GFDRR Labs was an innovation-driven team within GFDRR from 2010 to 2020, dedicated to advancing digital technologies in disaster risk management. The Labs played a key role in developing and supporting open-source tools (such as GeoNode, InaSAFE, and ThinkHazard!) and open data standards (such as the Risk Data Library), making risk information more accessible and actionable.
A flagship program of the Labs was the Open Data for Resilience Initiative (OpenDRI), launched in 2011 to bring open data principles to disaster and climate risk management. OpenDRI focused on reducing vulnerability to natural hazards and climate change by improving how risk information is collected, shared, and used, leveraging collaborative platforms like OpenStreetMap. Its projects emphasized open access, local ownership, co-creation, and long-term sustainability.
OpenDRI concluded in 2020, having established a strong foundation for open data practices in disaster risk management and leaving behind a suite of tools, standards, and a global community of practice. The work of GFDRR Labs and OpenDRI positioned GFDRR as a leader in using science and technology to address disaster and climate risks, with their legacy continuing in initiatives such as Digital Earth.
