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Mapping Ukraine
MU is developing a comprehensive digital platform that provides and will provide verified information on Ukraine’s spatial context both during and after the war. By also integrating historic, pre-war data wherever possible, MU provides a multidimensional perspective on Ukraine’s experience over time.
The MU platform is designed to assess damages, support sustainable reconstruction, facilitate scientific analysis, and investigate violations of international law.
In an era in which misinformation is rampant, MU will stand as a reliable resource for researchers, journalists, prosecutors, bloggers, and the public. By bridging the gap between data acquisition and practical use, MU will ensure that critical information is accessible, trustworthy, and actionable for all stakeholders involved in Ukraine’s recovery and development.
Background
Recent advancements in 3D-reality-capture and environmental recording technologies have revolutionised the way we assess and document change in natural and built environments. These new technologies enable researchers and others to precisely and objectively evaluate war-related changes, providing accurate and actionable data.
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, numerous initiatives have leveraged these technologies to document and visualise the war’s effects. International organisations have produced extensive multimedia visualisations of alleged war crimes, private individuals have created 3D models of destroyed buildings, and local groups have worked on digitising cultural heritage sites. These valuable efforts, however, often operate in isolation, unaware of each other’s work. This fragmentation leads to duplicated efforts and gaps in data coverage, hindering the overall effectiveness of documentation and reconstruction efforts.
Mapping Ukraine has successfully established the scientific and organisational foundations of its digital platform. Key achievements include:
• Alpha Platform Launch: Introduced the alpha version of MU, showcasing functionalities for documenting property loss, facilitating resource-efficient reconstruction, and supporting restitution cases.
• Pilot Use Cases: Testing the platform in targeted geographical areas and thematic contexts, providing valuable insights into its versatility and practical applications.
• Collaborative Network Building: Engaging a diverse group of professionals and organisations as collaborators and advisors, including experts in geospatial technology, urban planning, legal analysis, and data science. These contributions are instrumental in refining and enhancing the platform.
The abovementioned accomplishments have laid a solid groundwork for MU, demonstrating the platform’s potential as an essential tool for stakeholders involved in Ukraine’s recovery and development.
Future Plans
The next phase of MU aims to improve the platform’s functionality and expand its reach by integrating advanced technologies. This involves enhancing how data is aligned and mapped to ensure accuracy, developing tools to automatically detect and describe changes in the environment, and creating systems to assess data quality and generate detailed reports. These improvements will allow MU to manage larger amounts of data, increase accuracy, and provide more information to its users.
MU is establishing strategic partnerships and utilising the expertise of its current network. The platform is growing organically through various projects. MU is collaborating with local authorities in the cities of Severodonetsk and Rubizhne to document and verify damage to the built environment, thus supporting Ukrainian municipalities in developing master plans for sustainable and efficient rebuilding. MU plans to build a comprehensive database recording evidence of attacks on Ukraine’s civilian population, supporting legal and humanitarian efforts.
Members and Contact
info@mappingukraine.org
Jonathan Banz, Project Coordinator, Mapping Ukraine
Pia Bereuter, Lecturer for Geoinformation Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland
Jens Ingensand, Head of the Geomatics Competence Group, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland
Jürg Lüthy, Director of Geomatics + Surveying, City of Zurich
Basil Roth, Project Coordinator, Mapping Ukraine
Robert Weibel, Professor, Geographic Information Systems University of Zürich
Andreas Wieser, Professor, Geosensors and Engineering Geodesy ETH Zürich