Open source mapping is far superior to closed source in many categories in times of crisis simply due to the fact that anyone can edit the maps with all of the crisis information at that specific point in time. Closed source mapping on the other hand is basically useless in time of crisis because they are controlled by a select group of people that are the only ones able to make changes to the mapping system. Closed mapping systems are good for every day mapping when there is no emergency. An example of a closed source mapping system could include Google Maps. They are a closed type mapping system because no one can just go on Google maps like Wikipedia and just edit things at their own will; it requires having clearance to make changes to closed systems. The main reason I am writing this paper is to inform the reader that open source mapping is far superior to closed source mapping in times where crisis management is being implemented.
One of the reasons that open source mapping is so much better during times of crisis is because of its flexibility to quickly adapt to changes happening in the disaster area no matter what the disaster may be. This is essential because if the agencies using these maps were using a closed mapping system, they would not be able to receive help from professionals everywhere because the uses would be very restricted. However, when the maps are open sourced any average Joe that knows what they are doing would be able to help disaster areas from halfway around the world. A prime example of open source mapping being introduced in to the crisis management field would have to be during the massive earthquake that occurred in Haiti. Before this terrible event in the history of the civilized world government agencies and non-profit organizations found it very difficult to work together and share information with one another. Open source mapping stormed the scene when everyone shared information with one another at this point for the first time. There were programmers and many tech savvy people from every corner of the globe helping to generate maps for the victims in Haiti that were trying to either navigate away from the destruction or trying to receive medical supplies. The point is that without open source mapping many more people would have died in Haiti due to the fact that there would not have been that many people working on a global scale for free if they were using a closed mapping system.
I would have to say that my favorite type of open mapping system I have learned of so far through my schooling is Arc GIS. I have taken the Security Risk Analysis class on visual analytics which consisted of learning to use Arc GIS as well as one other program and using these programs in order to analyze physical situations more proficiently. The other program that we learned to use was called Treemaps and was a little less complicated to learn than Arc GIS, but at the same time was not quite as effective. This was used for more of a statistical base using charts and graphs more as a backup to the maps used in Arc GIS. However, when these two programs are used together they create quite the program that is essential for the field of disaster relief these days. I think that may have been one of my most useful SRA classes thus far at Penn State because we were allowed to use programs for free that usually cost thousands of dollars on someone’s own bill. This program was pretty complex and hard to get used to at first, but after you get used to it the program itself is exciting to use. You may download virtually any type of data and get it mapped out using the program. This is specifically useful for disaster relief and if I ever went into the disaster relief field I would most certainly suggest using Arc GIS. Below is a video describing the use of Arc GIS:
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