Disaster management and emergency services can benefit greatly from Crowdsource Mapping, according to an article in the UN-SPIDER Newsletter. The idea is to collect data from as many on-site sources as possible and translate that real-time data into maps. Being aware of the surrounding and the infrastructure, locals can render accurate geo-referenced information or comment on existing data and thereby help disaster managers expand the information they need for emergency operations. That is of course not only true for on-going disasters, but also for risk assessment and preparedness efforts.

Crowdsource mapping UN-SPIDER Newsletter