# National Reading Month: Digital Humanitarians: How BIG DATA Is Changing the Face of Humanitarian Response

/ Published March 27, 2023
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. , 
***Editor's Note:** March is National Reading Month. Everyday reading increases knowledge and develops personal and professional skills. Throughout the month, the DLA Disposition Services Pathways to Career Excellence program participants are sharing insights from books* they recently finished. *No official Department of Defense endorsement implied*

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The book “Digital Humanitarians: How Big Data is Changing the Face of Humanitarian Response” has several examples of natural disasters around the world and the aid of digital [medi:2:left:medium:nocaption]humanitarians and how they responded. The author, Patrick Meier, touches on the obstacles during each and what was done to overcome them.

I certainly didn’t expect this to be a “feel good” type of book, but it turned out to be one. The idea of thousands of people, not in any way affected by a natural disaster, willing to give up their time and effort to aid those who were impacted was very moving. With all the heartache and conflict in the world, it’s refreshing to see that there are still good people who care about being good humans and doing the right thing.

Humanity isn’t the only spin in this book, Meier puts a spin on technology as well. Technology has a reputation of dehumanizing people, consider children and adults buried in their devices, socially inept. But in the cases mentioned in the book, technology was used in a way that made us more human, allowing people to act on their innate human instinct of compassion and helping in times of need. 

The book starts in 2010 with Meier as a college student in Boston, Massachusetts. As a response to the Haitian earthquake that rocked the country, he started doing what he could to help - despite being thousands of miles away and a broke college student.

By means of the internet and Open Street Maps, Meier, along with a growing team of tech-savvy students, were able to trace roads and plot previous infrastructures like schools, hospitals, and hotels to aid in identifying impacted areas and assist in the search and rescue mission.

These “crisis maps” grow in detail and information as digital volunteers receive communication from those on the ground. Using public information, mainly tweets, anyone with a computer could pinpoint people trapped in rubble or even pharmacies or aid stations that were open and offering assistance.

Since the start of the Digital Humanitarian effort, the United Nations cofounded Digital Humanitarian Network, which is the current interface between digital volunteers and humanitarian organizations. Along with the physical expansion of this concept, there is also more technological advancements.

The use of drones, microtasking satellite imagery, and artificial intelligence have made huge strides in the world of digital humanitarian assistance.

In addition to the positive growth, there have been negative issues as well. Problems like misinformation and disinformation, data privacy, protection, and ethics.

With each of these obstacles, the tech-savvy team of digital humanitarians were able to find solutions and overcome to continue their mission. Solutions such as using Skype to crowdsource rumors and using digital detectives or AI to verify user-generated content, all to combat disinformation during times of disaster.

Meier also notes that the future success of digital aid won’t come from technology alone, but policies set in place by leadership. Policies like during Typhoon Yolanda, the Filipino government put in place a policy on hashtag usage to narrow down and track relief versus rescue messages.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in technology, humanitarian aid, or just interested in a good read.  

****This book is available through LMS/Skillsoft for DLA associates.***