In order to create digital maps for ‘forgotten’ places around the world, Accenture, a leading global professional services company, has launched an initiative called Global Mapathon. The initiative is targeted at identifying and mapping vulnerable roads, buildings, cities and villages world over.
The Accenture Global Mapathon is in partnership with reputable organisations such as the American and British Red Cross, Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders/MSF), Humanitarian Open Street Map Team and Missing Maps.
Part of the ongoing project carried out on this year across 42 cities to map 40,000 buildings, 8,125 villages and 13,400 roads across the world.
According to Accenture, the Global Mapathon initiative brings recognition not only to Nigeria but also the world at large, while it also enhances the operations of NGOs and aid agencies in crisis and disasters management.
The recent Accenture Digital Mapathon involved 850 volunteers who came together to digitally map remote and unmapped places in the world. The mappers made use of online tools to trace buildings and roads over satellite images.
Speaking about the Accenture Global Mapathon, Osato Noah, Accenture Development Partnerships (ADP) Global Programs Lead for Nigeria and West Africa, noted that despite having large populations and active economy, thousands of communities are still unmapped, thusmapping has become a necessity in today’s world.
He said: “We live in a world that is vulnerable to various crises, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, epidemics or conflict. Sadly for most developing countries such as Nigeria, these places are not mapped and people have no idea of the situation on the ground. However with the Accenture Global Mapathon, places prone to conflicts and disasters will be easily identified while timely rescue efforts are made.
“In Lagos, 12 Accenture volunteers mapped 240 buildings, 16 villages and 329 roads across the country.” Noah said.
He also added that these maps which will be available and useful to everyone including NGOs and aid agencies working in these settlements.
Noah explained that rescue efforts become a challenge without digital maps, as it is difficult to locate risk populations, map the spread of disease, or measure improvements. He however noted that digital maps will make these areas less vulnerable to disaster and disease, and enable more effective aid.
ODINAKA ANUDU
