Christchurch Recovery Map

The Christchurch Recovery Map, also known as eq.org.nz, was a short-lived website providing crowdsourced information about the Christchurch earthquake of 22 February 2011.[1][2][3] The site aggregated information via email, tweets with an #eqnz hashtag, SMS and a locally hosted web form. The site was built with open source tools and active support from CrisisCommons[4] and Ushahidi.

As well as providing information, the volunteers hosting the site provided much of the technical infrastructure behind the Student Volunteer Army.[5] The site became a major source of public information. Within its first week of operation, it had received approximately 100,000 unique visitors.[6] The site is listed as a credible source of information by New Zealand's two main news sites, stuff.co.nz[7] and nzherald.co.nz,[8] as well as Google Crisis Response's[9] and the Trademe's website.[10] As mainstream agencies responded to the quake, other forms of communication became established and the need for a grass roots website subsided. The website is no longer updated as the normal information channels have resumed, and recommends an alternative website.[11]

Despite complaints, the website does work on the Wayback Machine, until the screenshot on 2 July 2011.

References

  1. ^ Tech volunteers quick to help in quake aftermath Archived 26 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Computerword
  2. ^ Web acts as virtual crisis centre for Christchurch quake victims, Sydney Morning Herald
  3. ^ Social media plays key role after New Zealand earthquake Archived 28 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Khou.com
  4. ^ "Project update for the Christchurch Recovery Map". crisiscommons.org. 2011. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  5. ^ Call For Information Activists, Voxy.co.nz
  6. ^ @timClicks (27 February 2011). "eq will hit a great milestone today – 100,000 unique visitors – thanks team! we're getting info to the right ppl" (Tweet) – via Twitter. [better source needed]
  7. ^ Christchurch earthquake
  8. ^ "Christchurch earthquake – Latest news and information". NZ Herald. 3 June 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  9. ^ Christchurch earthquake, Google Crisis Response
  10. ^ Christchurch Earthquake Support Archived 26 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Trademe
  11. ^ "Christchurch Recovery Map". eq.org.nz. 2011. Archived from the original on 2 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011. We recommend you visit http://canterburyearthquake.org.nz/ or call the quake helpline at 0800 779 997 for current information