Russell Deffner
Voting MemberVoting Member
Bio
I was introduced to Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) at the State of the Map 2011 event and began actively contributing in 2012, primarily through the tasking manager. Over the years, I have been deeply involved in various aspects of HOT's initiatives and projects. In 2013, I played a key role in writing the Code of Conduct and participated in several Working Groups, contributing to fostering a positive and inclusive community within HOT. Later in 2013, I was honoured to be selected as the Junior Coordinator for the Mapping Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia project. As part of this project, I spent four weeks in the field, providing training and actively participating in the mapping efforts. In recognition of my dedication and contributions, at the beginning of 2014, I was nominated to become a member of HOT and was subsequently elected as the Chairperson for the Voting Members, taking on a leadership role within the organization. In 2015, I was re-elected for a second term as Chairperson, further solidifying my commitment to the HOT community. Additionally, I was selected as the Activation Curriculum Specialist, where I utilized my expertise to develop and enhance HOT's activation (disaster mapping) procedures and guidelines. In late 2016, I was appointed as the Project Manager for the Eliminate Malaria Mapping Campaign. This project marked a significant milestone for HOT, covering a vast geographic area of 560,000 square kilometres across seven countries. Through this campaign, we digitized every building in the specified region, aiding in the fight against malaria. Following the successful completion of the malaria campaign, I took on the role of Project Manager for the Facebook AI-Assisted Road Mapping project. I was involved in this initiative from 2017 to 2020, and we leveraged artificial intelligence to complete the road network in several countries, including Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and select areas in Haiti. Throughout my tenure with HOT, I also actively served as the Disaster Mapping Coordinator both as a volunteer and staff member. In this capacity, I led and participated in various teams to ensure the efficient flow of geospatial information from the crowd to first responders and aid agencies during times of crisis. In 2018, fate smiled upon me at the State of the Map - Milan conference when I met my future wife. In 2019, we got married and started a family, welcoming our son into the world. In the same year, during the response to Cyclone Idai, the Humanitarian To Humanitarian (H2H) Network was launched. This significant event marked the first time we received funding for incident response since the establishment of our modern definition of Disaster Mapping. Subsequently, in 2020, we secured a long-term commitment from H2H for COVID mapping, which allowed us to scale up our program. With additional support from the Audacious Project, we were able to expand and recruit regional disaster associates in our hub-offices to strengthen our capabilities further. From 2020-2023, the focus of my work shifted from global disaster mapping towards building capacity in local communities to respond to their own disasters. Although this eventually led to the conclusion of my role as global disaster response coordinator, I could not be prouder to see many local communities, with the support of the Disaster Managers in the regional hubs, standing up their own teams and responding on their own. Overall, my journey with HOT has been incredibly fulfilling, and I am happy to continue supporting the mission as a volunteer and voting member.
Posts
Validators: Experienced Mappers Making an Outsized Contribution
Validators serve an essential role in ensuring data quality and providing feedback to new mappers. Learn how validation works and how you can become a validator.
Building a Global Network to Map for COVID-19 Response
With support from the Humanitarian-to-Humanitarian Network, HOT has engaged the global humanitarian mapping community to support local Covid-19 responses in the biggest disaster activation in HOT's history.
Disaster Response Update: October & November 2020
Through the Activation Working Group and the Disaster Services Team, HOT has been responding to disasters around the world. Here's what you can do to help.
HOT Pairs 2020 Virtual Summit with the Understanding Risk Forum 2020
HOT pairs 2020 Virtual Summit with the Understanding Risk Forum 2020
1 Year & 1 Hundred-Thousand Kilometers with HOT & Facebook
Partnering with Facebook, the HOT Indonesia team has added about 125,000 kilometers (80,000 miles) of road to Indonesia so far.
HOT Conversations at State of the Map 2018
There has been a lot of activity lately within the HOT Community and we’re ready to share this at State of the Map 2018...
Local Indonesia OSM Chapter teams up with HOT and Facebook to improve road coverage in Indonesia.
HOT has been mapping Indonesia for disaster preparedness and resiliency since 2011. However, there is still a lot of road network missing outside the major cities. Learn how the local community is working with Facebook to fill in the gaps using artificial intelligence tools.
Help Support 3 Local OpenStreetMap Communities Dealing With Disaster!
2018 has taken no time off from disasters and HOT is supporting three local OpenStreetMap communities with their response to events in their countries, read more to find out how you can help...
Calling All Validators (and Mappers)!
HOT begins to transition mapping of critical data in response to the Mexico Earthquakes, South Asia Floods, Caribbean Hurricanes and West Pacific Volcano threats back to local communities. It’s during this crucial time that we ask for mappers to become validators, and make an important second look to ensure the mapping was done as instructed.
OSM Puerto Rico Emerges Stronger and Ready to Help Rebuild!
As Hurricane Maria‘s winds and rain battered our home in San Juan, Puerto Rico, among the many thoughts that bounced in my head in those long hours was wondering about the people living in the mountainous regions of the island. The winding roads, heavy foliage, cliffs, bridges and terrain susceptible to landslides could make it the worst place to be in during such a powerful storm. Many small communities on those mountains would become isolated for weeks.
Fall 2017 Disaster Response: Calling All Mappers!
HOT continues response to multiple disasters...
Malaria Elimination Mapping Continues
HOT has teamed up with many partners working to eliminate the disease malaria. Malaria is preventable and curable and without transmission will cease to exist. In order to effectively carry out intervention campaigns, HOT has been asked to help identify and map populated places in some of the most susceptible places.
YouthMappers ‘Mapping to End Malaria’ Challenge: Round 3 Results
The third and final round of the YouthMappers challenge has concluded. In round three, we had 13 Universities participate, bringing the total for all...
YouthMappers ‘Mapping to End Malaria’ Challenge: Round 2 Results
Over 200 students at 13 universities participated in the second round of the YouthMappers ‘Mapping to end Malaria’ Challenge. Together, they mapped almost 400,000 buildings in Zimbabwe. Thank you to all the chapters who participated!
YouthMappers ‘Mapping to End Malaria’ Challenge: Round 1 Results
Our first round of the YouthMappers ‘Mapping to end Malaria’ Challenge has concluded. Together, 141 students at 8 universities mapped over 50,000 buildings in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Thank you to all the chapters who participated!
World Health Day 2017: show your support by mapping for malaria
Malaria is a disease that affects millions of people around the world, particularly children under 5 and women. Malaria is prevalent in some of the most unmapped places. Malaria is a preventable and curable disease, but currently organisations do not have detailed data on the number of vulnerable people in an area, which reduces their ability to respond. Malaria spreads through mosquito bites, and if you can prevent bites, you can reduce the spread of infection. This means that you need to know where those vulnerable to malaria live, so you can spray their homes with insecticide or distribute bednets. This way you can save more lives, more quickly.
Malaria Mapping YouthMappers Challenge
HOT is managing a mapping project for malaria eradication across seven countries in Southern Africa, Southeast Asia and Central America. This project is part of the Missing Maps initiative and is backed by DigitalGlobe, the Clinton Health Access Initiative and the Gates Foundation. Our mission is to generate building data in OpenStreetMap for a total of over 500,000 square kilometers by April 2017. We are starting a YouthMappers competition for the project. Prizes will be given to the chapters that contribute the most quality data to this project.
Same Website, New Look!
Greetings HOT community, For a few years now we have been contemplating a new look, and more importantly - improved usability, of our...
HOT 2016 Annual Meeting and Elections
Greetings HOT Community,Each year the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) Voting Members assemble for HOT’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). During this important event, we announce the election results for the HOT Board of Directors and Membership Chairperson. Also, the AGM is where we typically consider items like adopting or amending policies such as the Membership Code of Conduct.
Welcome new HOT Voting Members!
The Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team is pleased to welcome eighteen new voting members!
Don't get left behind...
The buzz of Geography Awareness Week, has reached far corners of the world. This year’s theme “Explore! The Power of Maps” has inspired more than 60 groups to join HOT and the Missing Maps partners during November 15 – 21 in support of Geography Awareness Week.
Eastern Afghanistan Earthquake Day 1
Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) calls upon our community to assist those affected by disaster for the second time in under one week
Activation Workshop at Africa Open Data Conference
The first workshop for the HOT Activation Curriculum was held during the pre-conference events of the first Africa Open Data Conference. The conference facilitated discussion around the benefit of Open Data on the African continent including lessons learned from around the globe. HOT is grateful to have been invited to participate in the conference and conduct our Activation workshop.
HOT Leadership 2015
This year has presented many challenges to HOT. We have been incredibly active and successful in all of our programs: Disaster Mapping, Community Building and Technical Projects. However, as many of you know, 2015 has been a year of tremendous change in HOT leadership.
Mapping Ulaanbaatar with Asia Foundation
Recently we had a very pleasant surprise to be contacted by Nicholas Doiron, who Project Coordinator, Severin Menard, knew from previous work including in Haiti. Nick, now working with Asia Foundation alongside Michelle Chang, knew about the HOT Mapping Ulaanbaatar project and reached out for advice as the Asia Foundation planned an OpenStreetMap Mapathon competition.
Mongolia - Mapping Ulaanbaatar Update - Welcome Interns!
It is our pleasure to welcome a group of student interns from the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST) to the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) as stewards for the Mapping Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia project we began in 2013. The project is a collaboration between HOT, the World Bank, nonprofit research group ICT4D (Information and Communication Technologies for Development) and the city of Ulaanbaatar to create and maintain a map of the city within OpenStreetMap (OSM).
Strong Earthquake in Nepal - HOT Activates! Report #1
We are sad to report that there has been a major earthquake in Nepal. The best place to get information about HOT's response is...
Welcome New Members!
The Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team is pleased to announce the election of twenty-five (25) new voting members to our organization. They are an amazing group...
Straighten Our Ways – Ulaanbaatar Project Week 5
Having taken advantage of the warmer temperature the latter part of Week 4, we had plenty of data to edit and upload. Unfortunately this...
Keep From Crumbling - Ulaanbaatar Project Week 3
I will admit, I was quite nervous knowing that I would be 'alone' in Ulaanbaatar this week; especially knowing that Wednesday and Thursday I...
Russell's Week One (i.e. project week 2) Ulaanbaatar
Sain bainuu, or hello from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia! My name is Russell Deffner and I am the Junior Coordinator for the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT)...
