This project aims to utilize online social networking and microblogging services, coupled with crowdsourcing, to enable civilians and emergency responders to quickly build up a picture of the various aspects of the event. The emergence of microblogging websites as a source of real-time news aggregators has spurred research interest in developing automated techniques for analysing and visualising their content to provide an overview of various events (floods, earthquakes, forest fires). This is an IBM Faculty Award given to Vassilis Kostakos in 2010.  The award was made in recognition of the research excellence of our institute, and to further enhance our links with industry.