Mapathons: Helping MSF Through Mapping Remote Locations

Mapathons are a way to volunteer time and energy into mapping remote areas of the world to help MSF’s humanitarian responses.

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MSF played a key role in founding the organization Missing Maps. This organization works to map very remote areas, particularly in the developing world, before any disaster occurs or to improve any humanitarian efforts in that location. Mapping these areas leads to a smoother response from MSF or another organization.

The first step in the process is for a group to use satellite imaging to trace areas into a platform called OpenStreetMap. This platform is comparable to Google Earth, but OpenStreetMap allows for editing, so volunteers are able to map the necessary remote areas. Mapping an area includes indicating the locations of buildings, roads, bodies of water, etc. 

The next step in the Missing Maps process is to work with the community of the mapped areas to add additional details to the maps. While the volunteers might have added buildings and roads, this step labels what those buildings are and may include the local name for some places. 

The final step is for various humanitarian organizations, like MSF, to use these maps to plan programs and various efforts to improve the built environment, identify risks of the community, and more.

A Mapathon aims to gather a large number of volunteers, trains them in how to map areas using OpenStreetMap, and then has a set amount of time where this group will be equipped to map remote areas. You can take part in this virtual volunteer opportunity! No prior experience required.

Sources: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/september-mapathon

https://www.missingmaps.org/about/