
At OpenStreetMap Belgium, we support the Missing Maps project by doing regular Mapathons.
Each year, disasters around the world kill nearly 100,000 and affect or displace 200 million people. Many of the places where these disasters occur are literally ‘missing’ from any map and first responders lack the information to make valuable decisions regarding relief efforts.Missing Maps is an open, collaborative project in which you can help to map areas where humanitarian organisations are trying to meet the needs of vulnerable people.
During a Mapathon, you will trace satellite imagery to identify buildings, residential areas and streets. Later, people with local knowledge will add more detail to the map. But from the moment you click Save, the data will be freely available to NGOs and anyone who needs it. For example, during the National Mapathon, we mapped all the buildings on Idjwi island. Within two weeks, the vaccination campaign on that island was planned using population estimates based on our buildings data.
Anyone can help! All it takes is a laptop and a computer mouse. We will teach you everything else you need to know.
Do you want a Mapathon near you? Contact us !
We have had several Mapathons in Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent, and there have been events in Leuven, Namur, Liege, Louvain-La-Neuve.
Previous mapathons
- Nov 9, 2024 - Lili-app mapathon: 29/11 - Bruges
- Feb 17, 2020 - Towards Equal Street Names with Open Data
- Nov 19, 2019 - Missing Maps @ MSF
- Sep 24, 2019 - Missing Maps @ MSF
- Mar 30, 2019 - National Missing Maps Mapathon 2019 (LLN, Liège)
- Mar 28, 2019 - National Missing Maps Mapathon 2019 (Brussels, Namur, Ghent, Liège)
- Mar 27, 2019 - National Missing Maps Mapathon 2019 (Brussels, LLN, Leuven, Mons)
- Mar 24, 2018 - National Missing Maps Mapathon 2018
- Dec 6, 2017 - Missing Maps Mapathon at IPIS
- Nov 28, 2017 - Missing Maps @ MSF
- Apr 26, 2017 - Missing Maps Mapathon at IPIS
- Mar 25, 2017 - National Missing Maps Mapathon 2017
- Nov 15, 2016 - Missing Maps Mapathon @ VUB Brussels
- Oct 26, 2016 - Missing Maps MAPATHON on Wednesday October 26, at the IPIS library!
- Sep 22, 2016 - HOT-summit mapathon @ MSF
- Jun 29, 2016 - Missing Maps @ IPIS, Antwerp
- Jun 6, 2016 - Missing Maps @ MSF
- Apr 16, 2016 - National Missing Maps Mapathon 2016
- Mar 23, 2016 - Missing Maps Mapathon - Antwerp
- Mar 19, 2016 - (M)Apps 4 Ghent
- Mar 16, 2016 - Missing Maps Mapathon - VUB
- Feb 27, 2016 - Missing Maps Mapathon - VUB
- Jan 23, 2016 - Missing Maps Mapathon Gent