hundreds of products to its SOUTHCOM and State partners. NGA remains committed to making as much information and as many products available as possible—e.g., imagery, terrain maps and others products and assessments—at the unclassified level for use by first responders and disaster response workers. NGA continues to add products to the NGA-earth.org Web site for their use.
• Ushahidi Network (in French)
• Bing Maps - Port-au-Prince
• Google - Lat Long Blog
• Google Earth - KML file
• GeoCommons (FortiusOne)
• Harvard Center for Earthquake Geospatial Research Portal (via @mattartz)
• Depiction’s web portal
• Carbon Project Blog - Streaming SDI data services
• Korem/MapWorkspace - Haiti Boundaries
• AND Mapping
  • AND data set of Haiti (free)
  • Online editable map
    

Onsite support:

• GISCorp - The UN has requested support
• MapAction - MapAction team members are on their way to Haiti
  • MapAction Building Damage Assessment
• ESRI - Imagery, maps and other resources
  • ESRI Video - Social Networking and Geo (YouTube)
• ESRI Blog - Accessing OpenStreetMap data within ArcGIS to support the Haiti Earthquake Response
• Immersive Media - Panoramic streetview videos taken by handheld device
• UN/Pan American Health Organization - Disaster Relief

Media

• Wall Street Journal - Good thematic of estimated damage by neighborhood
• USA Today - Map of earthquakes with more than 1000 deaths
• New York Times - Map showing magnitude of the disaster
• MSNBC
• Washington Post
• *The New Yorker Magazine
• *Fast Company - OSM report
• BBC
• *BBC Slideshow of volunteers mapping Haiti

Blog reports

• OpenGeoData
• Thinkwhere
• Google Earth Blog
• Geosquan
• Global Voices
• Po Ve Sham - Muki Haklay’s Blog - Haiti – further comparisons and the usability of geographic information in emergency situations
• Spatial Knowlege - OSM progress in Port-au-Prince (video).

Old Poll, New Poll

Back in January, just after the Haiti earthquake we asked: “What’s your feeling about commercial organizations that participate in kind or cash support to help in disasters and publicize those efforts?” We had 105 responses.

51% - No issues; it’s good for the planet and good business.

34% - It’s ok, but does make me wonder about their motives.

11% - Have no strong feeling.

6% - It’s pure marketing, and bothers me.

Next Up: What do you think of this blog’s “tidbits” articles that provide roundups of stories on a theme?

Census Tracts (aka Tidbits)

Montgomery County, MD put out a press release to highlight its efforts to get an accurate county of Latinos.

In an effort to reach out to these residents, more than 100,000 Census fliers have been printed in six languages, and banners have been installed on several County roads. Additionally, the County will partner with community-based organizations such as CASA de Maryland and the Latino Economic Development Corporation. Using GIS technology, the County is able to identify the hardest to count Census tracks and the non-profit organizations, public facilities apartment complexes, public schools, places of worship and key employers in those areas.

Can anyone explain how they use GIS “to identify the hardest to count Census tracks.”
- http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/News/press/PR_details.asp?PrID=6309”>press release

Each Nevadan not counted in U.S. Census represents about a $900 loss for the state. That’s why efforts to knock on all foreclosed homes and those of homeless shelters are underway. Outreach is beginning with among other things a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke this week.

- Las Vegas Sun

The Census is still dealing with software issues even as “Census Day,” April 1 nears. An audit found that administrative and payroll software “had 80 critical defects on Jan. 12, up from 26 a month earlier. Both testing and development were about three weeks behind schedule at that point.” Census Director Robert Groves is scheduled to testify before Congress this week.

- USA Today

DMTV #7: Interview with ESRI’s Jack Dangermond and a Review of the ESRI FedUC 2010

In this interview with ESRI President Jack Dangermond, Directions Magazine Editor in Chief Joe Francica discusses the health of the GIS technology sector, jobs and educating the next generation of geospatial professionals. Dangermond talks about the growth that ESRI is experiencing and how the state of the economy has impacted sales of GIS to the local, state and federal markets. This episode of DMTV also includes a brief review of the 2010 ESRI Federal User Conference that was held in Washington DC, February 17-19. [below is the YouTube and edited version of the interview…the entire 20 minute interview is also available for downloading here in Windows Media format.]