Nerve Endings Firing Away

Using Google Earth maps of Surat city, the duo [see below] passed on exact locations of societies, houses and apartments in need of rescue and relief, to airport authorities. The co-ordinates were then relayed to helicopter captains to be logged on to their GPS devices and locate the homes. By Friday evening, they had managed 47 targeted air drops [source].

As soon as Google Earth enabled us to take a peek at regions from above, security concerns were voiced immediately. But this story from the recently flooded city of Surat may partially resolve such concerns and instead help concentrate on the benefits that this technology is capable of. Like the SEA-EAT blog, this rescue and relief operation was also headed up ordinary citizens who had downloaded Google Earth on a lark.

Arvind Patel, a textile businessman with a digital studio and Pravin Patel, who deals in solar systems, got together and helped IAF target air-droppings to exact degrees of longitude and latitude.

Thankfully, the municipal officers appreciated their assistance and worked with the duo to deliver essential rescue services to flood victims.