Mapathon

Every year, IPIS proudly hosts a handful of Missing Maps mapathons in its library, which it co-organises together with OpenStreetMap Belgium.

Why do we organise this?

NGOs working in the South need decent maps in order to reach people who need help – be it to deliver medication, plan their operations or respond to crises. However, in many places such maps don’t exist or are not complete. By teaming up volunteers from all over the world, we can change that!

How do we help?

We teach volunteers how to trace satellite imagery into OpenStreetMap, a free and open map of the entire world. The features that we map can be houses, roads, rivers or other items that are relevant for the NGOs. Every data entry by a volunteer is checked by an experienced mapper and shared as Open Data through OpenStreetMap. In a second stage, these maps are then completed by volunteers on the field, who have more knowledge about the local situation. They add name tags to roads and indicate which buildings are hospitals, schools or houses. Finally, the maps are used by NGOs working in the region to better plan their efforts and reach people and places who need help.

Why do we need missing maps?

Here’s a clip by Missing Maps explaining what mapathons are.

(credit: Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team)

Mapathons and IPIS?

IPIS organises mapathons as a way to contribute back to the Open Data community. We use OpenStreetMap data during our research and in our own maps, and want to support the idea of sharing knowledge and information for the benefit of all.

During mapathons organised at IPIS, we work on a variety of tasks, mostly throughout central Africa: mapping roads in Tanzania, buildings in Mozambique, … We use the HOT task manager to find interesting tasks.

IPIS has also set up it’s own experimental mapathon tasks: during two mapathons organised in 2017 we investigated if we could use satellite imagery to identify illegal activity, such as artisanal mining and logging, inside the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in DRC. Check out the map resulting from this experiment!

New Mapathon with special focus on DRC National Parks at IPIS

IPIS, Missing Maps and OpenStreetMap Belgium organise another Missing Maps Mapathon on Wednesday December 6, in the IPIS library. Why do we organise this? NGOs working in the South need decent maps in order to reach people who need help. However, in many places the map is not yet complete. That’s why we need your help! How

Mapping the Okapi Wildlife Reserve: images from the previous IPIS Mapathon

On Wednesday April 26, IPIS opened its library to host another Missing Maps Mapathon, in collaboration with OpenStreetMap Belgium. We happily welcomed 25 participants, including students from the Antwerp University and new and more experienced OpenSteetMap contributors. The evening started with a gentle introduction on how to trace buildings, roads and other features from satellite imagery. Then, using the HOT task

IPIS hosts new Missing Maps Mapathon with special focus on DRC National Parks

IPIS, Missing Maps and OpenStreetMap Belgium organise another Missing Maps Mapathon on Wednesday April 26, in the IPIS library. Why do we organise this? NGOs working in the South need decent maps in order to reach people who need help. However, in many places the map is not yet complete. That’s why we need your help! How do

Missing Maps Mapathon / Wednesday, 26 October 2016

IPIS, Missing Maps and OpenStreetMap Belgium organise another Missing Maps MAPATHON on Wednesday October 26, at the IPIS library! IPIS Research and Openstreetmap Belgium invite you to come map for the Missing Maps project with us. By doing so, you will learn how to create the open maps that make the work of NGOs like Doctors Without Borders or

Missing Maps mapathon / Wednesday, 29 June 2016

IPIS, Missing Maps and OpenStreetMap Belgium organise another Missing Maps MAPATHON on Wednesday, June 29, at the IPIS library! IPIS Research and Openstreetmap Belgium invite you to come map for the Missing Maps project with us. By doing so, you will learn how to create the open maps that make the work of NGOs like Doctors Without

Missing Maps mapathon / Wednesday, 23 March 2016

IPIS, Missing Maps and OpenStreetMap Belgium organise the mapping event ‘Missing Maps mapathon’ on Wednesday March 23 at the IPIS library! IPIS Research and Openstreetmap Belgium invite you to come map for the Missing Maps project with us. Doing so, you will learn how to create the open maps that make the work of NGOs like

Who can join?

Mapathons are volunteer-based “citizen science” events, open to anyone of the general public. No experience required! We’ll teach you how to work with satellite imagery and add new features to the map. If you like maps and would like to learn something about them, or would like to contribute to this project, join in next time!

Don’t miss the next IPIS mapathon > register here

The mapathons are a collaboration between IPIS vzw, Missing Maps and OpenStreetMap Belgium

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