Update: The iPhone app referenced in this article has since been released on the App Store.

Crisis Mappers from around the world have been working around the clock to create maps and other tools for relief workers in Haiti. The earthquake caused tremendous damage to the road network and updated maps are necessary to enable food and volunteers to traverse the island.

The volunteer-driven Open Street Map project has become a central data source for the Crisis Mappers. It is regarded by many as the most up-to-date map of the area. It combines UN damage assessment, digitized imagery, Public Domain Topos and other base data. In the wake of the tragedy Google quickly released Haiti data gathered from its MapMaker program. DigitalGlobe has made its satellite imagery of Haiti freely available as well (as did GeoEye).

Soon, there will also be a free iPhone app with maps of Haiti coming

to the App Store. Jeffrey Johnson worked with a small company,

TrailBehind, Inc., to adapt the company’s existing

( offline mapping app, Gaia GPS,) to provide offline maps to relief workers.

It combines Digital Globe (.5m resolution), GeoEye (.5m resolution updated on 1/13), and OpenStreetMap (constantly being updated).

This version of Gaia GPS is intended to aid disaster relief for the Haitian earthquake. The app can be used to download maps and satellite imagery of the earthquake area, including up-to-date overlays of disaster sites, hospitals, and other relevant waypoints. The map data is provided by Digital Globe, GeoEye, OpenStreetMap, and the maps are hosted by the New York Public Library. The app also provides other features that might be relevant to disaster relief efforts: 1) Recording of GPS tracks, waypoints, and geo-tagged photos



2) Import/export GPX tracks and photos



3) Guidance to waypoints and along tracks. For more information about the app, please visit www.gaiagps.com This version of the app is identical to the commercial version, with the exception of the maps provided.

Fingers crossed that this app gets approved by Apple quickly.

Additionally you can see UAV flights from Haiti. These include new to the web imagery from P3 and GlobalHawk.



Jeffrey Johnson will be speaking about Crisis Mapping Haiti at Where 2.0 in March.



Edited for accuracy, clarity and great news about the iPhone app being released.

More images of the iPhone app