Humanitarian OSM Team/Open Mapping Hub - Latin America and The Caribbean
In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), we face disasters caused by natural hazards, along with many other challenges to our environment and sustainable development, within the framework of diversity and pronounced inequality. The Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) aims to be a positive catalyst in this situation to make sure the power of open geographic data is fully leveraged in supporting data-driven public policies that foster inclusive, sustainable, and transparent societies. At the core of our approach is the active promotion and utilization of social impact mapping practices, ensuring that our efforts contribute to a shared and meaningful development.
History
The LAC Hub was established in 2023 with the intention to locate actions advancing social impact mapping practices among diverse groups. Our firm belief is that social impact mapping can be a catalyst for social and economic change in the LAC region. Mapping isn't solely about gathering data and plotting it on a map; it's a collaborative journey involving local communities in every step. It's about co-designing - deciding what and how to map, for what purpose, where and when, and with whom. We focus on actively involving communities in collaborative mapping efforts, granting everyone the opportunity to access and contribute to the map.Our emphasis lies in embedding a culture that cultivates a participatory approach that permeates our collaborative work ethic.
We are committed to prioritizing three critical components:
- Natural Hazard Resilience: Leveraging OpenStreetMap (OSM) and open mapping tools, we strengthen resilient communities to take proactive measures in preventing and responding to disasters caused by the impacts of climate change.
- Inclusive Mapping: Prioritizing the voice and engagement of underrepresented and vulnerable communities on the map, ensuring their political, economic, socio-cultural, environmental rights are respected and promoted.
- Enhancing Local Leadership: Encouraging local communities to actively engage in developing and innovating OSM and other initiatives is enabling them as agents of change. This involvement facilitates tailored solutions to address their unique challenges, extending beyond OSM to enhance capabilities and strategic vision for data creation and usage.
In line with this vision, our programs for the upcoming year will bring it to life:
- LAC Humanitarian Programme: Reliably responding to and enhancing preparedness for every relevant disaster incident in the region, our efforts aim to assist local actors in cultivating a culture of risk awareness through the use of open cartographic data.
- Amazonia Programme: Leading grassroots monitoring and fostering interactions among populations with the Amazonia, we focus on various aspects, including environmental preservation, social vulnerability risks, and rights. A particular emphasis is placed on collaborative work with indigenous groups to enable effective territory management through the utilization of data.
- Open Mapping For All: Exploring and integrating open mapping tools into educational projects while training the next generation of open mappers, starting in high schools across Argentina, Colombia, and Peru.
- Caribbean Programme: Firmly establishing our presence in the Caribbean, fostering a community of practice, innovation and resilience measures throughout.
The LAC Hub goes beyond mere mapping of places; it actively enables people and communities in learning and utilizing social impact mapping in ways that hold significance for them. Our primary objective is to contribute positively to the lives of people in the LAC region, and it is this commitment that sets us apart.
Projects
LAC Humanitarian Programme
Reliably responding to and enhancing preparedness for every relevant disaster incident in the region, our efforts aim to assist local actors in cultivating a culture of risk awareness through the use of open cartographic data.
- Canoa de Tolda
- Activation in Ecuador
- The Ecuador Mapathon
- Mapping Response in Acapulco
- Open Litter Mapping
- The Project Factory
- Humanitarian Mapping Brigade
- Humanitarian Mapping Laboratory
Amazonia Program
Leading grassroots monitoring and fostering interactions among populations with the Amazonia, we focus on various aspects, including environmental preservation, social vulnerability risks, and rights. A particular emphasis is placed on collaborative work with indigenous groups to enable effective territory management through the utilization of data.
The Amazonia Program is a multifaceted initiative addressing cartographic gaps and promoting social impact mapping in the region. Partnerships with civil protection authorities aim to fill cartographic gaps and improve risk management. Anticipatory mapping identifies vulnerable areas to enhance planning and response. Community projects teach cartography and support environmental monitoring across various Amazonian cities in Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru, fostering local engagement and open data ownership.
Open Mapping for All
Exploring and integrating open mapping tools into educational projects while training the next generation of open mappers, starting in high schools across Argentina, Colombia, and Peru.
The initiative has successfully engaged over 2,000 students and 200 teachers across Argentina, Peru, and Colombia. Collaborating closely with the Ministries of Education in these countries, OM4A aims to broaden the scope of open mapping education, with a primary emphasis on enhancing human resource development. The program’s core objective revolves around catalyzing educators to harness the potential of mapping technologies within diverse educational settings, spanning both rural and urban landscapes.
Caribbean Programme
Our efforts in the Caribbean have focused on establishing a strong presence and fostering a culture of practice, innovation, and resilience. By forging partnerships with local stakeholders and organizations like the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), we’ve facilitated engagement in development and disaster management. The launch of the OSM Caribbean Community underscores our commitment to collaboration and knowledge sharing. Through initiatives like the Drone Training program in Dominica, we’ve empowered locals to capture critical data, enhancing disaster preparedness. Additionally, our Women-Centered Disaster Resilience in SIDS initiative prioritizes equipping women and girls with essential mapping skills, enabling their active involvement in disaster response across several Caribbean nations.
- Launch of OSM Caribbean
- Enhancing Caribbean Disaster Management Through Collaborative Mapping with CDEMA
- Catalyzing Impact: Inaugural Micro-Grants by HOT and Caribbean School of Data
- Women-Centered Disaster Resilience In Small Island Developing States
Activations
In this page you will find all the activations we have lead and supported.
Data quality approach
An approach to improve OpenStreetMap data quality in LATAM.
Main article: Data Quality Approach LAC