OSUN GeoHub: Missing Maps Mapathon

Time

11:00-13:00 CEST

About

On the 12 of October, to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), the OSUN’s GeoHub project will organize a Missing Maps Mapathon, a crowdsourcing event that will help map the most vulnerable places in the developing world.

Every year October 13 is observed as the International Day for DRR. The day aims to recognize the progress made in addressing vulnerability to disasters and the loss of lives, economies, and health. While honoring people and communities all over the world who are working to reduce their vulnerability to disasters and raise awareness about the risks, global organizations arrange events to build capacity and resilience in response to catastrophic natural and man-made events.

A mapathon is a coordinated mapping event and a kind of editathon where the public is invited to make online map improvements in their local or international area to improve coverage and support disaster risk assessment and resource management activities. A mapathon is a great opportunity for volunteers to digitally connect and map the most vulnerable or already affected places so that local and international Non-Governmental Organizations can use these maps and data to better respond to crises. Mapathons use an online site for storing map data, such as OpenStreetMap (OSM) or Google Maps. Through capacity-building workshops, mapathons create a community of global volunteers who want to make an impact and help national and international humanitarian works.

With the increasing threat of natural disasters, up-to-date maps are important for the success of many humanitarian organizations around the world in responding to disasters. Through Missing Maps using the OSM platform, anyone can volunteer to help create these maps and have a real impact on the delivery of healthcare in the field. 

The GeoHub mapathon does not require any mapping experience and is open to students and staff across OSUN and CIVICA member institutions. Such mapathons are not only a crucial tool for emergency response but also can act as a starting point for learning the foundation of GIS mapping techniques.

The event will start with an introductory talk by Lorant Czaran (the Head of the UN-SPIDER Vienna Office), followed by the OSM introduction and mapathon training, conducted by Paromita Basak (University of Maryland), so that any participant can start mapping right away.