GIS and Crisis

I was originally planning to write on a very different topic for this version of the newsletter but given the events in Ukraine, it felt important to discuss how geospatial and GIS play an important role in helping the world understand what is taking place, our role in providing accurate information, and how to help use your expertise in times like these.

Before that, I was sent this link by a colleague with some specific ways to make an immediate impact.

Maps can tell a story

In the previous weeks, we have seen many maps and satellite imagery showing the Russian build-up of military resources near Ukraine, and the eventual invasion and attack against Ukraine in the past week.

Geospatial companies like Maxar and others have provided important imagery that showcases to the world the progression and scale of the military buildup along the border. These images are just one way that geospatial has helped to tell the world of the story that is taking place for weeks leading up to the attack on Ukraine.

Recently, these images have shifted to focus on a convoy moving towards Kyiv. These images are important to inform the world about what is happening and the sheer scope of what is taking place in Ukraine. Imagery like this provides a new level of transparency, ensuring that the global community is aware and updated on what is taking place.

After the invasion, maps have also helped to tell the world how the situation is changing every day. Just about every news outlet and website has a map similar to the one below from Bloomberg. These maps are being updated daily to show the scope of the conflict and how it is progressing day by day. The important tasks of data collection and reporting that go into making and updating these maps is a critical GIS process that enables the world to understand this changing situation.

Bloomberg has done a great job releasing a series of maps over the course of the conflict that also frame what is taking place in Ukraine not just from military attacks but also the human toll as people in Ukraine have fled to neighboring countries.

Maps show impact

The maps and imagery above will continue to tell the story of what is taking place as they are updated. But other maps, such as the human toll of people fleeing Ukraine for other countries show the impact of what is taking place, like this map from Axios.

The visual guide from the Guardian has one of the most complete sets of maps showing current developments and contextual maps leading to the crisis.

The immediate impact along the borders with the length of traffic along different checkpoints was shown very clearly by this map from Bloomberg as well as with traffic leaving Kyiv:

The response from nations around the globe has been to sanction Russia, and the impact was immediate and continues to impact the country. This map from the Bloomberg Terminal shows how Russian equities markets were impacted the day after the invasion.

Tracking the impact of sanctions and other actions in response to the crisis will be important to help the world understand how these actions can impact Russia. It is also critically important to understand the humanitarian crisis that continues during the course of this crisis.

Maps can distort

All maps, in one way or another, distort the world. That could be anything from a simple projection, removing data, or any other common steps used to display geographic information in an easy-to-understand and consumable way.

But sometimes this can be used to distort data in ways that can be used to take a position, sometimes unintentionally and sometimes not. Simple choices such as choropleth breaks or methods can change how data is displayed.

This can be taken to other extremes, such as making territorial claims. Throughout history, maps have been used to stake claims, and this has continued in the age of web maps in the South China Sea and in Crimea.

Geographers and cartographers understand the weight of the choices that can go into the styling of maps, how they can take a position, and how to design maps that are intuitive and factual. There is a certain level of responsibility and ensuring, especially in sensitive situations and moments of crisis, that those decisions are neutral and factual is critical for all working with GIS.

Maps can help

Finally, if you work in GIS, you have a skill set that can help. And more importantly, maps can help. Use your skills to share information, contribute to projects, and ultimately share valuable and helpful information. Projects like HOT OSM have made an impact for years in times of crisis. This video of OSM contributions after the Haiti earthquake shows just how fast contributions were made.

Companies like Google can also make an impact. The company disabled traffic data in Ukraine to help protect communities in the country.

And organizations like the Centre for Information Resilience have published maps and reports that provide transparency and collect information about the build-up and invasion of Ukraine.

Using the tools and skills you have is one small way to make an impact, but in times of crisis, ensuring transparency and accurate information is critical, and those working in GIS can be a major part of that mission.

If you can and are able help, share with others, and work to provide accurate and informed data. Please feel free to use this post to share any resources that you may have found or any initiatives providing support for the war and crisis in Ukraine.