News
OpenAerialMap v2: Faster, Better Imagery Access for Humanitarian Mapping
OpenAerialMap is evolving to provide faster, more reliable access to satellite and drone imagery for humanitarian mapping. With a new STAC-based infrastructure and modern tools, HOT and Development Seed are rebuilding OAM to meet today’s urgent mapping needs. Discover how this upgrade will improve interoperability, speed, and usability for disaster response and recovery efforts.
Collaborating and Reaching Greater Impact in Emergency Response
Help.NGO and HOT collaborated to strengthen emergency response efforts through drone technology and open mapping. From hurricane recovery in Acapulco to forest fire assessments in Ucayali, their partnership accelerates access to critical post-disaster imagery. These joint actions enable rapid damage assessment, informed decision-making, and more effective humanitarian coordination.
Our Journey at Skoll World Forum 2025: a Time for Reflection and Collaboration in a New Era
The Skoll World Forum is over, but the reflections that came from it will definitely stay with us for a long time. Read more about what our Executive Director, Rebecca Firth, and Fabrizio Scrollini, Regional Director for the Open Mapping Hub –Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), learned during the week of April 1-4, 2025.
Mapeo Humanitario en Bahía Blanca: Colaboración ante la Emergencia
Respuesta rápida y efectiva tras las inundaciones en Bahía Blanca, Argentina. el LAC Hub activó a la comunidad de mapeo humanitario para generar datos clave para la atención y recuperación.
Sargassum Monitoring with Drones in Santo Domingo: Open Technologies to Tackle Environmental Challenges
HOT, together with the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data and the National Statistics Office of the Dominican Republic, organized a regional workshop on sargassum monitoring. The training focused on the use of drones and open technologies for generating geospatial data. Participants included representatives from civil society, academia, and public institutions. This experience strengthens Caribbean collaboration in the face of growing environmental challenges.
Innovando con MapSwipe: ciencia ciudadana para clasificar coberturas naturales
Un proyecto piloto que involucró a CONABIO y la Iniciativa Climática Mexicana junto a HOT explora el uso de MapSwipe para identificar coberturas naturales del suelo, mostrando su potencial para la ciencia ciudadana y el monitoreo participativo ambiental.
Open Source Contributor Journeys into HOT - could you be the next one?
Discover the inspiring journeys of Emir and Faiz, two tech contributors making a real impact with the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT). From Python packages to user-centered design, their stories show how open source skills can power humanitarian change. Could you be the next to join HOT’s open source movement?
Can low-cost drones contribute to mangrove monitoring and conservation? Testing Drone Tasking Manager in La Paz, Mexico
Drone Tasking Manager (DroneTM) is a digital public good that enables communities to generate high-quality, high resolution aerial imagery using low-cost drones. Discover its potential for community-driven mapping and its use in protecting mangroves in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Creando Datos Juntos: Mapeo colaborativo para transformar el transporte público en México
México avanza en relación con sus propuestas de políticas públicas para la regulación y modernización del transporte público. Entérate como HOT contribuyó al proyecto “Creando Datos Juntos: Mejora de la Gestión del Transporte Urbano en México”.
Monitoreo de sargazo con drones en Santo Domingo: tecnologías abiertas para enfrentar desafíos ambientales
HOT, junto al Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data y la Oficina Nacional de Estadística de República Dominicana, impulsó un taller regional sobre el monitoreo del sargazo. La capacitación se enfocó en el uso de drones y tecnologías abiertas para la generación de datos geoespaciales. Participaron representantes de la sociedad civil, academia e instituciones públicas. Esta experiencia refuerza la colaboración caribeña ante desafíos ambientales crecientes.
Cultivando el conocimiento abierto: taller de mapeo colaborativo para docentes del Tec de Monterrey
Docentes del Tec de Monterrey se capacitaron en herramientas de mapeo abierto para integrar la ciencia ciudadana en la educación universitaria. A través de sesiones teóricas y prácticas, desarrollaron proyectos de impacto social en Querétaro usando plataformas como OpenStreetMap, Mapillary y uMap. El taller fortaleció su rol como agentes de cambio, promoviendo el mapeo colaborativo como herramienta para la acción territorial y la justicia social.
Humanitarian Data Improvements in Sudan through OpenStreetMap
Humanitarian mapping in Sudan has been improving data quality in OpenStreetMap (OSM) in otherwise uncovered areas. For those interested in using this OSM data, Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team is making it easier than ever to find what data (and where!) in Sudan has been updated.
Innovating with MapSwipe: Citizen Science to Classify Natural Land Cover
A pilot project involving CONABIO, the Mexican Climate Initiative, and HOT explores the use of MapSwipe to identify natural land cover, showcasing its potential for citizen science and participatory environmental monitoring.
Humanitarian Mapping in Bahía Blanca: Collaboration in Response to the Emergency
Swift and effective response after the floods in Bahía Blanca, Argentina. The LAC Hub mobilized the humanitarian mapping community to generate key data for response and recovery efforts.
Strengthening Communities in Mangrove Conservation: Drone Technology and Local Collaboration
Discover how collaboration between local communities and the use of lightweight drones are revolutionizing mangrove conservation in Mexico, strengthening territorial management, and promoting community resilience.
