Work on better Sudan maps

INTERNET

Google is spearheading a drive to build new maps of Sudan, after years of conflict in the region.

According to a notice on the Google Africa blog, Southern Sudan faces many challenges as a new independent state. Better maps can help boost humanitarian efforts and infrastructure building, it noted.

Google called on its users to add their local knowledge to efforts to build new maps of the region, through its Map Your World initiative.

Google said: “ Our latest imagery update is now live on Google Map maker, Google Earth, and Google Maps, with nearly 50% of the UN priority areas over Southern Sudan covered with high resolution imagery.

Thanks to our satellite partner GeoEye, we will continue to acquire and publish high resolution imagery of the remaining UN priority areas, as well as to refresh areas that we have previously covered as the need arises. This new imagery, such as the one over Melut, will directly benefit the many organizations working in Sudan and ultimately support the building of a solid basemap of Sudan to achieve long-term socioeconomic objectives.”

Dedicated mappers have started building the foundation for a Sudan mapping community, resulting in high quality maps of Sudan.

But, Google noted, this is a long term process that requires deep commitment from various stakeholders and community groups.