What is going on?

We’re not trying to duplicate the satellite imagery or the flyover data (though we’re helping to coordinate some of the flyovers and trying to make sure the data is publicly accessible). We believe it’s possible for citizens to use balloons, kites, and other simple and inexpensive tools to produce their own documentation of the spill… and that such imagery will be essential for environmental and legal reasons in coming years.

Grassroots Mapping: Kickstarter Pitch from TungstenMonkey on Vimeo.

We're organizing mapping 'trips' to the coast. If you're interested in leading a trip, please contact us at the mailing list, and we'll help you get started. (equipment, training, finding volunteers, etc.)

Team

Local team

• ShannonDosemagen - LA Bucket Brigade (shannon@labucketbrigade.org)
• KrisAnsin - local trip coordinator, local lead (krisansin@gmail.com)

Mapmaking leads, trainers

• OliverYeh (makeshifthoop@gmail.com)
• StewartLong (stewart@gonzoearth.com)
• JeffreyWarren (warren@mit.edu)

For questions, please email our mailing list.

Contact information

• Grassroots Mapping Mailing List: link to site - please join, this is the only way we have to reach you with meeting announcements, etc.

How can you help?

• BOATS to Chandeleur Islands and other affected areas
• Volunteers in the area to fly balloons/kites, make maps Volunteer Here
• Help sort our aerial imagery at MapMill

Equipment:

• Canon cameras or Android phones (see CameraOptions)
• Weather balloons (5 feet diameter or more)
• 100-gallon trash bags
• string, lots of string

Mapping Resources

• [NOAA's latest prediction maps] (http://deepwaterhorizon.noaa.gov/#downloads) -- PDFs available for 24, 48, and 72 hour horizons
• Latest MODIS imagery - often cloud-obscured
• [etc. mapping resources] (http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AdlKm4HLyuw0ZGd4Z24zcXJfMTBndnYyam1nNw&hl=en)-- pulled from posts to grassrootsmapping google group

Other mapping efforts

• LA Bucket Brigade Ushahidi instance - see below for more on LAFB
• CrisisCommons: Dr. Eric Frost, "Viz Lab" at SDSU San Diego: bio, crisismapping profile
• Skytruth is doing regular analysis of satellite imagery of the spill.

LA Bucket Brigade

website - 4226 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70119 (504) 484-3433.

How-to Mapping Guides

Look at our 4-page PDF guide to get started.