From OpenStreetMap to Disaster Relief: New CIPPIC Resources on Volunteered Geographic Information

OpenStreetMap [1], a global "wikipedia of maps", demonstrates that volunteer collaborations are a force to be reckoned with in the geography world. Increasingly, crowd-sourced Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) projects are addressing mapping needs in crisis situations. The 2010 Haitian earthquakes provoked a blossoming of such initiatives, with a mileau of volunteer mapping efforts put forth to assist with relief efforts. Similar mapping efforts are now cropping up to assist in the context of forest fires, floods, hurricanes and other disasters.

Whether you contribute to VGI projects or rely upon the information, there are some key legal issues and potential legal risks that arise in this exciting new mapping environment. CIPPIC has put together a toolkit to help keep you informed. With the assistance of Professor Chandler [2], CIPPIC interns Laura Crestohl and Robert Vitulano, and generous funding from the GEOIDE Network [3], CIPPIC presents:

• a new FAQ on Volunteer Geographic Information [4]; and
• a new episode of CIPPIC's Decodify podcast [5], with information on VGI in the disaster relief context. This episode includes interviews with guests speakers Stéphane Guidoin of Open 511 and Keren Flavell of BushFire Connect.