November 2013 Summaries

The Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) has been working hard to mobilize a large number of volunteers to digitize areas of the Philippines in order to help aid efforts following Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan. A map was created to visualize the results of this effort, showcasing the volunteer activity in response to the disaster. This initiative aims to provide accurate and up-to-date information on affected areas, facilitating relief efforts. The HOT team has made a significant contribution to the response and recovery efforts in the Philippines, leveraging the power of open-source mapping technology.

We are excited to announce an upcoming free online course, designed specifically for beginners, which will be streamed live from our New York offices on December 3rd at 4PM EST. The event is intended to introduce participants to the basics of CartoDB and build upon the momentum generated by a recent workshop held in South Carolina. We invite all interested individuals to join us for this interactive experience, which may also include some special surprises for attendees. This inaugural online course marks the beginning of our training program at CartoDB, with future events promised to follow.

A group of technologists and farmers tested a precision agriculture device called Agroguía, which uses CartoDB technology for highly precise guidance during planting, spraying, and harvesting on farms worldwide. The device was used to plant rice at speeds up to 70 miles per hour over a 40 million square meter plot in southern Spain, the largest in Europe. Agroguía provides real-time statistics and data visualization, helping farmers reduce overlap, superfluous chemical use, and waste. Developed by Javier Santana, the technology aims to make farming more efficient and environmentally friendly.