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Article: A deluge of information.(computer vital in current disaster )
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- November 28, 1998
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1998 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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CALI, COLOMBIA
ON THE face of it, computers would not seem to be of much use when it comes to disaster relief-certainly not when compared with such things as helicopters, emergency supplies or medical equipment. But when it comes to clearing up the mess, having vital information on tap can play a vital supporting role-as the current disaster in Honduras shows.
In October, a few days before the arrival of Hurricane Mitch, the finishing touches were put to a digital atlas of the country. Compiled by the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Cali, Colombia, it contains 90 layers of information gathered over four years, including details of ...