Google maps South Sudan

  1. Posted on Thursday 27 January 2011 - 10:39
    accreporter
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    Kent Mensah, AfricaNews editor in Accra, Ghana
    The internet search engine giant - Google - is digitalizing yet to be seceded South Sudan after a smooth January 9 referendum. According to Google, the Satellite Sentinel project would aid humanitarian agencies to quickly respond to crisis without having to go through difficulties of locating unmapped areas as exists now.
    Chad-Sudan border reopens after seven years
    The firm is relying on local knowledge to map schools, hospitals, and other landmarks in Sudan.

    “Sudan is a huge country [2.5 million km2], with an estimated population of 44 million people, but it’s poorly mapped. Without basic geospatial information, it’s difficult for humanitarian agencies and first responders to monitor and evaluate the risks and current needs, target their efforts, and mobilize proper resources.

    “At times like these, it is critical to have good maps on roads, settlements, voting stations, hospitals, buildings and other services - with both local and official names - to generate better, faster responses,” it stated on its Africa blog.

    The project is using imagery, field reports and Google Map Maker to conduct human rights monitoring along the border between North and South Sudan. It is collaboration between Not On Our Watch, Google, the Enough Project, the United Nations UNITAR Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT), the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, and Trellon, LLC.

    The search engine giants are calling on people with enough knowledge of Southern Sudan and interested in mapping to join the project. “With tools such as Google Map Maker and Sudan Vote Monitor, you have the opportunity to take concrete action by improving the map, helping to monitor and report human rights violations in near-real time and providing insight into the socio-political climate prevalent in the country and region,” the statement said.

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