I’ve been mapping in Alaska for quite some time now, with a specific interest in mapping national parks, forests, and other protected areas. It has become apparent to me that much of the state, with the exception of southeast Alaska, lacks sufficient hydrographic data in the map. I’ve been working on chipping away at this problem intermittently, adding lakes and named waterways. However, given the size of interior Alaska’s national and state parks, attempting large scale additions by hand would be prohibitively time consuming.

I’ve gained a good deal of familiarity over the years with the software needed to perform an import of USGS National Hydrographic Dataset data to fill this gap. My current idea is to download the needed NHD dataset from the USGS website, convert it to .shp in QGIS, delete all tags from the data and split it to smaller files. I would then load the raw shapes into JOSM using the opendata plugin and add tags manually. I would avoid conflicts with existing data by loading it into the editor prior to loading the .shp, thus allowing me to integrate the data more seamlessly.

I am aware that it is customary to receive community buy in before beginning an import project. I’ve run into some confusion on this as Alaska has a very small OSM community that is not well established. I could contact a few mappers individually, but I am not sure if that alone would satisfy the need for community buy in.

I’m curious as to what input people have on this

I have not participated in so many State of the Map conferences, only in two LATAM conferences, the first one being Sao Paulo in 2016, historical for me since the Geochicas were founded on this occasion and the following year in 2017 in Lima.

Nosso capítulo completou 1 ano de existência em maio de 2024 e continuamos a pleno vapor, com atividades abertas de mapeamento e de capacitação em OpenStreetMap.

(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cox%27s_Bazar_(black_and_white).jpg)

My excitement was extremely high since I had come to know that this year’s State of the Map Asia would take place in the beautiful setting of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh for the very first time.

I am @SantiViajaSimplemente to see the pictures… Now in Colombia after 86 countries

Introduction

During the COVID-19 pandemic, like many others, I found myself immersed in online classes and scrolling through social media during breaks. One day, I stumbled across OpenStreetMap (OSM), and my journey with this incredible platform began out of sheer curiosity. Little did I know that this discovery would eventually lead me to the State of the Map Asia 2024 conference—my first-ever conference application. I cannot express the joy I felt when both my presentation and I were selected to be part of this esteemed event. Though I received only a partial scholarship, I was determined to make it to Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Traveling from Nepal, we were a group of four. I had already booked my flight, which departed from Delhi, while my friends flew directly from Kathmandu.

The Journey to Cox’s Bazar

The journey wasn’t without its challenges. I had a tight three-hour transit in Dhaka to catch my domestic flight to Cox’s Bazar. However, my international flight faced delays, and applying for a visa on arrival meant standing in a long queue. Fearing I might miss my next flight, I humbly requested the visa officer to expedite my process. Time was of the essence, so I couldn’t exchange currency or get a local SIM card. With only minutes to spare, I dashed to the domestic terminal, relieved to find that my domestic flight was also delayed by an hour. I was informed by Sawan Sir that I would meet Hasna Heena and Fazle Rabbi at the airport, which comforted me as they were on the same flight. True to their reputation, the lovely couple warmly welcomed me, helped me exchange currency, and ensured I felt at home upon reaching the hotel.

First Impressions

I reached Cox’s Bazar on November 29, 2024, and was greeted with a mesmerizing view of the sea. Seeing the ocean for the first time was a surreal experience, but the hot weather and conference preparations kept me from enjoying it immediately. At the venue, I met my friends from Nepal and Bangladesh, along with other participants. The atmosphere was vibrant, filled with anticipation for the upcoming sessions.

The Conference Experience

The two-day conference, held from November 30 to December 1, 2024, was packed with insightful presentations and discussions. Nama Raj Budhathoki, from the Open Mapping Hub Asia Pacific, delivered a captivating keynote speech to kick off the event. Topics such as disaster resilience, women’s safety, and UAV basics caught my attention. I particularly enjoyed the session on “From Data to Action: Creating 3D Flood Visualizations with Open Source Tools like OSM and QGIS,” which was both innovative and inspiring.

My Presentation

On the second day, I delivered my presentation titled “Mapping Critical Infrastructures for Disaster Resilience Using OpenStreetMap.” It was my first time speaking at such a prestigious event, and I admit I felt a bit nervous. My presentation focused on the importance of mapping critical infrastructures and its necessity in various scenarios. For instance, during a flood, mapped features enable quick access to safe spaces and evacuation shelters, as well as identifying the safest and shortest routes. Similarly, in unfamiliar locations, having the mapped locations of health facilities can be lifesaving in emergencies, allowing patients to receive timely medical attention. However, as I began speaking.However, seeing Hasna Heena nodding encouragingly from the front row and recognizing familiar faces like Kazi Arifin Jamil among the audience gave me confidence. Their support turned what could have been a nerve-wracking experience into a memorable one.

Beyond the Conference

we had the opportunity to visit the beach, where we savored delicious local seafood alongside friends from various countries. The camaraderie among participants was truly uplifting, and the “OSM Guru Dinner” on the final evening provided a perfect conclusion to the event. During the dinner, we shared our OSM journeys, reflected on the critical role of data validation, and envisioned the future possibilities of open mapping. A heartfelt thanks to Azar, Ibtehal, Nodi, and everyone else who went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed and at home in Bangladesh. This conference was also an opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces like Mikko, Honey, and Harry, whom I had previously met at SLSI and Kathmandu University. The event concluded with awards for poster presentations, Mapper of the Year, and other activities, leaving everyone with a sense of accomplishment and inspiration.

Reflections

State of the Map Asia 2024 was a transformative experience for me. From overcoming travel hurdles to presenting my work on an international platform, this journey has been one of growth and learning. I am grateful for the State of Map Asia team, friends, mentors, and opportunities that OSM has brought into my life. This event not only deepened my understanding of open mapping but also reinforced my commitment to leveraging OSM for community resilience and development.

This is my first major mapping project on OpenStreetMap, and I’m calling it the StephenvilleTX Project. I’ve been spending a lot of time refining the roads and overall layout of the city, and it’s been both an exciting and challenging experience.

A Memorable Experience

When I received the news about the State of the Map Asia 2024 in Cox’s Bazar, I was filled with excitement. I was traveling from Chattogram to Cox’s Bazar for this conference was a new adventure. As a Campus Ambassador for the University of Chittagong and a representative of the CUSS YouthMappers Chapter, attending this event was a great honor. The accommodation scholarship I received allowed me to stay at Hotel Prime Park, making the entire experience even more special.

The Journey Begins

The journey from Chattogram to Cox’s Bazar on November 29th was filled with excitement and anticipation. I traveled with one of my friends and three juniors, all of whom were equally excited. Along the way, the scenic beauty of the surroundings made the trip more enjoyable, and we couldn’t help but look forward to what awaited us in Cox’s Bazar. Upon arrival, we were welcomed by the warm hospitality of our hosts, and everything went smoothly. The city of Cox’s Bazar, with its stunning 120 km-long beach, was unlike anything I had ever seen before. The beauty of the sea and the peaceful atmosphere left me in awe, and we made sure to capture some special moments, including drone shots of the beach, thanks to Krishna Prashad Mondal Dada. The entire trip, both to and from Cox’s Bazar, was truly an enjoyable experience.

The Conference Experience

Attending State of the Map Asia 2024 was an eye-opening experience. The sessions and workshops were rich with knowledge, especially the WebMapping workshop, which was completely new to me. I learned about various aspects of web mapping, which opened up a whole new area of interest for me. The event was an opportunity to meet passionate mappers, developers, and experts from various backgrounds. I was particularly excited to connect with members of the Jahangirnagar University YouthMappers Chapter, and it was great to see the collaborative spirit in action. The conference highlighted the diverse applications of OpenStreetMap (OSM), and I felt truly inspired by the ways OSM is being used to solve real-world problems, especially in humanitarian efforts and disaster risk reduction. The workshops were hands-on, and I appreciated the chance to learn practical skills that I look forward to applying in my future endeavors.

Networking and Connections

Beyond the learning, one of the best parts of the conference was meeting so many people from the OSM community. I made connections with individuals I had only interacted with online before. The experience of sharing ideas and stories in person was truly invaluable. One of the highlights of the event was meeting a senior from our university unexpectedly. It made the experience even more enjoyable as we were able to enjoy the entire event together.

The Beach Experience

One of my favorite memories was our time at the beach. The opportunity to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of Cox’s Bazar was refreshing. The drone shots captured by Krishna Prashad Mondal Dada provided a stunning perspective of the landscape, and it was a moment we will all remember.

Heartfelt Thanks

A special thanks to the State of the Map Asia 2024 organizing committee for hosting such a well-executed and inclusive event. I am particularly grateful to Sawan Sharir, Mikko, Honey Grace Fombuena, Harry Mahardhika Machmud, and the Open Mapping Hub - Asia Pacific for creating such a fantastic platform for learning, collaboration, and community-building. Special thanks to Amena Rashid Bania Apu for her encouragement and support throughout the conference. I would also like to thank Krishna Prashad Mondal Dada for capturing the amazing drone shots at the beach. I am also grateful to the State of the Map Asia 2024 organizing team, the YouthMappers community, and everyone who made this event possible. Your efforts gave me such a rewarding experience, and I am truly thankful. Thanks to CUSS YouthMappers Chapter for their unwavering support, and to my two friends and two juniors for joining me on this journey. Their enthusiasm made the experience even more enjoyable, and we all shared some unforgettable moments together.

Reflecting on the Journey

As I returned to Chattogram on December 1st, I felt deeply inspired by the knowledge and connections I had gained at State of the Map Asia 2024. The experience was enriching, and I am more motivated than ever to contribute to the OpenStreetMap community. It was not just a conference, but a celebration of the power of maps, collaboration, and the global community that drives meaningful change.

On November 30 and December 1, 2024, the breathtaking shores of Cox’s Bazar played host to an extraordinary gathering of mapping enthusiasts, community leaders, and changemakers at State of the Map Asia 2024! This landmark event brought together the …

When I first received the email confirming my scholarship to attend State of the Map Asia 2024 in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, I was overjoyed.

Cox’s Bazar, the breathtaking coastal city of Bangladesh, recently hosted the State of the Map Asia 2024 conference. For me, as an enthusiastic mapper, participating in this event was nothing short of a dream come true.

This year, I had the opportunity to attend State of the Map Asia (SotM Asia 2024) in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

This year, I had the incredible opportunity to attend State of the Map (SotM) 2024, the global conference of the OpenStreetMap (OSM) community, held in the vibrant city of Nairobi, Kenya.

This year, I had the privilege of stepping into a world of boundless ideas and shared dreams as I attended the State of the Map Asia (SotM Asia 2024) in Bangladesh.

Time Dec 12

** Disclaimer: I do not guarantee the accuracy of these names **

So, about 6 weeks ago, I met someone who teaches at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa at a conference here in Ireland. This made me curious about Indianola, and I went to check it out on OSM. Anything could trigger that in me.

What's up with #osmIRL buildings #2

As a friend and I were adding the 57th tag to a climbing gym in Belgium, I wondered what the element with the highest tag count is. I couldnt find such stats (which may be a good thing), so I downloaded belgium-latest.osm.

I created this for my own use, but am sharing it here because it might be useful to other people too. This is the style and theres a brief readme.

Bengal kittens are becoming increasingly popular due to their unique, wild appearance and lively personalities. With their striking leopard-like coats, high energy, and playful nature, they have earned a reputation as an exotic and exciting breed.

Are you searching for a team name that truly represents your group’s personality, creativity, and energy? Look no further than AwesomeTeamName! Whether you’re forming a sports team, a corporate crew, or a fun social squad, the right name is the found…

In dipalpur okara Punjab Pakistan

Severe floods and landslides devastated Sukabumi Regency, West Java, after two days of intense rainfall, with over 100 mm of rain falling in a short period, according to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

Rapidly Cleaning Solutions offers comprehensive cleaning services tailored to both residential and commercial clients in Calgary. Their residential cleaning services include carpet, hard floor, window, and move-in/move-out cleaning. For businesses, they provide specialized cleaning for offices, gyms, hotels, restaurants, and more. Additionally, they offer post-construction cleaning and snow removal services. Their team uses eco-friendly products to deliver thorough cleaning solutions that ensure a clean and healthy environment for their customers. Contact Rapidly Cleaning Solutions today to get a professional cleaning services for home or business!

Today, panning in Kampala, Uganda, I noticed so many place=village and place=neighbourhood , often the same name is duplicated.

Uganda #Kampala #BadMapping

Recently, I had the privilege of leading a MapSwipe training session for a corporate group, and it was an incredibly rewarding experience. While Ive conducted online trainings before, this one felt particularly special.

About 6 years ago now, the Ireland OSM community had a bunch of online and face-to-face discussions. There was a desire to have a common campaign, rather than everyone just paddling their own canoe, mapping old boundaries, addding 110KV monster pylon…

Had to write something about this. Well, the USA Geofabrik (Continental + HI and AK) extract is now well over 10GiB. And my poor Garmins still only can handle 4GiB gmapsupp.img files. Yeah, I have to lose over 6GiB of stuff now to get it to fit. I’m not sure how long this is tenable, but yes it’s a continuing struggle to get it to still work…

#𝑶𝑺𝑴 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓-𝒖𝒑: 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑶𝒑𝒆𝒏𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒕𝑴𝒂𝒑

#𝙊𝙎𝙈 𝙋𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧-𝙪𝙥: 𝙅𝙊𝙎𝙈 𝙋𝙡𝙪𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙨

Session : 09
I received the new achievement form in the platform of Open Mapping Guru for actively participating in the 𝗥𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗱 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗔 Training under the
𝕆𝕡𝕖𝕟 𝕞𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕘𝕦𝕣𝕦 Project last May 24, 2024.

Session: 08📯
𝐎𝐌 𝐆𝐮𝐫𝐮 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐗 𝐇𝐎𝐓 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝔸𝕔𝕔𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕍𝕚𝕤𝕦𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕫𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕆𝕡𝕖𝕟 𝕄𝕒𝕡 𝔻𝕒𝕥𝕒
Under the Open Mapping Guru Project 2023
last April 12, 2024.
Open Mapping Guru🩵

Session: 07📯
𝑶𝑴 𝑮𝒖𝒓𝒖 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝑿 𝑯𝑶𝑻 𝑻𝒆𝒄𝒉 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈:
𝕀𝕟𝕥𝕣𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝔹𝕒𝕤𝕚𝕔 ℚ𝔾𝕀𝕊 𝔸𝕟𝕒𝕝𝕪𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕤.
held last April 19, 2024.
Under the Open Mapping Guru Project 2023.

Session: 06📯
𝐎𝐌 𝐆𝐮𝐫𝐮 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠:
𝔻𝕒𝕥𝕒 𝕄𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕆𝕊𝕄 𝔻𝕒𝕥𝕒 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕆𝕧𝕖𝕣ℙ𝕒𝕤𝕤 𝕋𝕦𝕣𝕓𝕠
held last April 27, 2024.
under the
Open Mapping Guru Project 2023.

Session: 05📯
𝑶𝑴 𝑮𝒖𝒓𝒖 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝑿 𝑯𝑶𝑻 𝑻𝒆𝒄𝒉 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈:
𝕌𝕤𝕖 ℂ𝕒𝕤𝕖 𝕊𝕔𝕖𝕟𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕠𝕤 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 ℚ𝔾𝕀𝕊 - 𝔽𝕝𝕠𝕠𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘

Session: 03📯
𝑶𝑴 𝑮𝒖𝒓𝒖 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈:
𝔹𝕖𝕘𝕚𝕟𝕟𝕖𝕣 𝕁𝕆𝕊𝕄 𝕍𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕕𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟
held last April 20, 2024
Under the
Open Mapping Guru Project 2023.
[https://scontent.fdac146-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/441482347_956019009645192_5231238843879515271_n.

Session: 02📯
𝑶𝑴 𝑮𝒖𝒓𝒖 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈:
𝕀𝕟𝕥𝕣𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝔾𝕀𝕊 𝕒𝕟𝕕 ℚ𝔾𝕀𝕊
held last April 20, 2024
Under the
Open Mapping Guru Project 2023.

Session: 01🛜
𝑶𝑴 𝑮𝒖𝒓𝒖 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝑿 𝑯𝑶𝑻 𝑻𝒆𝒄𝒉 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈:
2024 𝙋𝙖𝙥𝙪𝙖 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙂𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙖 𝙀𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙣
It was special session on which project I worked with attention ❤️
Held last April 19, 2024.
Under the
Open Mapping Guru Project 2023.