Author: Devin
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Creating a Shared Data Model with a Spreadsheet
Over the last year, a number of clients have tasked me with bringing datasets from many different sources together. It seems many people and groups want to work more closely with their peers to not only share and merge data resources, but to also work with them to arrive at a “shared data model” that they can…
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The DIY Databases are Coming
“The software revolution has given people access to countless specialized apps, but there’s one fundamental tool that almost all apps use that still remains out of reach of most non-programmers — the database.” AirTable.com on CrunchBase Database technology is boring but immensely important. If you have ever been working on a spreadsheet and wanted to be…
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“Open Tech and Open Data: The Key to Whole Community Engagement” at IAEM 2015
The International Association of Emergency Management (IAEM) Conference was described to me as the Oscars of Emergency Management field. The event took place in the Paris Hotel in Las Vega November 14th. It was three days after the Paris attacks. Walking under the hotels faux Eiffel Tower and through its simulated Parisian streets was uncomfortable.…
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Preparing for the Worst, Hoping for the Best: Data Standards, Superstorm Sandy, and Our Resilient Future
Originally posted at OpenReferral In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, many residents of New York City were left struggling. Though a broad array of supportive services were available to survivors — from home rebuilding funds to mental health treatment — it’s often hard for people to know what’s available and how to access it. New York…
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“Sharing Data to Improve How We Cooperate, Coordinate, Communicate & Collaborate” at NVOAD 5/14/15
This presentation was delivered at the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Conference 2015 in New Orleans. I’ve been an active (and actively marginalized) participant in my local NYCVOAD community, so it was nice to feel accepted by the broader VOAD community. Of all the presentations I’ve given, this one felt the best. The audience…
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Scattered Showers of Interest
The establishment, at least a very small subset of it, discovered my work the second week of October. It wasn’t a thunderstorm of interest — more like scattered showers — but when you’ve been in the desert for a while, a little rain can go a long way. First stop on my tour was Washington…
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NYC:Prepared Presentation at RaCERS John Jay College 10/14/14
“The Christian Regenhard Center for Emergency Response Studies (RaCERS) is a unique applied research center focused on documentation of lessons learned and planning for future large-scale incidents.” I had the honor of presenting to one of their classes of students pursuing masters degrees in Emergency Management as well as a number of professors in the school.…
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NYC:Prepared Presentation at IEEE HTC 2014
I had the honor of presenting NYC:Prepared at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Humanitarian Technology Conference 2014 held in San Jose, California. The presentation situates Occupy Sandy within the context of Occupy Wall Street and explains how social movements prepare participants to respond during disaster. It goes on to outline four phases of…
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Five Ways to Fight ISIS Without Killing People
Like many Americans with a memory, I’m stunned how easily this country can be convinced to support another undeclared war in the Middle East. All the media has to do is run a week of programming alluding to nice folks getting their heads chopped off, then do a big poll that establishes the “fact” that…
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NYC:Prepared Presentation at NYC OEM Volunteer Conference 5/31/14
Thanks to a positive reviews from my presentation at the Red Cross in April 2014, I was invited to present at NYC Office of Emergency Management’s Volunteer Conference on 5/31/14. Since I was speaking to city officials and volunteers, I tried to show the audience how they could use simple techniques to understand, share and…