That’s why we’re launching the Climate Mapping Campaign, a critical initiative to empower communities across Eastern and Southern Africa. With the power of Open Street Maps, we aim to create vital data that will be instrumental in supporting preparedness, response, and early recovery efforts for those facing climate-related disasters. The campaign runs from April 18th to the end of September 2024. How it works: Together, we will map critical infrastructure (buildings, roads) in vulnerable areas. This data helps disaster response teams plan for faster aid delivery, allocate resources to those m ..read more

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the start of the war in Sudan. The conflict has resulted in more than 14,000 lost lives, 8 million people displaced internally and outside of its borders, and nearly 28 million people facing acute food insecurity, as stated by senior United Nations officials. Sadly, this is not the only case, as recent conflicts around the world have impacted millions of people who face deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Haiti, Gaza, Ethiopia, Yemen, and more. At HOT, we remain committed to creating and using OpenStreetMap (OSM) data for humanitarian decision-makin ..read more

English version / Versión en español Em 25 de outubro de 2023, o furacão Otis atingiu a costa de Acapulco, Guerrero (México), com ventos sustentados de até 315 km/h, marcando um marco como o ciclone mais poderoso registrado na história da costa do Pacífico mexicano. O impacto foi devastador: linhas elétricas derrubadas, sensores sísmicos desativados, árvores arrancadas pela raiz, inundações e deslizamentos de terra. Milhares de lares e negócios foram reduzidos a escombros, com um saldo oficial de 50 mortos e 30 desaparecidos, além de centenas de pessoas desabrigadas.¹ Fase de Ativação Inicial ..read more

Versión en español On October 25, 2023, Hurricane Otis battered the coast of Acapulco, Guerrero (Mexico), with sustained winds of up to 315 km/h, marking a milestone as the most powerful cyclone recorded in the history of the Mexican Pacific coast. The impact was devastating: power lines knocked down, seismic sensors halted, trees uprooted, floods, and landslides. Thousands of homes and businesses were reduced to rubble, with an official death toll of 50 and 30 missing, in addition to hundreds of homeless people. Initial Activation Phase In response to this situation, the international mappin ..read more

English version El 25 de octubre de 2023, el huracán Otis azotó la costa de Acapulco, Guerrero (México), con vientos sostenidos de hasta 315 km/h, marcando un hito como el ciclón más poderoso registrado en la historia de la costa del Pacífico mexicano. El impacto fue devastador: líneas eléctricas derribadas, sensores sísmicos detenidos, árboles arrancados de raíz, inundaciones y deslizamientos de tierra. Miles de hogares y negocios quedaron reducidos a escombros, con un saldo oficial de 50 fallecidos y 30 desaparecidos, además de cientos de personas sin hogar.¹ Fase de Activación Inicial Ante ..read more

The HOT OpenSummit encompasses three event categories: conferences, open mapping contributions to third-party events, and community events. The program seeks to extend open mapping’s reach, promote open map data awareness, and facilitate collaboration and collective action within the open mapping community. It also aims to bring together communities, partners, collaborators, and supporters to learn, share, and connect. What we have achieved so far Five months after the launch, we collaborated with and supported 11 events, which received funding of up to 62,632 USD and reached 2,688 participant ..read more

Hello everyone, My name is Petya Kangalova, and I have been working at the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) for just over two years, first as a Tech Collective Facilitator and now as the Networks and Engagement Lead. I would describe myself as an open tech advocate, community facilitator, and a passionate proponent for more diversity and inclusion in the tech industry… which leads me to this blog! As an Outreachy mentor, I wanted to share here why HOT has participated in Outreachy, what Outreachy is and why it is important to get involved in such programs! What is Outreachy? Outreachy is ..read more

Conducting field surveys can be a valuable method for collecting map data. However, field data collection can be a challenging and complex task that requires careful planning, coordination, and execution. The process involves various key players —Project Managers, Field Managers, Mappers, and Validators— each with specific roles and responsibilities. Particularly when working with large groups of mappers in dense settings, it can be difficult to coordinate mapping activities. Challenges include: Ensuring each mapper knows which area/features they are responsible for visiting and gathering dat ..read more

What first attracted you to work at HOT? What drew me in was HOT’s mission to provide humanitarian mapping and services through a people-centric approach. I have always seen myself working with an organization that will allow me to mold and use my skills and abilities to support marginalized and vulnerable communities. HOT’s dedication to helping people by utilizing open mapping and continuously breaking the barriers and biases found in conventional maps resonates deeply with what I am passionate about. Joining HOT allows me to turn my passion into a profession and be part of a community that ..read more

Versión en español | Versão em português The Amazon, with its vastness and complexity, often hides fascinating stories. One of these stories is the journey of Paula dos Santos Silva, a 35-year-old woman born in the riverside community of São Luis do Macari. Paula, a dedicated mother to a 13-year-old girl, immersed herself fully in her passion for geography and in the mission to understand and map out the dynamics of riverside communities in the Amazon region. Paula’s academic journey began in Tefé, driven by the desire to enhance her knowledge in geography. Graduated and specialized by the Ama ..read more