The NYT Examines the Destruction in Haiti

Destruction in Haiti, Then and Now

The New York Times has created an eye-opening interactive feature using aerial photos from GeoEye and Google Maps to show Port-au-Prince before and after the earthquake in Haiti last January.

Using the application is it is possible to view aerial imagery from both before and after the earthquake. The imagery includes shots of the tent cities that were created after the quake as well as highlighting some of the damaged structures in the city.

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MapAction in Action in Haiti

MapAction
In times of national disasters aid agencies are often affected by the lack of accurate up-to-date maps. This is particularly true after massive earthquakes, such as the one that hit Haiti last week, when many roads have been damaged and have become unusable.

MapAction tries to meet the need for vital information in the form of maps, created from information gathered at disaster scenes. MapAction is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) with a substantial track record in field mapping for disaster emergencies. Since 2004 they have helped in 20 emergencies including the Asian tsunami, floods and tropical storms and now in Haiti.

One day after the Haiti earthquake MapAction deployed a four member team to the country. MapAction's Chief Executive Nigel Woof says: "Within days we expect that dozens - or probably hundreds - of aid organisations will be trying to make sense of the shattered landscape and communities in Haiti. Our job is to gather information that can be mapped to create a shared operational picture, so that people most in need get the right types of help".

Their maps have been crucial during the search and rescue phase on the ground. They are now creating a shared operational picture for relief deliveries. WFS and KML feeds have been created displaying Urban Search And Rescue (USAR) sectors for Port-au-Prince and 1:50 000 topographic maps for Haiti.

MapAction is a registered charity and you can support their efforts by donating here.

Google Maps for Haiti
Anyone who is involved in building Haiti Google Maps mashups can get the freshest content for Haiti by enabling Map Maker data in the API.

The following Google Map Maker map types are available:

* G_MAPMAKER_NORMAL_MAP displays the standard road map view
* G_MAPMAKER_HYBRID_MAP displays a mixture of normal and satellite imagery.

You can read more about the Google Map Maker Types in the Google Maps API Developer Guide.

Haiti Earthquake Before and After Imagery

Mibazaar has put together this Google Map that displays some of the latest post earthquake GeoEye satellite imagery of Haiti. The imagery helps to convey the sheer scale of the destruction caused by the earthquake.

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GeoEye Haiti Satellite Imagery

Google have released a KML that can be viewed in Google Earth of new GeoEye satellite imagery of Haiti showing some of the damage caused by the earthquake. The image can be viewed in the Google Earth browser plug-in at Google's Crisis Response page, where you can also donate to help the people of Haiti.


Before and after satellite imagery of an area of Port-au-Prince

The Destruction in Port-Au-Prince
The New York Times have built a slider application to view the new GeoEye satellite imagery. The slider control allows you to compare the new satellite imagery of Haiti alongside older satellite imagery from before the earthquake. The application really does bring home the scale of the destruction caused by the earthquake.

Microformats.dk has produced a Google Map mashup that also shows the new imagery.

You can read more about the new imagery at Google LatLong.

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Haiti Earthquake Maps

A massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake has struck Haiti. Whilst the extent of the damage and cost of the quake is still unclear there are fears thousands of people may have died.


Before and after satellite imagery of an area of Port-au-Prince

• American Red Cross International Response Fund
• Pan American Relief appeal for Haiti
• British Red Cross Haiti Appeal
• Oxfam Haiti Appeal

Google have released a KML that can be viewed in Google Earth showing new satellite imagery of Haiti showing some of the damage caused by the earthquake. You can read more about the new imagery at Google LatLong.

Ushahidi Haiti Earthquake Map

Ushahidi, in a joint effort with UN OCHA/Colombia and the International Network of Crisis Mappers (CM*Net) have produced this Google Maps mashup to track the latest news and incidents related to the Haiti earthquake.

The map reports incidents such as collapsed roads and buildings to try and provide as much up-to-date news for Haitian citizens as possible. It is possible to submit information to the map by completing a short form.

Via: Street View Gallery

Microformats USGS Earthquake Map

This Google Map mashup displays data from the United States Geological Survey. Currently the map shows a lot of activity in Haiti.

Haiti Earthquake Tweet Map
Mibazaar has quickly put together this Twitter map that shows real-time Tweets about the Haiti earthquake. He has also created a YouTube Video Map showing geotagged videos of news reports on the earthquake.

Earthquakes in the Last Week
This map shows recent earthquakes around the world. It also includes the latest earthquake news. The map uses different coloured map markers to show the strength of different earthquakes.

Real-time USGS Earthquake Mapplet
This mapplet plots the past week of earthquakes around the world, showing the location, time and magnitude. Each earthquake includes a link to the USGS earthquake website for more information.

USGS Real-Time Earthquakes

This map uses the Google Earth browser plug-in with the USGS's KML of the past 7 days' earthquakes.

This Google Earth browser plug-in tool also works with other KML's. Just replace the KML address in your browser address bar to view other KML's in the plug-in.

USGC Did You Feel It Map?

Although the USGC doesn't seem to be mapping their Twitter data yet they do have a Did You Feel It Map? The map uses Google Maps to show user contributed reports of earthquakes. Just click on the 'Report Unknown Event' button if you have felt an earthquake that is not yet mapped.

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