Urban street Mapping Level
Project Overview (Présentation du projet)
The CityMapper Externship is a structured professional immersion programme in open urban mapping, led by the UN Maps Ambassador for Cameroon under his official mandate within the [1].
Participants do not simulate professional work — they produce real open geospatial data on Yaoundé: roads, buildings, infrastructure, and solid waste management sites. A certified attestation is issued to all participants upon completion.
What is an Externship?
An externship is a practical professional immersion on a real project, without a formal employment relationship. Within the UN Mappers framework, it takes the following form:
- A structured 4-week programme: training → remote mapping → field mapping
→ documentation
- A concrete deliverable: enriching OpenStreetMap data for Yaoundé (roads,
buildings, infrastructure, waste management)
- A certified attestation, signed by the UN Maps Ambassador and bearing the
logos of all active partners
- A replicable model: all documentation is designed so that any UN Mappers
chapter can reproduce the programme in their own city
Position within the UN Mappers Initiative
[2] selected one ambassador in four pilot countries — Cameroon, India, Argentina, and Kenya — with an explicit mission: build local mapper communities and carry out concrete activities around OSM and open geospatial data.
The CityMapper Externship directly delivers on this mission. It answers a specific question: how can OSM communities in Africa offer, beyond one-off mapping campaigns, a structured professional framework that creates real value for students and young geospatial professionals?
Context / Background (Contexte)
The internship problem in the UN ecosystem
UN internships and professional placements are notoriously difficult to access: lengthy procedures, strict eligibility criteria, very limited spots. Thousands of young African professionals passionate about geomatics and open data have no access to a structured, certified professional experience in this environment.
The CityMapper Externship fills this gap: a rigorous professional framework, mentored by the UN Maps Ambassador, producing a valorisable certified attestation — all on a real-impact project, accessible remotely.
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Objectives (Objectifs)
Main objective
Build a community of urban mappers in Yaoundé capable of producing quality OSM data on the city's roads, buildings, and infrastructure — and demonstrate that such a programme can be replicated in any under-mapped African city.
Specific objectives
- Train 15 in-person participants (+ online) in professional OSM tools: JOSM, HOT Tasking Manager, Mapillary
- Enrich OSM with ≥ 100,000 objects created or improved (roads, buildings)
- Map ≥ 50 infrastructure points (hospitals, schools, waste collection sites) # Collect Mapillary street-level imagery on selected Yaoundé routes
- Document the programme through this public Wiki and a lessons-learned report transmitted to UN Maps
- Test a replicable externship model for other UN Mappers chapters in Africa and beyond
Project Area (Zone d’intervention)
This programme operates across two distinct mapping tracks with different geographic scopes: a focused field mapping zone in Yaoundé, and a broader remote mapping scope covering both Cameroon and UN peacekeeping mission areas.
Track 1 — Field Mapping Zone (Yaoundé)
Field activities (Phase 3) are concentrated in [Neighbourhood name — to be confirmed], Yaoundé, Cameroon — 3°52′N, 11°31′E.
The neighbourhood was selected based on three criteria:
- High density of unmapped secondary roads and buildings in OSM
- Presence of solid waste infrastructure to survey (bins, collection points, transit dumps)
- Accessibility for participants and safe conditions for street-level
imagery capture
View on OSM: [3] Yaoundé field zone.
HOT Tasking Manager — field zone project: [https://tasks.hotosm.org Link to be added]
Track 2 — Remote Mapping Scope
Remote mapping (Phase 2) runs across two parallel project streams via the HOT Tasking Manager. Participants can contribute to either or both streams depending on their level and availability.
Stream A — Cameroon Urban Mapping
Focus: under-mapped urban and peri-urban zones across Cameroon, prioritising Yaoundé districts with critical data gaps.HOT Tasking Manager — Cameroon projects: Links to be added per sprint
Stream B — UNGSC Peacekeeping Mission Areas
In coordination with the [4]
participants contribute to active UN mapping projects supporting peacekeeping operations in mission areas.
These projects are managed directly by UNGSC and published on the HOT Tasking Manager. They follow standard UN mapping priorities
Methodology (Méthodologie)
| Phase | Name | Main content | Dates | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Communication & Mobilisation | Digital flyers, Google Forms registration, partner confirmation,
participant selection |
Before April 9 | Online |
| 1 | Training | OSM, JOSM, HOT TM, Mapillary — delivered by Ambassador + co-trainers | April 10–11 | In-person (2 days) |
| 2 | Remote Mapping | 3 HOT Tasking Manager sprints: roads → buildings → POIs + validation | Apr 12 – May 2 | Online (3 weeks) |
| 3 | Field Mapping | Infrastructure, waste sites, Mapillary imagery, TomTom mobility data | May 5–6 | Field (2 days) |
| 4 | Closing & Documentation | Attestation ceremony, Wiki write-up, final report to UN Maps | May 5–10 | Mixed |
Phase details
Phase 1 — Training (April 10–11)
- Day 1: OSM introduction, iD editor, JOSM, data model, HOT Tasking Manager
- Day 2: OsmAnd, StreetComplete, Every Door, Mapillary, TomTom data collection
Sessions are recorded for online participants. Internet access provided on-site.
Phase 2 — Remote mapping (3 sprints)
- Sprint 1 (Apr 12–18): Roads and road geometry
- Sprint 2 (Apr 19–25): Buildings and footprints
- Sprint 3 (Apr 26 – May 2): POIs, attribute improvement, validation
Progress reviews 2× per week by the Ambassador via HOT TM comments.
Phase 3 — Field mapping (May 3–4)
- Hospitals, schools, markets, transport stops
- Waste bins, collection points, transit dumps
- Mapillary imagery on selected routes
- TomTom mobility data collection
Tools & Technologies (Outils utilisés)
| Tool | Role | Phase |
|---|---|---|
| JOSM | Advanced OSM editing and data validation | 1, 2 |
| iD editor | Entry-level OSM editing | 1 |
| HOT Tasking Manager | Remote mapping sprint organisation and tracking | 2 |
| OsmAnd | Field navigation and data collection | 3 |
| StreetComplete | Gamified attribute data collection | 3 |
| Every Door | Fast POI entry in the field | 3 |
| Google Forms | Participant registration and tracking | 0 |
| TomTom SDK | Urban mobility data collection | 3 |
| OSMCha | Contribution review and validation | 2, 4 |
| Overpass Turbo | OSM data quality checks | 2, 4 |
Data & Tagging Scheme (Modèle de données OSM)
Mandatory tag — traceability
All objects created under this programme must include:
source=CityMapper Externship 2026 — UN Mappers Chapter Cameroon
JOSM changeset comment to use:
#OSMCameroon#UN_MAPPER#UN_MAPPER_chapter_initiative#CityMapperexternship2026
Activities / Timeline (Activités et chronogramme)
| ID | Activity | Lead | Start | End | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Concept validation with UN Maps | Ambassador | Mar 25 | Apr 3 | ✅ |
| 0.2 | Registration form + digital flyers | Ambassador / GGK | Apr 1 | Apr 5 | ✅ |
| 0.3 | Outreach & selection of 15 participants | All partners | Apr 1 | Apr 9 | ✅ |
| 1.1 | OSM training — theory & practice (Day 1) | Ambassador + co-trainers | Apr 10 | Apr 10 | ✅ |
| 1.2 | Field tools & Mapillary training (Day 2) | Ambassador / GGK / GEOSM | Apr 11 | Apr 11 | ✅ |
| 2.1 | Remote mapping sprint #1 — roads | Participants / HOT TM | Apr 12 | Apr 18 | 🟡 In progress |
| 2.2 | Remote mapping sprint #2 — buildings | Participants / HOT TM | Apr 19 | Apr 25 | 🟡 In progress |
| 2.3 | Remote mapping sprint #3 — POIs & validation | Participants / HOT TM | Apr 26 | May 2 | ⬜ Planned |
| 3.1 | Field Day 1 — Infrastructure & waste sites | GGK / Mapillary / Ambassador | May 4 | May 4 | ⬜ Planned |
| 3.2 | Field Day 2 — Mapillary imagery & TomTom data | GGK / Mapillary / TomTom | May 5 | May 5 | ⬜ Planned |
| 4.1 | Closing ceremony & attestation handover | Ambassador / All partners | May 10 | May 10 | ⬜ Planned |
| 4.2 | Wiki write-up & final report | Participants / Ambassador | May 6 | May 10 | ⬜ Planned |
Expected Results (Résultats attendus)
| # | Result | Indicator | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | Trained participants | Attendance lists, attestations issued | 15 in-person + online participants |
| R2 | OSM objects created or improved | HOT Tasking Manager statistics | ≥ 100,000 (roads, buildings) |
| R3 | Infrastructure points mapped | POIs added to OSM | ≥ 50 (health, education, waste) |
| R5 | OSM Wiki published | Page publicly accessible | This page + linked pages |
| R6 | Lessons-learned report | Document transmitted to UN Maps + published | 1 complete report |
| R7 | UN Mappers Chapter – Cameroon active | Active members post-programme | ≥ 15 members |
Impact (Impact du projet)
Environmental and public health
- SDG 11 — Sustainable Cities: open data for better urban planning
and municipal decision-making
- SDG 13 — Climate Action: reduce environmental impact of uncollected
waste (pollution, flooding)
- Waste data shared with Yaoundé district municipalities to optimise
collection routes and identify unserved areas
OSM community
- Strengthening the OSM community in Cameroon and Central Africa
- Building an active core for the UN Mappers Chapter – Cameroon
- Data immediately usable by humanitarian actors (UNHCR, WFP, WHO)
Participants
- Practical, marketable geomatics skills: JOSM, HOT TM, Mapillary, field survey
- Certified attestation (UN Mappers + partner logos) — a concrete alternative
to inaccessible UN internships
- International professional network: UN Mappers, HOT, TomTom, Mapillary
Scalability (Possibilités de réplication)
The CityMapper Externship is designed from the outset as a replicable pilot model. The Wiki and lessons-learned report form an open-access operational kit available to any UN Mappers chapter.
| Axis | Description |
|---|---|
| Cameroon replication | Douala → Bafoussam → Bamenda → secondary cities |
| International replication | UN Mappers pilot countries: India, Argentina, Kenya |
| Deployment kit | Wiki + report = turnkey guide for any chapter |
| Mapillary & AI | Collected images will feed automatic object detection algorithms
(roads, bins, signage) — planned post-pilot step |
| Municipal partnership | Waste data shared with Yaoundé municipalities to optimise
collection routes |
| Future themes | Public transport, accessibility, urban flooding, peri-urban agriculture |
Minimum conditions to replicate
- A UN Maps Ambassador or UN Mappers chapter lead
- Training venue with internet access.
- Local OSM co-trainers (can be alumni of the pilot programme)
- Minimal budget
- A HOT Tasking Manager project created for the target area
Partners & Contributors (Partenaires)
| Partner | Role | Contribution | Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| UN Maps (UNGSC) | Institutional framework | Legitimacy, concept validation | Concrete activity for the UN Mappers Chapters programme |
| HOT | Tasking Manager projects | ||
| GGK – Geospatial Girls & Kids | Mobilisation & field support | Participant network, field presence | Member capacity building, visibility |
| IVIDES DATA | Finacial support | ||
| GEOSM FAMILY | Local expertise | Geospatial tools, local network | Open data co-creation |
| TomTom | wiki support | ||
How to Contribute (Participation)
How to Contribute
Current programme participants
- Create an OSM account: openstreetmap.org
- Join the HOT Tasking Manager project: link to be added
- Use in every JOSM changeset:
source=#OSMCameroon#UN_MAPPER#UN_MAPPER_chapter_initiative#CityMapperexternship2026
- Report progress to the Ambassador 2× per week via HOT TM comments
- Join the project channel: [Telegram/WhatsApp link to be added]
External OSM contributors
- Access the HOT Tasking Manager project and select an available task
- Use hashtag
#CityMapperExternshipin JOSM changesets - Follow OSM good practices
- Validate with OSMCha before marking a task complete
Gallery / Media (Illustrations)
All pictures are in the canvas's folder: [5]
Phase 1 — Training (April 10–11, 2026)
Photos to be added after the training
Phase 2 — HOT Tasking Manager sprints
Sprint progress screenshots to be added during the programme
Phase 3 — Field & Mapillary
Mapillary sequence links to be added after May 4, 2026
Before / After map
OSM pre/post comparison map to be published end of May 2026
References & Links (Références)
Project links
- HOT Tasking Manager: To be added
- UN Maps Ambassador Initiative: [6]