Social Media, Crisis Mapping and the Christchurch Earthquakes of 2011

This article will describe and contextualize the development whereby data and information flows derived from social media sites are gathered and made available as part of crisis maps. In particular it will look at the evidence available to describe and contextualise the use of crisis mapping as it was played out during the initial recovery period of the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. It will also consider to the extent to which this new media based institutional and public information sharing and deployment constitutes a significant tool within the relevant networks of communication practices and practitioners.