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Collins maps out Burma aid

15.05.08 Graeme Neill

Collins is providing free map data to disaster recovery agency MapAction for use in Burma, following the recent cyclone. It is feared that the cyclone, which struck the South Asian country on 3rd May, has caused a death toll as high as 100,000.

The publisher provides map data to a range of companies, including online map service Multimap. Under a deal signed last week, MapAction will have access to Collins' data for free use following any future humanitarian disaster. "It's not a straightforward map," said Jethro Lennox, editor at Collins. "It's quite a complex piece of cartographical data." The map data can be adapted by whoever receives it. One way that the Burmese data could be used is to strip out any tourist information, Lennox suggested.

Nigel Woof, operations director at MapAction, said that the "generous" deal with Collins would give MapAction even more authoritative data on countries. "Without a doubt, Collins Bartholomew are the best general maps available that cover the entire world," he said. "What we need in the first days following a disaster is the ability to produce a quick overview of the country in question to aid agencies, and this deal gives us this."

Graeme Neill collins Burma

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