1. Posted on Thursday 30 June 2011 - 12:59

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   AfricaNews editor

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   AfricaNews ICT desk

   The internet giant Google has teamed up with the World Bank, UNOSAT, and RCMRD to bring together more than 100 Sudanese in the diaspora to map Southern Sudan, ahead of the country's July 9, 2011 independence day. The south is officially seceding from the main Sudanese country in a couple of days.

   

   The event is the second of a series of mapping sessions which have been organised to enable NGOs and the Sudanese diaspora community to create comprehensive maps of the region using Google Map Maker technology.
   
   Speaking at the iHub during the event, Google.org Program Manager, Dr. France Lamy, said that the exercise would help put Southern Sudan on the world map faster, opening it up to global opportunities.
   
   “Now more than ever, it is critical to have good maps of roads, settlements, buildings and other services, with both local and official names for reference,” she said.
   
   Also present at the event was Faris H. Hadad-Zervos, Acting Director of the Fragile and Conflict-Affected Countries Group of the World Bank. He added that the mapping exercise was timely, following the historic referendum held in Southern Sudan. 
   
   “South Sudan is an expansive region that is currently poorly mapped. Without basic geospatial information, it is difficult for the government, civil society, development partners, and all stakeholders to visualize plans, see existing infrastructure, and target areas where they want to work and develop projects. This will also empower the Southern Sudanese community to develop their own solutions using maps, ” said Mr. Hadad-Zervos.
   
   Google with World Bank, UNOSAT, and RCMRD are co-hosting the event to demonstrate the important role community mapping will play in building the world’s newest independent nation.
   
   The first mapping exercise was held at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington, D.C., alongside a concurrent satellite event in Nairobi. More than 90 members of the Sudanese diaspora community, along with regional experts from the World Bank, Sudan Institute, Voices for Sudan, The Enough Project and other organizations gathered together to map South Sudan.
   
   This effort is also directly contributing to the Satellite Sentinel Project, a collaborative project between Google, the Enough Project, Not On Our Watch, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT), DigitalGlobe, the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, and Trellon.

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Reactions

1. Posted on Friday 08 July 2011 18:47

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   winnieleong

   

   Winnie Leong
   15 berichten
   Lid sinds July 2011
   New York

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   I remember when I was 11, the world still belong to Yahoo!. And when my age is 15, the world is changing to wards Google. And now, Google own the largest search engine in the world. Which almost all the user use their search engine! Just liek Friendster to Facebook! What a big innovation. Max Pure Lens

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2. Posted on Friday 13 April 2012 18:27

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   jack88

   

   
   73 berichten
   Lid sinds April 2012

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   I really love the ideas behind this so good. I am glad they are putting an event like this together. I think it is so important for the people to do this. I see a great future for this country.Mens Shoes

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3. Posted on Monday 30 April 2012 12:22

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   bestech

   

   
   7 berichten
   Lid sinds April 2012

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   Thanks for such a great post and the review, I am totally impressed! Keep stuff like this coming. buy property in gurgaon

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