People and Community Science and Technology

Mapathon Aims to Aid Relief

Universities across the country are working on updating maps of disaster areas to speed relief efforts to impacted areas.
Disaster Relief Mapathon at UM Libraries

More than 40 University of Miami students, staff and community members participated in the Disaster Relief Mapathon at UM Libraries last Friday.

Organized by Paige Morgan, digital humanities librarian of the UM Libraries Digital Scholarship Group, and in collaboration with Columbia University, Boston College, Rutgers University, Trinity College and other institutions, the participants used OpenStreetMap, an open-source mapping platform, to edit maps of the towns affected by the natural disasters in Mexico and Puerto Rico.

The mapping is helping organizations like the American Red Cross and others to gather data that will aid them in the rebuilding process.

A special video of the event was made by members of the UM Libraries.