Humanitarian OSM Team/Open Mapping Hub - Latin America and The Caribbean/Projects/Humanitarian Mapping Laboratory
The Humanitarian Mapping Brigade, led by HOT and the LAC Hub, is a space designed to foster collaboration among people from diverse disciplines and with basic to intermediate levels of experience in mapping tools. It offers learning and participation opportunities within the LAC Hub. Participation is voluntary and unpaid. Participants have access to workshops and resources that facilitate effective mapping practice, as well as talks and events where you can interact with experts in humanitarian mapping.
History
The Humanitarian Mapping Lab emerged in 2024 alongside the Humanitarian Mapping Brigade. It was established to provide an inclusive space where people from different disciplines and with varying levels of mapping tool experience, from basic to intermediate, could participate in training and practical activities offered by the LAC Hub, aiming to develop advanced mappers.
Participants of the first cohort (June - November 2024)
42 students successfully completed the first cohort. Here is the ongoing list (updated by students) to showcase their participation.
Methodology
Participants had access to workshops and resources that facilitate effective mapping practice, such as:
- Introduction to Humanitarian Support Work
- Introduction to OSM and HOT
- Data Quality and Basic Mapping Concepts
- Introduction to iD Editor
- Introduction to JOSM
- Mapathon on Real HOT Projects
- Downloading and Using OSM Data
- Remote Mapping Tools
- Best Practices for Data Migration
- Mobile and Web Open Mapping Apps
Outcome and impact
The Laboratory has contributed to mapping and response in crisis situations. Highlighted projects include:
- 2024 Mexico Pacific Hurricanes Response
- 2024 Guatemala Avenidas para el Buen Vivir Mapping
- 2024 Colombia National Risk Management Mapathon