Idea by
Claudia Martinez Mansell
Greening Bourj Al Shamali
Call for ideas 2017
Empowering Refugees Spatially
Empowering Refugees Spatially
![](/media/cache/fe/4d/fe4d8266ab50f80d8e5dccd3b390c9b6.jpg)
Refugee camps are transitory solutions that, as they endure, end up becoming informally constructed cities with a strong negative imprint on the local environment. The supposedly temporary nature of refugee camps and the limitations of humanitarian organizations who have a mandate to save lives but not to plan for the presence of refugees in a country – often mean that the refugees themselves live in a state of limbo with a limited ability to affect their living environment.
Balloon mapping is a citizen science tool that can support refugees in this endeavour. It is a “DIY aerial photography tool” that we have been using at Bourj Al Shamali refugee camp in south Lebanon. The low-tech aspects have enabled a wide participation of members of the community, as well as being a playful and poetic way to map the refugee camp.
Spatially understanding refugee camps that have been in existence for more than 50 years is critical for the future of architecture.
![](/media/cache/da/f6/daf6226c562f402145522801d357e726.jpg)
Crowds gathered to see the balloon that mapped Bourj Al Shamali refugee camp in south Lebanon.
![](/media/cache/bb/f2/bbf2c446e909bbaf05df3401d5854868.jpg)
Firas Ismail and Mustapha Dakhloul ready to map their camp.
![](/media/cache/65/8d/658d842850080c940014a5770cac7e6d.jpg)
Aerial images of Bourj Al Shamali from the balloon.
![](/media/cache/33/20/3320567665faa1cee7c59832a9eb658f.jpg)
Empowering Refugees Spatially
Empowering Refugees Spatially
![](/media/cache/fe/4d/fe4d8266ab50f80d8e5dccd3b390c9b6.jpg)
Refugee camps are transitory solutions that, as they endure, end up becoming informally constructed cities with a strong negative imprint on the local environment. The supposedly temporary nature of refugee camps and the limitations of humanitarian organizations who have a mandate to save lives but not to plan for the presence of refugees in a country – often mean that the refugees themselves live in a state of limbo with a limited ability to affect their living environment.
Balloon mapping is a citizen science tool that can support refugees in this endeavour. It is a “DIY aerial photography tool” that we have been using at Bourj Al Shamali refugee camp in south Lebanon. The low-tech aspects have enabled a wide participation of members of the community, as well as being a playful and poetic way to map the refugee camp.
Spatially understanding refugee camps that have been in existence for more than 50 years is critical for the future of architecture.
![](/media/cache/b0/96/b0960ed38c4dfae5e6509d8e1a0a5bd6.jpg)
Crowds gathered to see the balloon that mapped Bourj Al Shamali refugee camp in south Lebanon.
![](/media/cache/b0/76/b0768a3faeee885ff41038d7a11e0e7b.jpg)
Firas Ismail and Mustapha Dakhloul ready to map their camp.
![](/media/cache/13/2b/132b4f91e632ae92a777c851b527f399.jpg)
Aerial images of Bourj Al Shamali from the balloon.
![](/media/cache/c8/03/c803455a4153492b3266b8990a3ecb09.jpg)