Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team

Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) stands with Myanmar in this time of crisis. We are working alongside local organizations and responders to gather critical mapping needs to ensure open map data directly supports response efforts. If you are responding or affected, please share your urgent mapping needs so we can provide tailored, effective support. Let’s ensure communities and responders have the geospatial data they need to save lives and rebuild.

📢 URGENT HELP NEEDED! Mappers, we need you! On March 28, 2025, Myanmar was struck by 7.7 and 6.4-magnitude earthquakes, causing over 1,000 deaths, 2,376 injuries, and widespread destruction to buildings and infrastructure. In response, HOT, alongside the global open-mapping community, is supporting Myanmar’s OpenStreetMap Community (myOSM) in mapping building footprints and road networks in the hardest-hit areas. This effort will provide reliable local data to aid NGOs and responders in planning recovery and relief operations. 🗺 You can help by mapping here: 🔹 Intermediate-Advanced Mappers – Mapping Building Footprints for Mandalay City: https://bit.ly/3E4eEmX 🔹 Intermediate-Advanced Mappers – Mapping Roads for Myittha Township: https://bit.ly/3FLeQrE 🔹 Beginner Mappers – Mapping Building Footprints for Settlements in Sagaing Township: https://bit.ly/42c9k99 Every contribution helps improve crisis response and recovery. Join us in mapping for Myanmar!

New AI collaboration for ChatMap! We're beyond excited to announce that thanks to Tech To The Rescue, we are kickstarting a collaboration with our new tech partner Fulton Ring! 🤝 Together, we're diving into development of an AI-powered API for generating valid OSM tags from street-level imagery, which will be used by ChatMap, a venture that promises to bring innovative solutions to the forefront of our mission. This incredible opportunity was made possible by Tech To The Rescue Foundation, who connected us with the perfect tech partner to bring our vision to life. Follow our journey as we embark on this project! We are starting the work here: https://lnkd.in/epM5Htui 🚀 More to follow, so keep an eye on future updates! #TechForGood #TechToTheRescue #OpenStreeMap

Where Has OSM Data in Sudan Been Updated and Validated? In crisis-affected countries like Sudan, understanding where reliable map data exists is crucial for humanitarian response. While nationwide datasets are available on HDX, pinpointing exactly where OpenStreetMap (OSM) has been updated is challenging. Many humanitarian responders hesitate to use OSM data due to concerns about accuracy and reliability—especially in fast-changing crises. By improving data transparency and visibility, HOT is helping ensure responders can find and use the most up-to-date maps where they are needed most. Through the H2H Network-supported project, HOT and partner organizations have worked to improve access to updated, high-quality OSM data in Sudan by: • Adding summary statistics to HDX – Making it easier to assess data coverage and completeness. • Compiling Sudan-specific mapping updates – Clearly showing where OSM data has been improved. • Collaborating with multiple organizations – Ensuring broad and reliable data contributions. 📌 HOT’s Sudan Project webpage: https://bit.ly/4iJpT3m 🔗 Nationwide datasets for Sudan are also available on our Sudan HOTOSM HDX page: https://bit.ly/4l2u4J1 Want to support mapping efforts in Sudan, explore OSM data, or discuss a partnership? Get in touch at data@hotosm.org! 📖 Read the full blog: https://bit.ly/41KERQB

30 young volunteers in #Belize trained in open data and mapping tools to boost disaster preparedness. Led by the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team with Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and #NEMO, the pilot mapped key emergency resources—now paving the way for scaling open mapping across the #Caribbean. 📝 Read more on Arnelle Isaac and Fabrizio Scrollini's latest blog: https://lnkd.in/gUBjh5pT

HOT’s Leadership at Skoll World Forum 2025! The Skoll World Forum (April 1–4, 2025) is a premier global event bringing together social innovators, changemakers, and policymakers to drive solutions for a more just and sustainable world. As a grantee of The Audacious Project, HOT will highlight how open mapping strengthens community resilience and makes vulnerable populations visible through accessible geospatial data. This is an opportunity to engage with global leaders and push forward data equity in humanitarian response. Representing HOT at Skoll: 📍 Rebecca Firth, Executive Director 📍 Fabrizio Scrollini, Acting Co-Executive Director ✅ They will be attending and speaking at the Forum. Stay tuned for further updates! You can also attend online! Plenaries and select sessions will be livestreamed for free, with replays available after the event. Register by April 4 to join the conversation. 🔗 Sign up here: https://bit.ly/4iGKyVz

We had an amazing session with our KNUST YouthMappers Ladies Yesterday in the #UITS Lab at the Prempeh Library of #KNUST, taking Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team Courses.

🗺️ Why Mapping the Unmapped Matters! In remote corners of Timor-Leste, many flood-prone communities remain invisible on the map—and being left off the map puts some of the most vulnerable populations at risk of being left out from planning processes like Disaster Risk Reduction plannings. Through anticipatory mapping, we turn data into action, filling in geospatial and risk data gaps, providing vital information for anticipatory action (AA) planning and ensuring no one is left behind. Thrilled to see United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) highlight our anticpatory mapping work in Timor Leste, which is carried out in collaboration between Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team, Timor-Leste Civil Protection Authority, National Directorate for Meteorology & Geophysics, Cruz Vermelha de Timor-Leste (CVTL), Timor Leste OSM Community and other partners. Curious about the methodology, data, and story behind it? Dive into the details: 📍 Blog: https://lnkd.in/df8RDxrX 📊 Dataset on HDX: https://lnkd.in/da9yXDhS #PowerofMaps#MapsAgainstDisasters #AnticipatoryAction #GISforGood #DisasterRiskReduction #TimorLeste

Making Drone Mapping Accessible: Insights from Niraj Adhikari! Aerial mapping has long been dominated by expensive, closed-source tools—limiting access and collaboration. But that’s changing with Drone Tasking Manager (DroneTM), an open-source platform designed to make drone mapping more accessible, efficient, and community-driven. In our latest guest blog, Niraj Adhikari, a geomatics engineer and software developer at NAXA, shares insights into how DroneTM is transforming the way we use drones for mapping. As the lead developer of DroneTM, Niraj has been instrumental in working alongside HOT to create a tool that enables large-scale collaboration for social good. Through real-world testing in Bali, Nepal, and the Caribbean, DroneTM has been refined to handle diverse environments and improve its capabilities. Field tests in these countries helped refine the platform, making drone-based mapping more efficient and community-driven. 🔗 Read Niraj’s guest blog: https://bit.ly/4hOXFD5  🛠️ Explore DroneTM for your mapping projects: dronetm.org

📍 We’re at #HNPW2025 in Geneva through Friday! Join us at our booth to explore how geospatial data and open mapping drive humanitarian response. Meet our GIS & Data Protection Lead, Jessie Pechmann, and learn how we ensure data use for humanitarian crisis response and development—while improving OSM data. Stop by, connect with our team, and discover how you can get involved!