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which were believed to contribute to the spread of the virus1. By mapping the location of these particular groups (example below), planners gained additional insights into the distribution and potential spread of the disease. Members of the team had regular contact with RE Geo staff in theatre in Sierra Leone to provide support throughout the operation.
Figure 3 One of the maps produced to support the Ebola crisis in 2014
© UK MOD Crown Copyright, 2020 Based on map data © Collins Bartholomew Limited
Collaboration
The UK has a different approach to producing Human Geography from some of our international partner organisations. DGC produces maps and data at medium to small scales, drawing predominantly on source material which is freely available via the Internet, academic sources and media reports. Other nations focus on producing data at larger scales which often use detailed, time- sensitive data to produce analyses that can only be used within very restricted environments and sometimes cannot be shared easily. However, by concentrating on different scales and using a variety of sources, the partner nations evolved a set of complementary approaches allowing us to share methods, outputs and to learn from each other. The complementary approaches are critical as the resources dedicated to this work have always been minimal. As with many other collaborative programmes, there are significant benefits to be gained from sharing approaches and from the different agencies working closely together.
One of the most successful and effective partnerships was with the US Marine Corps Intelligence Activity (MCIA). The relationship between DGC and MCIA has been a key factor in UK success in developing Human Geography methods and outputs. DGC developed combined ways of working with both MCIA’s in-house staff and contractors who brought expert technical knowledge to combine with
1
One of the most commonly performed funeral rituals, which significantly contributed to the spread of Ebola,
was the washing and cleaning of the dead body, thus spreading the virus through watercourses.
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