On April 25, 2015, an earthquake registering 7.8 on the Richter scale struck northwest of Kathmandu, Nepal. Initial projected death tolls surpassed 5,000, with many more expected as the cascading effects worked their way through the country. After an event of this magnitude in a developing country, the largest problem is identifying resource needs, moving those resources, and identifying areas of concern. Kathmandu itself had been mapped extensively as a subject of the Open Cities Project — however, the surrounding areas severely lacked data, keeping responders from identifying homes, persons, and infrastructure in need of assistance.
Due to the great need for data, organizations and people throughout the world donated time mapping spatial information across the country. This information is collected by a crowd of volunteers using OpenStreetMap and goes live into the maps immediately, serving as a major source of spatial information for countries where the Red Cross has activities. New Light Technologies took part by holding a mapping event with employees and sending personnel to a large-scale collaborative mapping event. These efforts were hosted by various organizations including the American Red Cross, Missing Maps, the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team, and Maptime DC.
About New Light Technologies
New Light Technologies (NLT) is a Washington, DC-based firm with 25+ years of experience delivering:
- Geospatial systems and enterprise GIS
- Cloud-native data platforms
- AI/ML and advanced analytics
- DevSecOps and cybersecurity solutions
NLT supports federal, state, and international organizations in operationalizing data for mission impact.