It's Elise Hugh, your host at TED Talks Daily.

In the wake of devastating crises like pandemics or natural disasters, the people hit the hardest are often literally not on the map.

And living in places that aren't mapped at all can lead to untold suffering.

A project called humanitarianitarian Open Streetmap,

or Hot, has volunteers and community workers step in to do what some governments cannot

by mapping vulnerable areas with their cell phones. Today's TED 2020 talk from Hot's director

of partnerships Rebecca Firth details this free open project that helps map unmapped places,

how it's actively changed communities, and in times of disaster, has saved lives.

When Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017, we all watched as a disaster played out on

our screens. At least 160,000 people were

displaced, and nearly 3,000 people died. Electricity was cut off to the entire island, and some

neighbourhoods didn't get power back for 11 months. Many of those watching didn't know how to help.

Some donated to international NGOs, some lobbied their elected officials,

but as with so many crises, so many of us simply gave in and felt helpless. At the humanitarian

open street map team, also known as hot, we did something different. We mobilised 6,000 volunteers

across the world who mapped every home and every road in Puerto Rico.

Responders then used those maps to assess the state of buildings and roads and to provide

emergency funds, Wi-Fi and phone charging points to people whose homes were damaged.

All crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic we're living through right now, have devastating

characteristics.

But many of them have one thing in common.

The people hit the hardest are often literally not on the map.

...