Updates from ehersman RSS Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Erik Hersman 1:38 pm on January 24, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , ,   

    Tech Community Sitrep (Jan 22, 2010) 

    I’m a day behind on getting this SitRep up, my apologies.

    Word Doc version:
    Tech community sitrep – haiti 22 jan 2010

    See it inline below:
    (More …)

     

    • Sanjana Hattotuwa 5:35 pm on January 24, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Dear Eric,

      You said that “Decision-makers on the ground still do not have access to accurate, real-time data.” In addition to points noted by you as to why this is the case, the format the data is published on also comes into play. One example is the hugely valuable master contact list in Haiti published yesterday by OCHA and available on the OneResponse website as a ZIP download containing a Excel 2007 format spreadsheet with multiple tabs. Far more simpler would have been to just upload this information to the web for people to access and search? In fact, what I did was to save each tab in that huge spreadsheet as a separate file, upload it to Google Docs, publish them as webpages and link to them on the ICT4Peace Foundation wiki, referenced above. Simple, effective, efficient.

      VBW,

      Sanjana

      • Erik Hersman 6:04 pm on January 24, 2010 Permalink | Reply

        Great point Sanjana. It’s one of the constant mysteries for me, why data isn’t published in a format easy to get to, mix and reuse for multiple purposes. Don’t even get me started on PDF maps as the only format on some websites…

  • Erik Hersman 10:12 am on January 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , numbers, ,   

    Updated 4636 SMS stats: Overall 3296 Dee… 

    Updated 4636 SMS stats:

    Overall 3296
    Deemed Useful 2039

    With usable coords: 32%

    Breakdown:
    Food distribution 23.27%
    Missing Persons 11.06%
    Asking to forward a message 10.94%
    Response 9.79%
    Water shortage 9.33%
    Health services 5.65%
    Medical Emergency 4.38%
    People trapped 4.38%
    Shelter 3.46%
    Earthquake and aftershocks 3.23%
    Emergency 3.00%
    Persons News 2.19%
    Collapsed structure 1.73%
    Non food items 1.73%
    Vital Lines 1.04%

     

  • Erik Hersman 9:47 am on January 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , photos   

    Embeddable Extraordinaries Images 

    The Extraordinaries have finished putting together an embeddable Haiti image grid. This allows it to be used all over the web and extends their reach significantly (see it in action on http://haiti.ushahidi.com).

    You can access it via the URL:

    http://app.beextra.org/appflickr/embed/collectionid/haiti/missionid/605/count/12/title/1/bg/white

    • count - number of photos you want to display in the grid
    • title – title visibility {true, false, 1, 0}
    • bg – optional parameter to change background color {black, white, gray, etc}

    And here’s sample iframe code:

    <iframe src=”http://app.beextra.org/appflickr/embed/collectionid/haiti/missionid/605/count/12/title/1/bg/white” width=”270″ height=”400″ scrolling=”no” frameborder=”0″></iframe>

    Here’s an example of it on our site:

     

    • jongos 5:18 am on January 23, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      thanks so much for posting this, Erik!

  • Erik Hersman 8:31 pm on January 20, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: maps, openstreetmap   

    Switched over to OpenStreetMap on the http://haiti.ushahidi.com site. The level of detail is outstanding, a true testament to the work of many OSM volunteers over the last week. This is simply amazing.

    Here’s an example of the detail even as street level: http://haiti.ushahidi.com/reports/view/1253

     

  • Erik Hersman 2:00 pm on January 20, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , ,   

    Ushahidi Situation Report (1/20/2010) 

    Dev Items:

    • Reminder, please check http://github.com/ushahidi/Ushahidi_Haiti/issues for current changes/updates to the issues
    • Iframe: Push changes on core to iframe (ex: http://www.haiti.com)
    • Resolved items (ie, “action taken”) need to have some visual representation that that happened. Ex: I “resolved” this item and it doesn’t show up with anything on the frontend http://haiti.ushahidi.com/reports/view/584
    • Get OSM back up on the map, even if it’s just as the + feature on the tab.
    • Haiti Tracker: Integrating EDXL and PFIF into Sulsa. (Jon)
    • Haiti Tracker: Migrating Haiti Tracker from Magpie to Simple Pie thanks to volunteers at Souktel. (Jon)
    • API logger: To track API activities (Henry)
    • API: parameter for the API to track where ( could be a webservice or thirdy party client ) a post is  coming from http://github.com/ushahidi/Ushahidi_Haiti/issues#issue/19 (Henry)
    • Updating the UI for “Categories” on the reports submit page (admin and front-end) [Caleb]
    • Minor UI tweaks on home page (move download CSV button to top of page) [Caleb]

    Non-Dev items:

    • Process flow of 4636 system, a graphical diagram is needed. (Josh Nesbit)
    • Heatmap blog post (Erik)
    • Organizing of volunteer situation room teams for incoming reports (Patrick & Ory)
    • “Resolved Issues” – putting a process and teams in place to gather reports back from the relief orgs in Haiti and map them to the issues within haiti.ushahidi.com (Ory & Patrick)
     

    • caleb 4:03 am on January 21, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Just updated the above post to indicate completed tasks.

  • Erik Hersman 6:09 pm on January 19, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: clustering, , , , , visualization   

    Server-side clustering and visualization.

    We’re getting too many points on the map for effective use. David is instituting server-side clustering to deal with this, which should help with both site performance and general readability/usability. This isn’t live yet, but will be going up soon. We continue to tweak the UI, but it’s coming along nicely.

    Here’s what it looks like when all points are selected:

    All points mapped and clustered

    Here’s what it looks like when only one sub-category is chosen:

    An example of a sub-category visualization of clustering

     

  • Erik Hersman 1:09 pm on January 19, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ,   

    About the Haiti Twitter Tracker: http://appfrica2.com/haiti/

    Swift/Africa – today our team is working on getting IP address and passing latitude/longitude values to the form when users submit. This will all but complete the button. In addition I’m still working on dupicate detection. Abdahalla (a volunteer) is making some minor changes to the core of Gregarius.

    We need volunteers to take on any of the tasks in github: http://github.com/appfrica/haiti_tracker

     

  • Erik Hersman 8:43 am on January 19, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , , ,   

    Haiti Technology Community Situation Report (1/17/2010) 

    Again, thanks to the InSTEDD team for providing this technology situation report for Haiti. This is an overview of the last 24 hours worth of work within the community.

    Download the Word Doc:
    Haiti Technology Community Situation Report – 17 Jan 2010

    Read it online below:
    (More …)

     

    • Eddy 7:37 pm on January 19, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      This is a fine, detailed and highly specific post. Please know how appreciated that is. Keep up the great work everyone.

  • Erik Hersman 9:42 pm on January 18, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , ,   

    Just gone over 1000 text messages into 4636, with 2/3rds deemed useful.
    180 where volunteers were able to give lat / lon based on content

     

  • Erik Hersman 7:12 pm on January 18, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , cnn, , , , wyclef   

    Wyclef, Local Radio and the 4636 Shortcode 

    There has been a lot of work going on in the background to get the 4636 SMS campaign in Haiti working smoothly.

    If you are in Haiti, report emergency information and location by texting free to 4636

    If you are in Haiti, report emergency information and location by texting free to 4636

    We put together a message that will be sent out via a number of channels. We’re hoping that the first to put it out will be Wyclef at his site and Here, and also streaming live right now at CNN.com. Local radio stations are also starting to pick it up, and will start broadcasting the 4636 number shortly.

    “Texting emergency needs and location information to 4636 on Digicel allows the surviving population to report issues, receive alerts and useful information and most importantly to get their emergency information to relief organizations on the ground in Haiti. These services are operated by a collaborating group of organizations including Ushahidi, InSTEDD, Thomson Reuters Foundation, Sahana and the US Dept of State and provides a channel for many response and information activities on the ground”

    If you want to get the message out, say something like this:

    In Haiti? Text 4636 on Digicel with your location and need. Report emergencies and missing persons.

    Success Stories

    People looking for success stories on http://haiti.ushahidi.com can find them here:

    http://haiti.ushahidi.com/reports/view/761

    http://haiti.ushahidi.com/reports/view/584

    http://haiti.ushahidi.com/reports/view/606

    http://haiti.ushahidi.com/reports/view/642

    http://haiti.ushahidi.com/reports/view/580

    Who’s pulling the Haiti.Ushahidi.com RSS feed?

    Currently we know that these orgs are using our data feed from Ushahidi.

    • Red cross
    • United Nations Foundation
    • Plan International
    • Charity Water
    • Clinton Foundation
    • US State Department
    • International Medical Corps
    • AIDG

    How can you help?

    By sending a local text message to 4636 or internationally at +447624802524
    By sending e-mail to Haiti@ushahidi.com
    On Twitter with hash tag #haiti or #haitiquake
    Online at http://haiti.ushahidi.com/reports/submit

    More news and updates on this will be coming soon.

     

  • Erik Hersman 1:38 pm on January 18, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , ,   

    Ushahidi Situation Report 

    What we’re working on at Ushahidi currently and the point person for each issue.

    Dev and Design Side:

    • **critical** “Action tag” system – to tag reports with who’s reported on them (feedback loop)
    • **critical** Swift River/Haiti Twitter Tracker “curated tweets” – need update and ETA [Jon & team in UG / Swift River community]
    • Ensure timestamp is accurate (Github link). Note: set for right timezone? [Henry Addo]
    • Search query via the API (for http://www.haiti.com and other iframe users) [Henry Addo]
    • “Download data” link on frontend [Ken Kasina / Caleb Bell]
    • The Flickr page should use frames from Extraordinaires so that people can help tag flickr images [Caleb Bell]
    • Beefing up the How to help page, including an option to map organizations providing assistance and adding a way for volunteers to indicate where they are and what they are available to do. [Juliana Rotich]
    • Clustering of Haiti Map data [David Kobia]
    • Degradation of map data over time (fading out over 12/24hr period). Closely related: degrading of “resolved” items from the map, maybe to their own category only, or an indication visually that it’s been resolved. [David Kobia]
    • 4636 bug reporting place needed [Brian Herbert]
    • 4636 feature request: Solving for the “urgency” problem. How does an org receiving the feed understand what is the “most important”? [Brian Herbert]
    • Do something with the KML overlay section (either dropdown or move under the timeline) [Caleb Bell]
    • Main page: we have a banner with the SMS info and then a box just above the map. I think that’s too much. Could we please remove [Caleb Bell]
    • Admin stats page for “impact” is borked (link: http://haiti.ushahidi.com/admin/stats/impact) [Henry Addo]

    Non-Dev Side:

    • **critical** Strategy for approval/verification situation room sustainability. Fletcher Situation Room is putting together a guide to map incoming SMS, please hold off on creating reports from incoming SMS until then. Guide should be available by 4am Boston time. (need link) [Patrick Meier / Ory Okolloh]
    • Get Comcel 4636 shortcode going [Josh Nesbit and US Dept of State]
    • Reports approval/verification [Juliana Rotich / Patrick Meier & Team / Ory Okolloh]
    • Twitter, Blog updates [Erik Hersman]
    • Situation Room & Situation Report coordination [Erik Hersman]
    • Graphic explaining how the 4636 system works [Caleb Bell / design volunteer?]
     

    • Erik Hersman 2:52 pm on January 18, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Update as needed via the comments.

      • caleb 4:33 pm on January 18, 2010 Permalink | Reply

        Main Page: SMS Shortcode announcement above map has been removed.

      • jongos 5:17 pm on January 18, 2010 Permalink | Reply

        Swift River/Haiti: button is working and live on the site, should be passing all correct values accept location and username

      • Henry 6:44 pm on January 18, 2010 Permalink | Reply

        Search query via the API (for http://www.haiti.com and other iframe users) : Fixed

      • caleb 8:08 pm on January 18, 2010 Permalink | Reply

        KML overlay section has now been moved to below the timeline on the home page

  • Erik Hersman 12:46 pm on January 18, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ,   

    Ushahidi: Reports by Category 

    As of this morning we had 695 reports that had been approved into http://haiti.ushahidi.com. Here is the Distribution by Parent Categories:

    • Urgences | Emergency 369 (34%)
    • Secours | Response 331 (30%)
    • Nouvelles de Personnes | Persons News 221 (21%)
    • Urgences logistiques | Vital Lines 104 (9%)
    • Menaces | Threats 34 (3%)
    • Autre | Other 37 (3%)

    Category distribution for Ushahidi in Haiti on Jan 18 2010

     

  • Erik Hersman 10:53 am on January 18, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: geo, , ,   

    Update from InSTEDD. They’re working on a what they’re calling “SMS 2 Geo” project for getting much more accurate geodata on incoming messages and reports. More information that is forthcoming, and they’ll need some help with UI and UX for that once the initial core coding is done.

    If you want to help, get in touch with Luke Beckman: beckman@instedd.org

     

  • Erik Hersman 8:48 am on January 18, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: google,   

    Links to the Missing Persons index (API page and blog):

    http://sites.google.com/site/haitireliefwiki/person-finder/service-api

    http://googlepersonfinder.blogspot.com/

     

  • Erik Hersman 6:43 pm on January 17, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , reuters, ,   

    Reuters and InSTEDD are using 4636 too for messages, whereas at Ushahidi we’re handling the incoming ones and the database: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60G16420100117

    Anyone who texts into us will also receive from them.

    Currently InSTEDD team in Haiti is setting up 5-10 local SMS gateways for outgoing SMS, just waiting on SIMs

     

  • Erik Hersman 6:33 pm on January 17, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , ,   

    Ushahidi Situation Report (1/17/2010) 

    Ushahidi Haiti Deployment: Situation Report – Jan 17, 2010

    Dev items

    1. Look/fix the geoRSS from the 4636 system
    2. Fixing bugs and adding usability features on 4636.ushahidi.com (Note: Brian is 100% on this, has no spare capacity)
    3. Ory’s “Action tag” system – to tag reports with who’s reported on them (feedback loop)
    4. Halfway done on cluster mode
    5. Swift River – needed VERY badly for situation room to process incoming reports (how soon?)
    6. Add public data download on main page (Ken and/or Emmanuel)
    7. Bug reports – http://github.com/ushahidi/Ushahidi_Haiti/issues
    8. Make sure that the comments are fixed, there was an issue with the security code
    9. Figure out an automated way to track who is subscribing to the feeds – Brian to busy to do it now, can we use feedburner or something – that will help me see which organizations are tracking us.
    10. Admin report edit log so people can see what’s been edited, what hasn’t, and a log of who edited

    Design items

    • “About” page formatting
    • “How to Help” page formatting
    • “Report” page categories
    • Improve UI on KML layers: text font too large, also big massive white space below time slider
    • Graphic explaining how the 4636 system works

    Non-dev items

    • Put together database of contacts in Haiti with affailiation and contact info for Nigel (Patrick)
    • Replying to emails coming to Haiti@ushahidi.com (Patrick/Ory)
    • Approving reports to Ushahdi (Patrick/Ory & team)
    • Add SMS reports to map (Patrick & team)
    • Situation Reports (Erik/Patrick)
    • Compiling updated database for Clinton (Patrick)
    • Processing of non-English email reports – Creole especially
    • We need to devise an sustainability strategy ASAP, can’t keep the Fletcher Sit Room open for more than a day or two, can shift to fully virtual Sit Room but this still requires some management, not sure how to do this.
    • Need to show how are data is being used, who is using, etc, stuff that Ory is trying to find out
    • Flag particular reports that have critical information e.g. a hospital needs supplies and broadcast to our network but then there is a risk of noise (part of “Action Tag”)
    • Encourage responders, situation allowing to let us know if an action has been taken. We can then leave a comment on a report or something. (Part of “Action Tag”)

    Recently done/currently doing:

    • David – Timeline fixed.
    • David – Map changes/updates
    • Brian – 4636 system
    • Caleb – formatting on homepage
    • Caleb – new language switcher
    • Ory – media outreach, with focus now on local media
    • Ory – closing the loop – make sure aid organizations are tracking us and that we can then track their actions if possible.
    • Ory – putting together a list of who is tracking us so that we can publicize
    • Ory – approving reports on Haiti admin
    • Ken – cleaned up and uploaded the KML overlays
    • Patrick – combing all news sources
    • Patrick – updating mapping locations database which CrisisMappers group found very useful
    • Patrick – managing group of 20+ volunteers, in Boston situation room and virtual
    • Erik/Sarah – Media release & blog update
    • Erik – Twitter & media
    • Erik – situation updates & team coordination
    • Henry – bugs
    • Henry/David – Alerts system
    • Jon – Haiti tracker: “send to Ushahidi” button, tagging and controlling for duplicates
     

  • Erik Hersman 2:36 pm on January 17, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , media,   

    SMS 4636 and local media in Haiti

    We need to get a push locally in Haiti to ensure that we get more Haitians knowledgeable about the free text messages that can be sent in via 4636. InSTEDD is doing local outreach, as is Internews.

    If you have any ideas, Haiti contacts, or are working on this already, please update this post.

     

  • Erik Hersman 12:49 pm on January 17, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: aggregation, ,   

    Update: Missing Persons Data 

    There have been many heroic efforts ongoing around Haiti. One of them is the work being done by Tim Schwartz of HaitianQuake.com, Chen Li and the UC Irvine team, Andy Carvin and the PersonFinder group, and Google (among many others) to aggregate this data and put it in a standardized (PFIF) format for use by multiple organizations. Due to their work, there are now 17,000 more entries this morning in the correct format.

    The aggregator is being run by Google at: http://haiticrisis.appspot.com

    Most groups are collaborating on this, including the New York Times who quickly started a process to integrate their data in the right format.

    Some groups are still not sharing their data (CNN iReport and the Red Cross at ICRC). This means a lot of manual labor has been needed to collect and integrate it into the system. For instance, Brian Zimmer has created a system for volunteers to go through CNN iReport data (parsed by Chen’s group) and put the data into Google by hand.

    (Still waiting on information about the Miami Herald and Facebook missing persons data.)

     

  • Erik Hersman 11:01 am on January 17, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , ,   

    Tech Community SitRep (1/16/2010) 

    Courtesy of the good folks at InSTEDD, here is a comprehensive situation report on the tech communities activities through 1/16/2010.

    Download it as a Word Document:
    Technology Community SitRep Haiti 6 Jan 2010

    View it online below:
    (More …)

     

  • Erik Hersman 10:26 pm on January 16, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ,   

    Just got the JSON export of tagged news imagery operational at http://app.beextra.org/appflickr/haiti

     

Older Posts →

c
compose new post
j
next post/next comment
k
previous post/previous comment
r
reply
e
edit
o
show/hide comments
t
go to top
l
go to login
h
show/hide help
esc
cancel