When we developed the beta version of a fully functional Disaster Assistance Component Kit, including disaster preparedness curriculum, and resources on a website that ran off of a USB drive, we immediately knew that there would be much work needed to foster, and sustain a network of users. And just as important as supporting this community, it would be critical to expand the functionality and self-actualization of the data in a crowdsourcing fashion.

The kit was crafted during my time at the American Institute of Architects, in collaboration with Development Seed, for Communities by Design where I project managed the Disaster Assistance Program. In the final sprint of the project Eric already explained how this proof of concept could be strengthen in a subsequent phase:

"A better way to present this information is as a hosted solution that gives an online kit to each of the AIA’s local components and lets regional teams work on their own site together. This would make collaboration easier and the experience faster []. It would allow AIA to crowdsource their regional members for local contact information, something that is incredibly hard to keep current using a traditional centralized method. Another benefit is that it would decentralize distribution. Just think, any local group could distribute the kit by simply picking up a few usb drives and hitting the copy button."

Following on that line of innovation, what Eduardo Jezierski of InSTEED narrates seems critically relevant to strengthen the capacity when internet connections are not available on the field, and instead accessing the typically more available SMS networks. Networks that could be integrated efficiently in the memory stick:

"Mesh4x has a new feature that allows you sync data between a local desktop, server or mobile device and a remote computer even if you have no Internet access, by sending and receiving little batches of text messages. Databases, spreadsheets and even maps can be kept up to date using the right adapters. Algorithmic work was done to minimize the number of text messages needed, and the result is having up-to-date information on both ends of the exchange. This data can be in turn shared further with other devices locally and synchronized again to the remote source."

Eduardo shares scenarios where it could be used by OpenMRS, an open-source Medical Record Management in developing countries with little or no regular connectivity available but a somewhat reliable access to SMS. Likewise, with SMS being typically the most reliable way to exchange information in the emergency phase of a disaster, the uses and potential of this data exchange are tremendous to coordinate search and rescue on the field, organize the deployment of community services, or document efficiently building damage assessments, just to name but a few o these uses.

An important aspect of these efforts is usually their development in open source and accessible platforms fostering more efficient knowledge exchange. Where one may not have the capacity or resources to guarantee the continuity of such initiative, others may be able pick it up and share the outcome retro feeding other projects. Just as important, if not more, is the dedication to develop and support that community of users, without which the use and improvement of these resources becomes quite sterile. And that becomes another project altogether, which can be overlooked but is essential to make meaningful and sustainable change.