Scientists from Lancaster University are appealing for volunteers to help a citizen science project helping the delivery of humanitarian aid in the wake of two earthquakes within less than one minute of each other in Venezuela.
Headed by Lancaster University Physics Professor Brooke Simmons, the Planetary Response Network (PRN) is a humanitarian project hosted on Zooniverse and uses crowd-sourced data to inform humanitarian decision makers in the field.
The Planetary Response Network (PRN) uses satellite and aerial image analysis to provide stakeholders with high-level situational awareness during and after humanitarian crises. During past deployments following environmental disasters, thousands of online volunteers have compared pre- and post-event satellite images to identify damage to infrastructure and buildings, access blockages, and signs of people in distress.
Professor Simmons said: "After an event like this, there are so many people who want to help, but don't have the financial resources or the time to volunteer in person. Our project provides a way for people to help responders in their spare time, without having to leave home."
The project is currently focusing on humanitarian access routes in Venezuela after the Earthquakes hit the region, leaving a trail of devastation.
For this project, the team, includes Lancaster's Humanitarian Outreach Officer Alice Mead.
Alice said: "We have been asked to support the response with vital data on humanitarian aid access routes. This project focuses on identifying road blockages and damage to infrastructure such as bridges, airports, and ports. We need lots of support from volunteers to classify the data."
