Crisis Mapping in Action: How Open Source Software and Global Volunteer Networks Are Changing the World, One Map at a Time

The purpose of this paper is to share the stories behind some extraordinary maps—live crisis maps. The paper begins by investigating what types of live communication technologies existed prior to social media technologies. The development of live crisis maps is then discussed, beginning with the Ushahidi project, which utilized live collaborative mapping during post-election violence in Kenya in 2008. Via examples from Haiti, Japan, Libya, and Somalia, the impact of social media technologies on mapping and crisis response will become clear. Each of these maps helps to inspire and revolutionize many aspects of humanitarian response.