The Standby Task Force is a volunteer-based network that provides real-time crisis mapping support for humanitarian organizations. It emerged after the International Crisis Mapping Conference in 2010 and now has hundreds of members from around the world, people who participate in deployments once a call for help is received. The SBTF is comprised of teams that monitor and translate stories from media sites; generate and verify reports; geolocate incidents; and analyze patterns of events, among other tasks. Together with my colleague Helena Puig, I help to coordinate and guide the volunteers on the Analysis Team. Here’s Helena doing a webinar that talks about the analysis team’s activities. Typically a deployment is only for a few weeks or up to a month, until others on the ground are in a better position to take over coordination and relief efforts.
The SBTF practices with simulations, and there’s one coming up next month in Boston. It’s not too late to get involved!
diana maps 