Sometimes known as a common operational picture, these maps aim to provide a snapshot or overview of the emergency at that moment in time. They will typically include a mixture of thematic information, possibly including physical impacts, hazards, numbers of affected people or response actions. In the early stages of an emergency, responders require a visualisation of the disaster zone that enables them to acquire a general spatial understanding of the operating environment. In many cases, newly-arrived actors may have no prior knowledge of the operating geography.
Operational.
Situational.
From the start of the emergency, although initially there may be very limited information available. During the early stages of the emergency maps might be updated twice daily, but are more likely to be daily transitioning to every other day, weekly or when there is a significant change in the situation.
Everyone.
Organisations - Governments (National or Local), UN, Clusters, NGOs, Donors and others;
Roles - Rescuers, Programme Managers and funders
In the early stages of an emergency responders require a visualisation of the disaster zone, which enables them to acquire a general spatial understanding of the operating environment. In many cases, newly- arrived actors may have no prior knowledge of the operating geography. Maps will be used to plan and execute initial life-saving responses, and to understand the dimensions and constraints of humanitarian assistance. These initial maps will often be used to plan damage and needs assessments.
The creation and dissemination of clear, simple maps conveying what is known about the emergency should be a priority from the earliest stages of a new disaster.
Base maps should show administration boundaries at an appropriate level, and relevant topographic data layers.
Situational data is initially likely to be fragmentary and anecdotal: textual annotations may be the best way to map this.
Be aware of the risk of wrong interpretation of ‘no data’ to mean ‘no impact’.
Annotate maps clearly as being subject to regular updates, and request data to be submitted e.g. 'this map needs your help!’.
Government reports
OCHA situation reports
Rapid assessments
Assessments registry (for data in where assessments have already been done)
These show who (which agencies), are doing what (in terms of relief operations) and where they are operating, and are also known as 3W. As a response continues this can evolve into a 4W: who, what, where and when (time).
Normally strategic, though occasionally operational (e.g. urban search and rescue). Largely dependent on the scale and level of aggregation within the data.
Situational.
Operational 3W maps might be required during user search and rescue phases. Strategic 3W maps will be required as the clusters and overall coordination mechanisms ramp up. 3W mapping is usually intended as a tool to help decision-makers track and allocate resources, filling gaps and avoiding over-resourcing. It’s an essential planning tool in most emergencies.
Organisations - Governments (National or Local), UN, Clusters, NGOs, Donors and others;
Roles - Programme Managers and funders
The most commonly invoked rationale for 3W mapping is to identify gaps and overlaps in the relief effort and provoke the reallocation of aid as appropriate. A much more detailed discussion of the purpose of 3W mapping (from OCHA’s perspective) can be found here: OCHA 3W - Its Purpose Target Audience Scope and Products - V1 - May 2013. Note that cross-cluster 3W data is normally limited to recording ‘operational presence’ of agencies but is NOT expected to serve as a tool for monitoring volumes of assistance delivered.
Produce two versions that compliment each other and serve the audience:
Humanitarian presence - this is an overview map with a count of organisations or activities per administrative unit - See Liberia: Ebola Outbreak - 3W Humanitarian Presence (as at 5 Sep 2014)
Cluster specific - detailed mapping of cluster activities per administrative unit. See - Philippines Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda): 3W - WASH (as of 03-Dec-2013). Large 3W datasets can be mapped using Data Driven Pages (ESRI) or QGIS Atlas.
Standardised 3W data formats are normally agreed by an information management working group at national level, with OCHA advising and providing templates. Compilation of 3W data is then normally done through clusters, and contributed to a master 3W matrix which may be online (e.g. a Google spreadsheet) at predetermined intervals: e.g. two ‘3W deadlines’ each week.
Good quality administrative boundaries and p-codes are required. These must be in agreement with coordinating body for the data to join, so use of the common operational and fundamental operational datasets is recommended.
There are many types of situational maps and these will be largely described in other sections of this guide. There however two types of situational maps - situation overview and who-what-where (3w) - that can be used to describe the overall response, as well has being the basis for thematic variations.
