Transforming Disaster Response: The Impact of Google Earth on Humanitarian Efforts
The 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster illustrated the need for rapid data dissemination and collaboration. Google Earth played a pivotal role in improving disaster response by providing a broad geo-context to understand incidents and coordinate resources effectively. This initiative, in partnership with NASA and SDSU, aims to develop flexible responses for humanitarian assistance, enhance collaboration with NGOs, and apply advanced technology for situational awareness. Our focus areas encompass relationships with UN agencies, tech enablement, and the development of a dynamic disaster layer for timely alerts and effective resource use.
Transforming Disaster Response: The Impact of Google Earth on Humanitarian Efforts
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Presentation Transcript
Katrina Changed Everything… • Ubiquitous, Intuitive, & Collaborative Access – made all the difference • Rapid Data Dissemination and Collaboration • Google Earth helped tell the story and improve disaster response • Provide broad geo-context for understanding the disaster and coordinating support Google Confidential
Recent California FiresAn impromptu initiative with Google Earth, NASA, and SDSU Google Confidential
Google Kipendo Mission • Focus Areas • Internal: Create and execute a flexible and repeatable response for humanitarian assistance • Identify resources: people, technologies, and processes for actions • Internal: Collaborate and act with other google.org initiatives • Predict-Prevent – Epidemiology Reporting • External: Enhance alliances with NGOs, industry, academia, and UN relief agencies • Develop effective/shared approaches for humanitarian assistance Google Confidential
Focus Areas • Getting Organized • Dedicated and Virtual Team • Building Relationships • Various UN (UNICEF, OCHA, WFP) • Technology Enablement • Direct Tech Assistance to Orgs • Mapping, GIS…situational awareness • Collaboration…chat, gmail, docs • A Comprehensive & Dynamic Disaster Layer for Google Earth • New imagery • Alerting via CAP • How to implement? • What alerts and from who? …Many issues yet to be resolved… Google Confidential