Helping crisis response with realtime data collection of Cell and WiFi coverage
CrisisSignal, developed by OpenSignal, is designed to collect realtime data on cellular and Wi-Fi coverage during and after emergency situations. Communication is key to assisting communities in the wake of disasters, and CrisisSignal allows for real time updates on the state of networks.
The app should be downloaded onto devices that will be used in the disaster-afflicted areas, and can be used by anyone – local communities, volunteers and professionals. Data collected from every user will be aggregated to build a real time map of coverage.
A detailed explanation of how to use the app and maximise data collection while minimising battery and data usage is available on the CrisisSignal Forum at http://opensignal.com/blog/forums/forum/CrisisSignal/. The OpenSignal team will also post links to the maps generated from CrisisSignal data on the forum, and will be on hand to answer questions users might have.
Please note, the app will only collect information on the cellular network if the device has an activated sim card. Data on Wi-Fi connection can still be collected if the device does not have a sim card. The app also has a number of settings for collecting data. The instructions on the forum explain the different settings and give tips on how to set your own.
CrisisSignal has been used in several emergency response situations, such as after Hurricane Sandy in New York in 2012 in collaboration with the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and following typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013. It is also being rolled out in West Africa to monitor coverage in ebola afflicted countries in collaboration with Nethope, UNMEER and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. Further details are available on the CrisisSignal forum.
CrisisSignal comes with no guarantees and has been developed free of charge. Thank you for helping!
For feature requests, sharing ideas on how to use the app and to test the latest version, join our community: http://opnsg.nl/CrisisSignal-beta-community
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