Grier Students Join Global Mapping Effort to Aid Vulnerable Communities
Members of Grier Reaching Out Worldwide (GROW) joined a worldwide community of volunteers working to map some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. By mapping places that are at greatest risk of poverty and natural disasters, volunteer cartographers help humanitarian aid and sustainable development organizations like the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders.
This monumental project is headed by the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT), an international effort dedicated to humanitarian action and community development through open mapping. Using the open source map data from the OpenStreetMap Foundation, the Task Manager platform divides the big project into smaller tasks that can be completed quickly and collaboratively. To ensure accuracy, the work of novice volunteers is validated by more experienced volunteers.
During a recent Map-a-Thon Event, the Grier team mapped roadways, buildings, and other features in the Ganges River Basin #12 in Bangladesh.
HOT’s mapping project is an excellent way to unite people near and far in working toward a common goal. GROW members played a part in helping humanitarian aid reach an area of the world at risk for catastrophe and, as a result, may have improved the lives of those who live there.
Thank you, GROW, for sharing what you're doing to make the world a better place and inspiring us to do the same!