Abstract
For the last few years, the increasing need for humanitarian support has led to increasing demand and responsibilities for the international humanitarian system. This trend raises questions regarding the use of alternative and complementary data sources and potential additional actors and communities that could be involved in support efforts and cover some of the tasks of humanitarian organizations. The article provides an overview of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, their practices and activities as well as current needs and challenges. The article illustrates the potential of OpenStreetMap and digital volunteers for humanitarian activities, with a particular focus on disaster risk reduction in the scope of the Missing Maps project. The background and objective of the collaborative project as well as its potential and impact for the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement are elucidated. The conclusion and outlook section presents future plans and visions to make further use of the potential of the Missing Maps approach in additional sectors and contexts.
Highlights
The humanitarian needs are increasing all around the world
Both have already proven to substantially support relief activities of humanitarian organizations, such as the mapping activities after the earthquake in Nepal in 2015 or during the Ebola epidemic in 2014/2015 [5,6]. These so-called digital volunteers started to map communities and roads in the most affected areas, who were coordinated through projects, such as Missing Maps [7] and the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) [8]
The organization and digitization of this geographic information is conducted by a dedicated coordination tool, which is known as the HOT Tasking Manager [10]
Summary
The humanitarian needs are increasing all around the world. Currently, more than 134 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance [1,2]. An interesting approach lies with the increasing use of geoinformation services combined with the efforts of digital volunteers Both have already proven to substantially support relief activities of humanitarian organizations, such as the mapping activities after the earthquake in Nepal in 2015 or during the Ebola epidemic in 2014/2015 [5,6]. These so-called digital volunteers started to map communities and roads in the most affected areas, who were coordinated through projects, such as Missing Maps [7] and the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) [8] These mapping efforts enable relief activities to focus on efficiently reaching out to the people in need. The final section will combine both areas by showing the current use and opportunities that Missing Maps offers for disaster risk reduction projects, hereby presenting different perspectives and current approaches
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