Comprehending Intricate Refugee Movements: Displacement Tracking in Humanitarian Design

The project builds upon an effort to track refugee movements with local nuance. Led by Earl Mark (UVA), and in Greece, Dimitris Papanikolaou (NTUA), and Eva Papatzani (EKKE), it customizes GPS smartphone apps with photos, video, and 3D terrain to map displacement pathways while ensuring privacy and IRB SBS compliance. Field-tested tools examine how displaced people navigate terrain shaped by safety, weather, and social support. The current phase will emphasize in-situ testing in Athens, educational integration, and ethical practice. It runs parallel to an effort with the UN’s IOM to inform and be informed by their global Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) system.