The document discusses the changing nature of maps used by MapAction, a UK-based humanitarian organization, during relief deployments. It describes how maps have transitioned from paper to digital formats, allowing for more interactive and up-to-date maps. It also outlines how maps are now used for a variety of purposes like situation reports, coordination meetings, and advocacy, rather than just support and display. The presentation concludes by discussing how MapAction maps are becoming more interactive and accessible through web services and mobile devices.

1. Paper maps to infographic
products?
The changing face of maps during a
humanitarian deployment
Wai-Ming Lee
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3. Who is MapAction?
• Getting help to where it is needed most
• UK based charity founded in 1999
• First operational deployment 2003
• 45 deployable volunteers
• 20 operational support team
• 7 board of trustees
• 5 full-time (equiv) employees
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4. Me
• Work for Esri UK – 10 years
• Manager of Online Operations
• Hunting Technical Services – 6 years
• Volunteer for MapAction – 6 years
• Star sign:Virgo, Chinese zodiac: Ox
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5. Deployments
• Madagascar - Flooding, 2012
• Comoros - Flooding, 2012
• Brazzaville – Explosion, 2012
• Sahel – Food insecurity, 2012
• Japan – Tsunami & Nuclear, 2011
• Libya – Humanitarian, 2011
• Pakistan – Floods, 2010
• Haiti – Earthquake, 2010
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6. ‘Aid in the wrong place is
no aid at all’
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8. What is the purpose of our
maps?
To represent and transform raw data to information
within a spatial context in order to assist in more
informed decision making.
To make sense of the ‘facts on the ground’
To enable information exchange.
It is a tool to help meetings
along!
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9. Coordination meetings
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11. The first maps
• ‘Traditional’ - paper
• Used software to create (ArcGIS 8.0)
• Limited audience
• Support and display purposes
• Novelty
• Limited base data
• Not much in-field data collection
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14. Every MapAction map has..
• A grid system
• A scale
• A compass rose
• A title
• A legend
• Scale indicator
• Data source credits (very important!)
• Locator map (overview)
• ‘Pleasing colours’
…leads to a better map?
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16. What are the MapAction maps used
for?
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17. Where are the worst effects of
Risk assessment
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18. Who What Where?
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Where are the responders?

19. Situation overview
What changes have happened to
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the earth’s surface?

20. What changes have happened to the
Damage assessment
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earth’s surface?

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Logistics & Transportation

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Prediction Inundated areas using a DTM backdrop

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30. Issues faced by MapAction
• Time constraint
• Poor meta-data for source information
• No ground truth possible
• Non-spatial data (tables etc)
• Different digital file formats
• Non-interoperability
• Technology/electricity dependent
• Unknown projections/coordinates of data
• Non-sharing of vital data / information
• Clients not knowing what they want
• Maps are powerful and they can present ‘white lies’
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31. It must be true as it is on the map!
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34. Our maps are changing….
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35. Where have people moved to?35Are
IDPs and refugees
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they safe there?

36. How big was the explosion? Where’s
Situation and distribution
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UXO? Sector for searching?

37. Views of the Port of Misrata, Libya.
Viewpoints and overview Depth and length and LOS.
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38. Planned field camp placement after
Situation and distribution foot recce.

39. Our maps, they’re changing…..
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40. Multi uses:
Is it for PLANNING, ADVOCACY or
ANALYSIS?
Different audiences now.
United Nations OCHA Advocacy and Visual Media (AVMU) unit
Style Guide.
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41. Representing Data
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45. Our maps, they’re changing…..
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46. MapAction Maps - Reloaded
• Web Services
• Interactive Please!
• Self-service
• Smart Phones and tablets
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47. An interactive map
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48. Other examples
• http://www.esri.com/services/disaster-
response/severe-weather/latest-news-
map.html
• http://asademo.esri.com/flexviewer1_3/
• http://www.esri.com/services/disaster-
response/earthquakes/latest-news-map.html
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49. My thoughts?
Q&A
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50. Thank you!
minglee@mapaction.org
wai_ming_lee @twitter
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