Abstract

The GEO-PICTURES platform for integrating geo-information in emergency response
Track: Disaster Management and Emergency Response
Authors: Einar Bjorgo, Josh Lyons

GEO-PICTURES is a European Commission funded research project focussing on developing an integrated platform for geo-localized information (satellite images, ground photos, videos, etc). The system is designed to allow for near real time information sharing, which is particularly important during humanitarian emergencies. The collected geo-spatial information, coming from field, satellite or volunteer crowd-sourcing, is published via ArcGIS Server and the JavaScript API. An application based on social media / VGI App - Version 2 will be developed to allow rapid multiplatform dissemination of information to both technical backstopping staff and teams and systems deployed in the field. A range of partners from Europe, Brazil as well as UNITAR/UNOSAT ensure that user requirements are well documented and taken into the system development at an early stage of the process. Emerging technologies, such as unmanned aerial vehicles running image acquisition and dissemination systems on Android platforms are also explored in the project.