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Humanitarian Mapping

This guide will help you get started contributing to humanitarian mapping projects.

Quick Start Guide

Humanitarian OpenStreetMap (HOT) is a global network of volunteers and organizations who use OpenStreetMap to map areas affected by natural disasters, conflict, and poverty. Contributing to HOT is a great way to help those in need and support disaster response efforts. Here's a quick start guide to contributing to Humanitarian OpenStreetMap:

  1. Sign up for an OpenStreetMap account: Before you can start contributing, you'll need to create an OpenStreetMap account. Go to https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/new to sign up.

  2. Visit the HOT website: Go to https://hotosm.org/ to access the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap website.

  3. Learn about current mapping projects: The HOT website provides information about ongoing mapping projects, including the areas that need to be mapped and the specific data that needs to be collected. Be sure to read the instructions carefully!

  4. Choose a task to work on: Once you've learned about the current mapping projects, you can choose a task to work on. Tasks can be found on the HOT Tasking Manager at https://tasks.hotosm.org/.

  5. Start mapping: Use the OpenStreetMap editor to start adding data to the map. The HOT Tasking Manager provides step-by-step instructions for each task, so you'll know exactly what data needs to be collected. Be sure to read the instructions carefully!

  6. Save and release your work: Once you've completed a task, it will be reviewed by another mapper to ensure that the data you've added is accurate and complete. You have to save and release your work for this to happen.

  7. Join the HOT community: Humanitarian OpenStreetMap is a global community of volunteers, and you can join the conversation by participating in forums, joining the HOT mailing list, or following the HOT blog.

  8. Get involved in other ways: Contributing to Humanitarian OpenStreetMap isn't just about mapping. There are many other ways to get involved, such as supporting disaster response efforts, fundraising for HOT, or developing new tools to support the project.

By following these steps, you can start contributing to Humanitarian OpenStreetMap and help make a difference in the lives of those affected by natural disasters, conflict, and poverty.