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Humanitarian Mapping Laboratory

HOT Project

Argentina Bolivia Brazil Colombia Ecuador Guatemala Mexico Peru Uruguay

COMPLETED

The Humanitarian Mapping Course trained 42 participants from 11 countries across Latin America in open mapping tools for disaster preparedness and social impact. Designed for people with basic or intermediate knowledge, it provided hands-on experience using tools like OSM, iD Editor, JOSM, and Tasking Manager. Sessions included expert talks from Doctors Withous Borders (MSF), United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and engagement in the Colombia 2024 National Mapathon with UNGRD.

Versión en español

CONTEXT

The Humanitarian Mapping Laboratory is a participatory learning space led by the LAC Hub of the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team. Its goal is to strengthen humanitarian and social impact mapping skills in people with basic to intermediate experience using open mapping tools. The first cohort of the course follows a practical, inclusive, and collaborative approach and will lay the foundation for the development of an open and massive online course (MOOC) on humanitarian mapping.

This project emerged in response to the interest of individuals who wanted to learn and actively contribute to impactful mapping in Latin America and the Caribbean. The lab seeks to be a dynamic space that not only offers technical training but also builds a regional community committed to producing open data for humanitarian response and territorial justice.

APPROACH

The methodological strategy aimed to strengthen a close-knit community around the LAC Hub, bringing together individuals with basic knowledge of open mapping who sought to deepen their skills, as well as those with intermediate experience who lacked hands-on practice with mapping tools.

Structured around 1.5-hour biweekly workshops, the course followed a progressive learning path covering essential tools and concepts such as OpenStreetMap, iD Editor, Tasking Manager, JOSM, validation techniques, data quality, and field mapping practices.

Beyond technical capacity building, the Humanitarian Mapping Course focused on fostering a strong learning community connected to the LAC Hub. Participants engaged not only in practical training but also in real mapping projects that allowed them to apply their knowledge in humanitarian and social impact contexts.

The approach also emphasized sustained peer engagement through a dedicated Telegram group and regular feedback via automated forms. Weekly community meetings provided space for participants to share how they were integrating their learning into their daily lives, troubleshoot challenges, and support one another. This model encouraged collaborative growth, motivation, and a sense of shared purpose throughout the learning journey.

Additionally, the course integrated specialized sessions with key humanitarian actors, such as:

  • A session with Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières on the real-world application of OSM data through the Missing Maps initiative.

  • A workshop and lecture by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean, highlighting insights from probabilistic disaster risk modeling and engaging youth participants in humanitarian mapping.

  • The opportunity to participate in the 2024 Colombia National Mapathon, co-organized with UNGRD, which allowed participants to contribute to a real mapping activation tied to disaster risk management.

OUTCOME AND IMPACT

  • 12 thematic workshops conducted from June to November 2024.

  • 42 graduates.

  • Participation in regional exercises such as the 2024 Colombia National Mapathon.

  • Geographic distribution of participants:

    • Colombia (47.14%)

    • Mexico (21.43%)

    • Peru, Ecuador, Brazil (5.71% each)

    • Bolivia, Guatemala (2.86% each)

    • Argentina (4.29%)

    • Uruguay, Spain (1.43% each)

  • Gender distribution:

    • Women (51.43%)

    • Men (47.14%)

    • Non-binary (1.43%)

FUTURE STEPS

The Humanitarian Mapping Lab demonstrated the value of combining structured training with continuous community engagement to foster technical skills and motivation among emerging mappers. Regular communication and spaces for collective reflection helped sustain participation and deepen learning. Going forward, the goal is to continue encouraging these individuals to take part in future mapathons and similar initiatives organized by HOT, expanding their contribution to humanitarian mapping efforts across the region.