Website aids BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill clean-up effort
A social media powered website which allows the public to collect and share oil spill data has been developed by Edinburgh web-developers EdgeCase in an effort to help the clean-up around the Gulf of Mexico.
The site incorporates functions allowing the collection of images, videos and reports from people impacted by the spill, making them available to the public, with the aim of speeding up recovery by crowd sourcing information for recovery teams.
The data will then be used by emergency response teams, wildlife organisations, educational institutions and volunteer groups, while also will also provide information on the spill and recovery tools such as a business income loss calculator.
Paul Wilson, of EdgeCase Scotland explains: “The potential of social media to aid the oil spill recovery effort by giving the public a platform to share images and the location of damaged wildlife is amazing.
“Ruby on Rails, the technology behind this website, allowed us to build a powerful social media site and get it live very quickly, so people can start using it. I am extremely excited about the potential of this technology to be rapidly deployed in response to emergency relief operations.”
Gulfcoastspill.com has been launched by the Gulf Coast Spill Coalition – technology and web design experts, educators, legal and business professionals and ordinary individuals who have come together with the aim of cultivating innovation in the use of technology for mobility and efficiency during crises.