In partnership with the UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub, Caribou Space has developed the GeoPlatform Finder (GPF)—an interactive tool to help humanitarians identify and access geospatial platforms for data-driven decision-making. From a portfolio of curated geospatial platforms to a conversational, voice assistance powered by AI, the tool simplifies how responders and planners find relevant geospatial resources to better prepare for and respond to floods and droughts.
Recommended geospatial platforms for flood and drought events
The GPF is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, allowing users to go straight to the information they need. It currently profiles 28 geospatial platforms, offering a starting point for humanitarians seeking the right tools to support their work. Here’s how it works:
- Users can choose between Flood and Drought, and the Preparedness or Response phase.
- Each section breaks down into several topics that correspond to key operational questions humanitarians might have during that phase, such as “Where is the affected population located?”
- For each question, the tool provides a list of relevant geospatial platforms that can support decision-making.
Each profile describes the platform and its content, the technical expertise required, and how to access it. Additional details include the level of data granularity, the frequency of updates, and which geographies are covered.
Importantly, the GPF does not provide data itself — it acts as a gateway to help humanitarians find and use existing resources efficiently.
An assistant to answer any further questions
A conversational, voice assistant, powered by AI, can be opened at any time in case the humanitarian has questions about these geospatial platforms, or geospatial data in general.
This has been designed to answer questions from non-experts of geospatial data, so it can not only clarify complex topics or technical terms the user is reading on the screen, but also act as a geospatial ‘teacher’ available at your desk, at any time!
Identifying the right geospatial tools shouldn’t be this challenging
The reason we built this, is that humanitarian actors with limited technical expertise often face challenges in finding and using geospatial information. With a growing number of geospatial platforms, each offering different capabilities, it can be overwhelming to determine which tool best meets a specific need. Key challenges include:
- Fragmented resources—Information is scattered across multiple platforms managed by different organisations, making it difficult to find comprehensive guidance.
- Time-sensitive decision-making—In crisis situations, responders need fast, reliable insight, but manually searching multiple sources can be time-consuming.
- Limited access to expert advice—While geospatial experts can provide valuable insights, accessing their support can be costly and impractical in many humanitarian contexts.
The GPF was designed to address these challenges by creating a structured repository that directs humanitarians to the most relevant geospatial platforms and providing instant, contextual recommendations that simulate expert advice.
The GeoPlatform Finder is designed for humanitarian decision-makers
The tool is particularly useful for humanitarians who have little or no previous experience with geospatial data but need to integrate it into their work. Roles that involve planning, monitoring, or data analysis in humanitarian settings will find value in using the platform to quickly identify fit-for-purpose geospatial tools. Key users include:
- Analytics managers—who need insight for decision-making.
- Information managers—who need reliable sources of data for planning.
- Project and programme managers—overseeing field operations and emergency response.
The GPF is designed to make humanitarian action more informed, efficient, and data-driven. We invite you to explore the tool and share your feedback to help us refine it further.
Try the GeoPlatform Finder now!
Authors
Giulia Costella
Follow Giulia Costella on LinkedInManager, Climate & Space
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David Taverner
Follow David Taverner on LinkedInSenior Director, Climate & Space
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Carlotta Maucher
Follow Carlotta Maucher on LinkedInAnalyst, Climate & Space
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