Humanitarian Response
Humanitarian Response Mapping
Humanitarian Response Mapping
Humanitarian Response Mapping
Humanitarian response mapping software helps aid organizations target services where people actually live today. Population Explorer combines updated population counts with access analysis, POIs, and facility data to identify underserved areas. Plan clinics, distributions, or outreach with precision, improving equity of access and accountability in humanitarian operations.
Humanitarian response mapping software helps aid organizations target services where people actually live today. Population Explorer combines updated population counts with access analysis, POIs, and facility data to identify underserved areas. Plan clinics, distributions, or outreach with precision, improving equity of access and accountability in humanitarian operations.
Humanitarian response mapping software helps aid organizations target services where people actually live today. Population Explorer combines updated population counts with access analysis, POIs, and facility data to identify underserved areas. Plan clinics, distributions, or outreach with precision, improving equity of access and accountability in humanitarian operations.
Targeted Humanitarian Maps
Precision Humanitarian Services
Precision Humanitarian Services
Humanitarian response mapping equips aid organizations with accurate, real-time population data. By visualizing communities, transport corridors, and service gaps, NGOs can deliver assistance faster, allocate resources efficiently, and improve outcomes in disaster and recovery scenarios.
Catchment & Access
Build travel-time catchments to clinics, schools, or distribution points; see who falls outside reasonable access. Use global population density heatmaps to identify target demographics in need of services.
Catchment & Access
Build travel-time catchments to clinics, schools, or distribution points; see who falls outside reasonable access. Use global population density heatmaps to identify target demographics in need of services.
Catchment & Access
Build travel-time catchments to clinics, schools, or distribution points; see who falls outside reasonable access. Use global population density heatmaps to identify target demographics in need of services.
Current & Forecasted Population
Prepare for the unexpected with precise population density insights. Use PopEx to optimize disaster response plans, deploy law enforcement resources effectively, and improve public safety strategies.
Current & Forecasted Population
Prepare for the unexpected with precise population density insights. Use PopEx to optimize disaster response plans, deploy law enforcement resources effectively, and improve public safety strategies.
Current & Forecasted Population
Prepare for the unexpected with precise population density insights. Use PopEx to optimize disaster response plans, deploy law enforcement resources effectively, and improve public safety strategies.
Context Layers that Matter
Health-facility points, markets, roads, and admin boundaries from HDX/OSM; import, overlay, and act.
Context Layers that Matter
Health-facility points, markets, roads, and admin boundaries from HDX/OSM; import, overlay, and act.
Context Layers that Matter
Health-facility points, markets, roads, and admin boundaries from HDX/OSM; import, overlay, and act.
Last updated
Oct 11, 2025
Population Explorer
What Our Users Are Saying
What Our Users Are Saying
What Our Users Are Saying
James Hathaway
PureGym - Group International Strategy and Franchising Director
5.0
Franchise Territory Mapping
Population Explorer let us map population hotspots against competitor locations and retail infrastructure across multiple countries, providing valuable insights into territories with ideal growth prospects.
Matt Ball
Director of Operations - Mini First Aid
5.0
Franchise Territory Mapping
We use Population Explorer to map and price fair territories for our UK franchisees. It helps us maintain a balanced network.
Anna Winters
Akros - CEO
5.0
Health Center Site Mapping
Far more precise than traditional census sources, and an intuitive platform. We can approach markets with more confidence. Highly recommend!
Alan Callaghan
Hypr Logistics - CEO
5.0
Logistics territory mapping
We use Population Explorer's detailed population density and retail concentration data to plan and route our logistics hubs. This has helped us improve coverage and operate more efficiently across the US.
Lauren Mishler
Volaire Aviation
5.0
Drone Flight-Path Mapping
Your program provides accurate and pertinent population data with minimal downtime/search time/hassle. It fits my needs perfectly while also saving time!
Pim Rijkee
MDS Traffic Planners & Consultants
5.0
Transport Corridor Mapping
We used PopEx to extract demographics in a radius around 20+ rail stations in Malaysia...the data is much more accurate than available census data. We saved 2-3 weeks of project time...
Stuart B
Mining and mineral exploration consultant
5.0
Site Selection
Population Explorer gives us quick insights into potential markets that we wold otherwise have to manually calculate over dozens of hours per project!
James Hathaway
PureGym - Group International Strategy and Franchising Director
5.0
Franchise Territory Mapping
Population Explorer let us map population hotspots against competitor locations and retail infrastructure across multiple countries, providing valuable insights into territories with ideal growth prospects.
Matt Ball
Director of Operations - Mini First Aid
5.0
Franchise Territory Mapping
We use Population Explorer to map and price fair territories for our UK franchisees. It helps us maintain a balanced network.
Anna Winters
Akros - CEO
5.0
Health Center Site Mapping
Far more precise than traditional census sources, and an intuitive platform. We can approach markets with more confidence. Highly recommend!
Alan Callaghan
Hypr Logistics - CEO
5.0
Logistics territory mapping
We use Population Explorer's detailed population density and retail concentration data to plan and route our logistics hubs. This has helped us improve coverage and operate more efficiently across the US.
Lauren Mishler
Volaire Aviation
5.0
Drone Flight-Path Mapping
Your program provides accurate and pertinent population data with minimal downtime/search time/hassle. It fits my needs perfectly while also saving time!
Pim Rijkee
MDS Traffic Planners & Consultants
5.0
Transport Corridor Mapping
We used PopEx to extract demographics in a radius around 20+ rail stations in Malaysia...the data is much more accurate than available census data. We saved 2-3 weeks of project time...
Stuart B
Mining and mineral exploration consultant
5.0
Site Selection
Population Explorer gives us quick insights into potential markets that we wold otherwise have to manually calculate over dozens of hours per project!
James Hathaway
PureGym - Group International Strategy and Franchising Director
5.0
Franchise Territory Mapping
Population Explorer let us map population hotspots against competitor locations and retail infrastructure across multiple countries, providing valuable insights into territories with ideal growth prospects.
Matt Ball
Director of Operations - Mini First Aid
5.0
Franchise Territory Mapping
We use Population Explorer to map and price fair territories for our UK franchisees. It helps us maintain a balanced network.
Anna Winters
Akros - CEO
5.0
Health Center Site Mapping
Far more precise than traditional census sources, and an intuitive platform. We can approach markets with more confidence. Highly recommend!
Alan Callaghan
Hypr Logistics - CEO
5.0
Logistics territory mapping
We use Population Explorer's detailed population density and retail concentration data to plan and route our logistics hubs. This has helped us improve coverage and operate more efficiently across the US.
Lauren Mishler
Volaire Aviation
5.0
Drone Flight-Path Mapping
Your program provides accurate and pertinent population data with minimal downtime/search time/hassle. It fits my needs perfectly while also saving time!
Pim Rijkee
MDS Traffic Planners & Consultants
5.0
Transport Corridor Mapping
We used PopEx to extract demographics in a radius around 20+ rail stations in Malaysia...the data is much more accurate than available census data. We saved 2-3 weeks of project time...
Stuart B
Mining and mineral exploration consultant
5.0
Site Selection
Population Explorer gives us quick insights into potential markets that we wold otherwise have to manually calculate over dozens of hours per project!
James Hathaway
PureGym - Group International Strategy and Franchising Director
5.0
Franchise Territory Mapping
Population Explorer let us map population hotspots against competitor locations and retail infrastructure across multiple countries, providing valuable insights into territories with ideal growth prospects.
Matt Ball
Director of Operations - Mini First Aid
5.0
Franchise Territory Mapping
We use Population Explorer to map and price fair territories for our UK franchisees. It helps us maintain a balanced network.
Anna Winters
Akros - CEO
5.0
Health Center Site Mapping
Far more precise than traditional census sources, and an intuitive platform. We can approach markets with more confidence. Highly recommend!
Alan Callaghan
Hypr Logistics - CEO
5.0
Logistics territory mapping
We use Population Explorer's detailed population density and retail concentration data to plan and route our logistics hubs. This has helped us improve coverage and operate more efficiently across the US.
Lauren Mishler
Volaire Aviation
5.0
Drone Flight-Path Mapping
Your program provides accurate and pertinent population data with minimal downtime/search time/hassle. It fits my needs perfectly while also saving time!
Pim Rijkee
MDS Traffic Planners & Consultants
5.0
Transport Corridor Mapping
We used PopEx to extract demographics in a radius around 20+ rail stations in Malaysia...the data is much more accurate than available census data. We saved 2-3 weeks of project time...
Stuart B
Mining and mineral exploration consultant
5.0
Site Selection
Population Explorer gives us quick insights into potential markets that we wold otherwise have to manually calculate over dozens of hours per project!
James Hathaway
PureGym - Group International Strategy and Franchising Director
5.0
Franchise Territory Mapping
Population Explorer let us map population hotspots against competitor locations and retail infrastructure across multiple countries, providing valuable insights into territories with ideal growth prospects.
Matt Ball
Director of Operations - Mini First Aid
5.0
Franchise Territory Mapping
We use Population Explorer to map and price fair territories for our UK franchisees. It helps us maintain a balanced network.
Anna Winters
Akros - CEO
5.0
Health Center Site Mapping
Far more precise than traditional census sources, and an intuitive platform. We can approach markets with more confidence. Highly recommend!
Alan Callaghan
Hypr Logistics - CEO
5.0
Logistics territory mapping
We use Population Explorer's detailed population density and retail concentration data to plan and route our logistics hubs. This has helped us improve coverage and operate more efficiently across the US.
Lauren Mishler
Volaire Aviation
5.0
Drone Flight-Path Mapping
Your program provides accurate and pertinent population data with minimal downtime/search time/hassle. It fits my needs perfectly while also saving time!
Pim Rijkee
MDS Traffic Planners & Consultants
5.0
Transport Corridor Mapping
We used PopEx to extract demographics in a radius around 20+ rail stations in Malaysia...the data is much more accurate than available census data. We saved 2-3 weeks of project time...
Stuart B
Mining and mineral exploration consultant
5.0
Site Selection
Population Explorer gives us quick insights into potential markets that we wold otherwise have to manually calculate over dozens of hours per project!
James Hathaway
PureGym - Group International Strategy and Franchising Director
5.0
Franchise Territory Mapping
Population Explorer let us map population hotspots against competitor locations and retail infrastructure across multiple countries, providing valuable insights into territories with ideal growth prospects.
Matt Ball
Director of Operations - Mini First Aid
5.0
Franchise Territory Mapping
We use Population Explorer to map and price fair territories for our UK franchisees. It helps us maintain a balanced network.
Anna Winters
Akros - CEO
5.0
Health Center Site Mapping
Far more precise than traditional census sources, and an intuitive platform. We can approach markets with more confidence. Highly recommend!
Alan Callaghan
Hypr Logistics - CEO
5.0
Logistics territory mapping
We use Population Explorer's detailed population density and retail concentration data to plan and route our logistics hubs. This has helped us improve coverage and operate more efficiently across the US.
Lauren Mishler
Volaire Aviation
5.0
Drone Flight-Path Mapping
Your program provides accurate and pertinent population data with minimal downtime/search time/hassle. It fits my needs perfectly while also saving time!
Pim Rijkee
MDS Traffic Planners & Consultants
5.0
Transport Corridor Mapping
We used PopEx to extract demographics in a radius around 20+ rail stations in Malaysia...the data is much more accurate than available census data. We saved 2-3 weeks of project time...
Stuart B
Mining and mineral exploration consultant
5.0
Site Selection
Population Explorer gives us quick insights into potential markets that we wold otherwise have to manually calculate over dozens of hours per project!
James Hathaway
PureGym - Group International Strategy and Franchising Director
5.0
Franchise Territory Mapping
Population Explorer let us map population hotspots against competitor locations and retail infrastructure across multiple countries, providing valuable insights into territories with ideal growth prospects.
Matt Ball
Director of Operations - Mini First Aid
5.0
Franchise Territory Mapping
We use Population Explorer to map and price fair territories for our UK franchisees. It helps us maintain a balanced network.
Anna Winters
Akros - CEO
5.0
Health Center Site Mapping
Far more precise than traditional census sources, and an intuitive platform. We can approach markets with more confidence. Highly recommend!
Alan Callaghan
Hypr Logistics - CEO
5.0
Logistics territory mapping
We use Population Explorer's detailed population density and retail concentration data to plan and route our logistics hubs. This has helped us improve coverage and operate more efficiently across the US.
Lauren Mishler
Volaire Aviation
5.0
Drone Flight-Path Mapping
Your program provides accurate and pertinent population data with minimal downtime/search time/hassle. It fits my needs perfectly while also saving time!
Pim Rijkee
MDS Traffic Planners & Consultants
5.0
Transport Corridor Mapping
We used PopEx to extract demographics in a radius around 20+ rail stations in Malaysia...the data is much more accurate than available census data. We saved 2-3 weeks of project time...
Stuart B
Mining and mineral exploration consultant
5.0
Site Selection
Population Explorer gives us quick insights into potential markets that we wold otherwise have to manually calculate over dozens of hours per project!
James Hathaway
PureGym - Group International Strategy and Franchising Director
5.0
Franchise Territory Mapping
Population Explorer let us map population hotspots against competitor locations and retail infrastructure across multiple countries, providing valuable insights into territories with ideal growth prospects.
Matt Ball
Director of Operations - Mini First Aid
5.0
Franchise Territory Mapping
We use Population Explorer to map and price fair territories for our UK franchisees. It helps us maintain a balanced network.
Anna Winters
Akros - CEO
5.0
Health Center Site Mapping
Far more precise than traditional census sources, and an intuitive platform. We can approach markets with more confidence. Highly recommend!
Alan Callaghan
Hypr Logistics - CEO
5.0
Logistics territory mapping
We use Population Explorer's detailed population density and retail concentration data to plan and route our logistics hubs. This has helped us improve coverage and operate more efficiently across the US.
Lauren Mishler
Volaire Aviation
5.0
Drone Flight-Path Mapping
Your program provides accurate and pertinent population data with minimal downtime/search time/hassle. It fits my needs perfectly while also saving time!
Pim Rijkee
MDS Traffic Planners & Consultants
5.0
Transport Corridor Mapping
We used PopEx to extract demographics in a radius around 20+ rail stations in Malaysia...the data is much more accurate than available census data. We saved 2-3 weeks of project time...
Stuart B
Mining and mineral exploration consultant
5.0
Site Selection
Population Explorer gives us quick insights into potential markets that we wold otherwise have to manually calculate over dozens of hours per project!
Frequently Asked Use Cases
Frequently Asked Use Cases
Frequently Asked Use Cases
How humanitarian response mapping works in practice
Coordinating relief operations demands fast, defensible situational awareness. Population Explorer helps NGOs and agencies plan assessments, target distributions, and monitor coverage with refreshed population data and contextual layers.
Define operational areas - Draw polygons around impact zones, displacement camps, or supply corridors. Use Isochrone Maps to estimate reach from warehouses and clinics by drive or walk time.
Layer population and facilities - Combine LandScan and WorldPop with household and age structure. Overlay Google Places POIs for hospitals, pharmacies, schools, and markets to understand access and critical services.
Prioritize interventions - Compare candidate hubs for coverage, gaps, and overlap. Flag underserved pockets where travel time exceeds thresholds or where facilities are absent.
Export for operations - Generate shapefiles, reports, and ZIP lists for logistics teams, cluster leads, and donors; share with partners for coordinated action.
Beyond counts, responders assess vulnerability (children, elderly), access constraints (damaged bridges, flood lines), and seasonality. These nuances, layered with population data, help teams allocate resources where they will have the greatest impact. For orientation, see Start Here and About Our Data.
FAQs every humanitarian operator asks
How do we estimate affected population quickly?
Use LandScan and WorldPop to approximate population within impact polygons; refine by age or household filters when needed.
Can we analyze access by travel time?
Yes. Isochrone Maps show drive- and walk-time sheds from warehouses, clinics, and distribution points, highlighting coverage gaps.
How do we identify underserved communities?
Overlay facilities and POIs with population to find areas with long travel times or missing health, water, or food access.
Can we import partner data (sites, caseloads, inventories)?
Yes. Upload CSVs for clinics, shelters, and stock locations; see Working with Marker Files.
Do you support camp planning and host-community analysis?
Yes. Draw camp perimeters, analyze surrounding host communities, and compare service coverage to mitigate tension and duplication.
What about WASH, health, and food security clusters?
The same workflow applies. Map facilities and target populations to align distribution and services across clusters.
Is this usable across borders?
Yes. LandScan and WorldPop provide consistent global baselines for cross‐border crises and regional responses.
How current is the data compared with census?
Census tables may lag 5-10 years. PopEx refreshes annually with projections to reflect present‐day conditions.
Can we export for donors and coordination bodies?
Yes. See Import & Export for reports, shapefiles, and ZIP lists used in sitreps and donor updates.
How do we de-duplicate partner coverage to avoid overlap?
Import partner site lists as markers, then compare isochrone coverage from each actor. Overlaps signal duplication, while uncovered pockets highlight where to reassign distributions or services.
How are vulnerable groups prioritized?
Use age structure and household layers (e.g., children, elderly) with travel-time to facilities to surface high-need zones. These become priority targets for distributions or mobile clinics.
Why census-only data can misdirect humanitarian planning
In fast-moving crises, census tables often miss displacement, seasonal migration, and new access constraints. Basing plans on outdated counts can over-serve accessible towns while neglecting isolated settlements.
Population Explorer combines annual LandScan and WorldPop updates with Google Places facilities to reflect where people are and how they access services today. For background, see Census vs LandScan vs WorldPop.
Benefits of a self-serve humanitarian workflow
External assessments take time and can become stale before decisions are made. A self-serve workflow lets operations, MEAL, and cluster leads iterate directly with the latest data.
Agility - Update plans as roads reopen or populations shift.
Cost control - Reduce repeated consultant fees.
Accuracy - Use refreshed LandScan, WorldPop, and Google Places data.
Transparency - Produce defensible, reproducible maps for donors and coordination bodies.
Comparing approaches to humanitarian mapping
Different approaches vary in speed, cost, and defensibility:
Static census spreadsheets - Low cost, but often obsolete during crises; weak for targeting.
Consultant studies - Useful but slow and hard to refresh as conditions change.
Niche tools - May focus on a single sector or country, limiting comparability across contexts.
Population Explorer integrates LandScan, WorldPop, and Google Places in one workflow. Teams can run "what-if" scenarios: what if a bridge reopens, a clinic closes, or a camp expands? Exports drop directly into cluster sitreps, donor decks, and coordination briefs. For onboarding, see Start Here.
Example: A logistics lead compares two warehouse locations: placing a hub near a reopened road yields a 30% increase in reachable population within 60 minutes, versus retaining the old hub. This comparison helps justify rerouting, funding, and partner tasking.
Last-mile constraints: Plans must account for fuel shortages, damaged bridges, curfews, or security checkpoints. PopEx "what-ifs" show how shifting a warehouse, adding a clinic day, or rerouting around a washed‐out road changes reachable population and delivery times-evidence donors and coordination bodies can approve.
How humanitarian response mapping works in practice
Coordinating relief operations demands fast, defensible situational awareness. Population Explorer helps NGOs and agencies plan assessments, target distributions, and monitor coverage with refreshed population data and contextual layers.
Define operational areas - Draw polygons around impact zones, displacement camps, or supply corridors. Use Isochrone Maps to estimate reach from warehouses and clinics by drive or walk time.
Layer population and facilities - Combine LandScan and WorldPop with household and age structure. Overlay Google Places POIs for hospitals, pharmacies, schools, and markets to understand access and critical services.
Prioritize interventions - Compare candidate hubs for coverage, gaps, and overlap. Flag underserved pockets where travel time exceeds thresholds or where facilities are absent.
Export for operations - Generate shapefiles, reports, and ZIP lists for logistics teams, cluster leads, and donors; share with partners for coordinated action.
Beyond counts, responders assess vulnerability (children, elderly), access constraints (damaged bridges, flood lines), and seasonality. These nuances, layered with population data, help teams allocate resources where they will have the greatest impact. For orientation, see Start Here and About Our Data.
FAQs every humanitarian operator asks
How do we estimate affected population quickly?
Use LandScan and WorldPop to approximate population within impact polygons; refine by age or household filters when needed.
Can we analyze access by travel time?
Yes. Isochrone Maps show drive- and walk-time sheds from warehouses, clinics, and distribution points, highlighting coverage gaps.
How do we identify underserved communities?
Overlay facilities and POIs with population to find areas with long travel times or missing health, water, or food access.
Can we import partner data (sites, caseloads, inventories)?
Yes. Upload CSVs for clinics, shelters, and stock locations; see Working with Marker Files.
Do you support camp planning and host-community analysis?
Yes. Draw camp perimeters, analyze surrounding host communities, and compare service coverage to mitigate tension and duplication.
What about WASH, health, and food security clusters?
The same workflow applies. Map facilities and target populations to align distribution and services across clusters.
Is this usable across borders?
Yes. LandScan and WorldPop provide consistent global baselines for cross‐border crises and regional responses.
How current is the data compared with census?
Census tables may lag 5-10 years. PopEx refreshes annually with projections to reflect present‐day conditions.
Can we export for donors and coordination bodies?
Yes. See Import & Export for reports, shapefiles, and ZIP lists used in sitreps and donor updates.
How do we de-duplicate partner coverage to avoid overlap?
Import partner site lists as markers, then compare isochrone coverage from each actor. Overlaps signal duplication, while uncovered pockets highlight where to reassign distributions or services.
How are vulnerable groups prioritized?
Use age structure and household layers (e.g., children, elderly) with travel-time to facilities to surface high-need zones. These become priority targets for distributions or mobile clinics.
Why census-only data can misdirect humanitarian planning
In fast-moving crises, census tables often miss displacement, seasonal migration, and new access constraints. Basing plans on outdated counts can over-serve accessible towns while neglecting isolated settlements.
Population Explorer combines annual LandScan and WorldPop updates with Google Places facilities to reflect where people are and how they access services today. For background, see Census vs LandScan vs WorldPop.
Benefits of a self-serve humanitarian workflow
External assessments take time and can become stale before decisions are made. A self-serve workflow lets operations, MEAL, and cluster leads iterate directly with the latest data.
Agility - Update plans as roads reopen or populations shift.
Cost control - Reduce repeated consultant fees.
Accuracy - Use refreshed LandScan, WorldPop, and Google Places data.
Transparency - Produce defensible, reproducible maps for donors and coordination bodies.
Comparing approaches to humanitarian mapping
Different approaches vary in speed, cost, and defensibility:
Static census spreadsheets - Low cost, but often obsolete during crises; weak for targeting.
Consultant studies - Useful but slow and hard to refresh as conditions change.
Niche tools - May focus on a single sector or country, limiting comparability across contexts.
Population Explorer integrates LandScan, WorldPop, and Google Places in one workflow. Teams can run "what-if" scenarios: what if a bridge reopens, a clinic closes, or a camp expands? Exports drop directly into cluster sitreps, donor decks, and coordination briefs. For onboarding, see Start Here.
Example: A logistics lead compares two warehouse locations: placing a hub near a reopened road yields a 30% increase in reachable population within 60 minutes, versus retaining the old hub. This comparison helps justify rerouting, funding, and partner tasking.
Last-mile constraints: Plans must account for fuel shortages, damaged bridges, curfews, or security checkpoints. PopEx "what-ifs" show how shifting a warehouse, adding a clinic day, or rerouting around a washed‐out road changes reachable population and delivery times-evidence donors and coordination bodies can approve.
How humanitarian response mapping works in practice
Coordinating relief operations demands fast, defensible situational awareness. Population Explorer helps NGOs and agencies plan assessments, target distributions, and monitor coverage with refreshed population data and contextual layers.
Define operational areas - Draw polygons around impact zones, displacement camps, or supply corridors. Use Isochrone Maps to estimate reach from warehouses and clinics by drive or walk time.
Layer population and facilities - Combine LandScan and WorldPop with household and age structure. Overlay Google Places POIs for hospitals, pharmacies, schools, and markets to understand access and critical services.
Prioritize interventions - Compare candidate hubs for coverage, gaps, and overlap. Flag underserved pockets where travel time exceeds thresholds or where facilities are absent.
Export for operations - Generate shapefiles, reports, and ZIP lists for logistics teams, cluster leads, and donors; share with partners for coordinated action.
Beyond counts, responders assess vulnerability (children, elderly), access constraints (damaged bridges, flood lines), and seasonality. These nuances, layered with population data, help teams allocate resources where they will have the greatest impact. For orientation, see Start Here and About Our Data.
FAQs every humanitarian operator asks
How do we estimate affected population quickly?
Use LandScan and WorldPop to approximate population within impact polygons; refine by age or household filters when needed.
Can we analyze access by travel time?
Yes. Isochrone Maps show drive- and walk-time sheds from warehouses, clinics, and distribution points, highlighting coverage gaps.
How do we identify underserved communities?
Overlay facilities and POIs with population to find areas with long travel times or missing health, water, or food access.
Can we import partner data (sites, caseloads, inventories)?
Yes. Upload CSVs for clinics, shelters, and stock locations; see Working with Marker Files.
Do you support camp planning and host-community analysis?
Yes. Draw camp perimeters, analyze surrounding host communities, and compare service coverage to mitigate tension and duplication.
What about WASH, health, and food security clusters?
The same workflow applies. Map facilities and target populations to align distribution and services across clusters.
Is this usable across borders?
Yes. LandScan and WorldPop provide consistent global baselines for cross‐border crises and regional responses.
How current is the data compared with census?
Census tables may lag 5-10 years. PopEx refreshes annually with projections to reflect present‐day conditions.
Can we export for donors and coordination bodies?
Yes. See Import & Export for reports, shapefiles, and ZIP lists used in sitreps and donor updates.
How do we de-duplicate partner coverage to avoid overlap?
Import partner site lists as markers, then compare isochrone coverage from each actor. Overlaps signal duplication, while uncovered pockets highlight where to reassign distributions or services.
How are vulnerable groups prioritized?
Use age structure and household layers (e.g., children, elderly) with travel-time to facilities to surface high-need zones. These become priority targets for distributions or mobile clinics.
Why census-only data can misdirect humanitarian planning
In fast-moving crises, census tables often miss displacement, seasonal migration, and new access constraints. Basing plans on outdated counts can over-serve accessible towns while neglecting isolated settlements.
Population Explorer combines annual LandScan and WorldPop updates with Google Places facilities to reflect where people are and how they access services today. For background, see Census vs LandScan vs WorldPop.
Benefits of a self-serve humanitarian workflow
External assessments take time and can become stale before decisions are made. A self-serve workflow lets operations, MEAL, and cluster leads iterate directly with the latest data.
Agility - Update plans as roads reopen or populations shift.
Cost control - Reduce repeated consultant fees.
Accuracy - Use refreshed LandScan, WorldPop, and Google Places data.
Transparency - Produce defensible, reproducible maps for donors and coordination bodies.
Comparing approaches to humanitarian mapping
Different approaches vary in speed, cost, and defensibility:
Static census spreadsheets - Low cost, but often obsolete during crises; weak for targeting.
Consultant studies - Useful but slow and hard to refresh as conditions change.
Niche tools - May focus on a single sector or country, limiting comparability across contexts.
Population Explorer integrates LandScan, WorldPop, and Google Places in one workflow. Teams can run "what-if" scenarios: what if a bridge reopens, a clinic closes, or a camp expands? Exports drop directly into cluster sitreps, donor decks, and coordination briefs. For onboarding, see Start Here.
Example: A logistics lead compares two warehouse locations: placing a hub near a reopened road yields a 30% increase in reachable population within 60 minutes, versus retaining the old hub. This comparison helps justify rerouting, funding, and partner tasking.
Last-mile constraints: Plans must account for fuel shortages, damaged bridges, curfews, or security checkpoints. PopEx "what-ifs" show how shifting a warehouse, adding a clinic day, or rerouting around a washed‐out road changes reachable population and delivery times-evidence donors and coordination bodies can approve.
Unlock high-performing territories with data-driven insights.
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Unlock high-performing territories with data-driven insights.
By subscribe to you agree with our Privacy policy
© 2025 Population Explorer. All rights reserved.
Legal Notice
Terms Corporate
Privacy
I'm a candidate
Unlock high-performing territories with data-driven insights.
By subscribe to you agree with our Privacy policy
© 2025 Population Explorer. All rights reserved.
Legal Notice
Terms Corporate
Privacy
I'm a candidate