Kathmandu Living Labs

Kathmandu Living Labs (KLL) is a living lab and nonprofit civic technology company[1][2] based in Kathmandu, Nepal that primarily works on mobile technology and mapping.[3] KLL focuses on using GPS/GIS technology for humanitarian aims, sometimes referred to as "humanitarian mapping".[4]

Kathmandu Living Labs
Established2012 (2012)
Research typeApplied
Field of research
Technology, Data, Open Mapping, Civic engagement
DirectorNama Raj Budhathoki, PhD
Staff20-25
LocationKathmandu, Nepal
27.7340281°N 85.3368273°E / 27.7340281; 85.3368273
Websitewww.kathmandulivinglabs.org

History

Open Cities Kathmandu project members, led by Dr. Nama Raj Budhathoki, launched Kathmandu Living Labs in 2013 after the completion of their first project. The initiative started by mapping Kathmandu's road networks, schools and health facilities to prepare for potential future disasters,[5] as Kathmandu is one of the most seismically at-risk cities in the world.[6] Kathmandu Living Labs developed a web portal named WebDRI to upload collected field data regarding schools/colleges and health facilities into OpenStreetMap.[7]

Work during Nepal Earthquake 2015

KLL came to international attention in the aftermath of the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, during which the group collaborated with the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team to rapidly produce free and open maps of the road network and damaged areas surrounding Kathmandu.[8] These map products were then used by humanitarian aid teams on the ground, a process greatly aided by the fact that KLL already had a working relationship with the Red Cross as well as other key aid organizations and government agencies in the region.[9][10] The Nepal Army used crowd-sourced data of relief needed, which was collected and verified by Kathmandu Living Labs.[11] KLL was also involved in reconstruction efforts where they were responsible for development and played a part in deployment of mobile data collection system for the Nepal Rural Housing Reconstruction Program.[12]

Mapping for Social Change

KLL uses online mapping to address a wide variety of social challenges. Through KLL, a farmer in a remote Nepalese village can integrate his local knowledge of a field or stream with that of an engineer at MIT. Detailed information about a school can be used to influence government policies and actions. This work integrates local knowledge into large-scale civil society efforts.[13]

References
  1. Sinha, Shreeya (2015-05-01). "3 Ways Nepalis Are Using Crowdsourcing to Aid in Quake Relief". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  2. "Kathmandu Living Labs is working to respond in Nepal: help them out! | Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team". www.hotosm.org. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  3. "OpenStreetMap responds in Nepal". Opensource.com. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  4. Bloch, Naomi (2015-11-18). "GIS & the Global Community: Humanitarian Mapping". Geothink: Canadian Geospatial and Open Data Research Partnership. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  5. "Harnessing the Power of the Crowd: Reflections Six Months after the Gorkha Earthquake in Nepal | GFDRR". www.gfdrr.org. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  6. Politi, Daniel (2015-04-25). "Nepal Earthquake Was 'Nightmare Waiting to Happen'". Retrieved 2017-04-28.
  7. Mooney, Mordechai Haklay; Vyron Antoniou; Sofia Basiouka; Robert Soden; Peter. Crowdsourced Geographic Information Use in Government. World Bank Publications.
  8. "Nepal 2015 Earthquake Response". 2015-05-06.
  9. Asher, Saira (2015-05-06). "How 'crisis mapping' is helping relief efforts in Nepal". Retrieved 2017-04-28.
  10. "Kathmandu Living Labs: Six-Months of Earthquake Response".
  11. Nepal Army http://www.nepalarmy.mil.np/opssankatmochan/english_part3.pdf
  12. "National Housing Reconstruction Programme". Kathmandu Living Labs. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  13. Bruce, Bertram C. (2015-12-14). "Can anything be done?". Retrieved 17 May 2017.
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