Pucallpa

Iquitos wasn’t our first Amazonian destination, before we headed for Pucallpa - located on the Ucayali river much further south. Johnattan has worked there and is also heavily involved in the local OSM group. At one point we even considered starting the Belem boat trip in Pucallpa, the Ucayali combines with the Marañon river way down nearer to Iquitos to form the Peruvian Amazon. But an estimated seven additional days on a boat to Iquitos was a bit too much, another time maybe. I was dealing with the change of atmosphere from the western side of the Andes, it poured with rain shortly after arrival and moving around in tuk tuk style transport to get anywhere made it feel like a different country.

It was only a two night stopover, but there was OSM activity on tha agenda as we had a drone mapping demonstration and small scale mapping party in the grounds of the local intercultural university. We also got out for a short trip on the Ucayali too. When I was loading datasets for my Amazonian mapping project I was thinking about appropriate styling for the rivers of the region. They always end up blue on the maps, but the Ucayali is chocolate brown! Pucallpa would be an interesting place for an Amazonian State Of The Map, particularly with it having an established local mapping community.

We were in Huaraz for an event on climate justice organised by the South American Wikimedia community.

Landing In Lima

There were nervous moments before starting the journey. The terrible drought this year across Amazonia even put the whole project in doubt, we couldn’t be sure that the boats would be running as reports came in of Amazonian towns suffering water shortages. Together with the brutal wildfire season it seemed that we had picked the wrong year, although the real question after 2 consecutive years of drought might be whether there will be better years to come? Hard to believe when I looked at the hydrological data I had loaded for the Amazon basin. At one point I was considering buying a reserve air ticket from Lima to Manaus, which would have been a very disappointing way to do that journey. In the end October brought better news, it rained enough for the boats to run and Johnattan organised a short Peruvian itinerary (including OSM mapping!) which would take us to Iquitos for the first boat down the river. The first of three or four that we would need to get all the way to Belem with an estimated travel time of two weeks.

I landed in Lima on the 5th November and had a couple of days to acclimatise before setting off for the first destination on the trip. Great ceviche in a market stall which the tourist guidebooks will hopefully never discover, and time to see some of the city. Even time to drink a bit too much pisco, but you have to try the local products? Then it was off to Huaraz, located at 3000 metres and lying below the Andean peaks of the Cordillera Blanca. What does this have to do with Amazonia? The mountain chain is where all the debate about the source of the Amazon is focused. You can hardly get more of a landscape contrast than that between the western and eastern sides of the Peruvian Andes. I went up to Huaraz on the bus, and through the desert surrounding Lima then upwards through a semi arid mountainous landscape which differs sharply from the forest to be found on the eastern slopes.

Big River and A Slow Boat To Belém 1

OpenStreetMap is a map of the world, created by people like you and free to use under an open license.

Big River and A Slow Boat To Belém 1

Thankful to be facilitating the OpenStreetMap Foundation (OSMF) - Local Chapters and Communities Working Group (LCCWG) Sub-committee for OSMF Affiliation Models (wow thats a long name! 😅 )

Recently, theres been quite a lot of discussion about the problems with using the tag highway=path in the forum.

I was thinking of sharing my experience and reflection for my second year as an OSMF board member, like I did in my first year, then thought, it would be better and greater to write it with my co-board members.

Aibawk Village

URL: https://osmapp.org

As you might know, Im the main developer of MapComplete. For those who dont know, MapComplete is an OSM-viewer and editor, where contributors can easily answer questions, add new points and upload pictures from a POI from a cozy website.

The Open Mapping Women Awards 2024 was inspired by the 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗽 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 where we recognized community champions across Asia.

Its time for yet another OpenStreetMap-NG development update! This week were excited to present completely redesigned authorization interfaces and new account connectivity features.

As we approach the final stages of organizing SotM Kerala, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our Sponsors, Hosting Institution, Partnering Organizations, Community Partners, Individual Supporters, and the incredible Volunteers who have made t…

OSM Progress timelapse videos with QGIS and Ohsome API

For some time Ive been looking after a raster map style thats designed to be a useful England and Wales rural pedestrian map, and also to showcase some of the richness of data that might not be obvious from basic general map styles such as the ones o…

Training materials

Qgis mentors

Oh hai! Started mapping yesterday. 35 edits and 25 notes already.

*လူဝ်ႇၶိုၼ်းဢုပ်ႇၵုမ် လွင်ႈဢၼ်ၸၼ်ဝႆႉ ၽႅၼ်ႇလိၼ် ၸႄႈမိူင်းပလွင်ႈ

I created this template to aid project co-ordination in tasking managers, and contributors seeking feeback. It has gone through several iterations; this is the one that I currently use.

loving life with my bestie

In January, I introduced Overpass Ultra v2 and then
in June I provided some updates. Today Im excited to share that
Overpass Ultra is now simply Ultra(v3) as it has evolved beyond simply being an Overpass
client into a general purpose MapLibre GL JS …

Hey all,

If you want to verify your OSM-account and get that nice badge, this is possible.

Place <a href='https://link to your mastodon account' rel='me'>_some text, e.g. my mastodon_</a> in your profile (Click your user profile on the top right > my profile > Edit profile).

Then, on your Mastodon-account, go to Preferences > Public Profile. Under ‘extra fields’, set ‘OpenStreetMap’ to the left and a link to your account to the right.

I made my first edit! Lookout northern Tasmania, here I come :)

Calling all passionate mappers, open data enthusiasts, and geospatial innovators!

SotM Kerala - Formation of a Welcome Committee 08/10/2024

It was a bright sunny afternoon in Ohio, but it was getting hard to tell from the smoke in the air.

On Wednesday 4 September 2024, nine representatives from six Missing Maps member organizations met for two full days at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) office in Nairobi, Kenya.

It was a memorable moment for me attending State of the map Nigeria 2024 conference as I was opportune to meet and engage with professionals and volunteers from different backgrounds.

FROM ZARIA TO ILE-IFE

All the away from Zaria in Kaduna state, Northwest of Nigeria down to Ile-Ife in Osun state, Southwest of Nigeria for State of the map Nigeria 2024 conference. Since it was a long Journey I had to stop at Lokoja, Kogi state for a day. The following day I continued the journey down to Ile-Ife, Osun state. The venue of the conference was at African Regional Institute for Geospatial Information Science and Technology (AFRIGIST) inside Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria.

THE OPENING MAPPING PARTY

It was a good beginning starting the programme with an opening mapping party. The opening mapping party started around 6:39pm with the introduction of attendees. A welcome address was done by Dr. Victor Sunday who welcomed everyone to the opening mapping party. Thereafter, the session was handed over to Mr. Calvin Menttor from Ghana who introduced the attendees to OpenStreetMaps.

Activities accomplished in mapping party

• OSM account opening
• Downloading and installation of JOSM
• Linking of JOSM with OSM account
• JOSM setup and plugins installation
• Building mapping: Project 657 (Nigeria- Mapping Missing Roads and Buildings in Ilesa) was done
• Uploading of mapped layer to the OSM server The chairperson in person of Dr. Victor Sunday concluded the session by giving the history of OpenStreetMap and how it became global. The mapping party came to an end by 9:45pm

DAY 2 OF THE CONFERENCE

The programme started by 9:35am with an opening prayer followed by the singing of the national anthem. The introduction of guests to the high table was done and the opening remarks were given by Prof. Lazarus Mustapha Ojigi. The welcome address and the goodwill message were delivered by Dr. Victor Sunday.

Key activities for day 2

• The lead keynote speaker (Prof. Lazarus Mustapha Ojigi) made a presentation on Artificial intelligence-Assisted Geospatial mapping and Modelling Techniques for achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Africa.
• TomTom OpenStreetMap program – Community & Partnership delivered by Salim Badum
• The UAVs Geospatial Intelligence, Surveillance and Data Analytics for SDGs in Nigeria: Spatial Matrix Approach and Example by Captain Tobi Sowole
• AFRIGIST lightning on Open Geospatial Data in Africa Prof. Joseph Oloukoi
• Capacity Building in Space Science and Technology: UNARCSSTEE
• Paper presentation
• Citizen Science and Community Engagement towards Achieving SDGs: Perspectives from Scistarter -Unique Mappers Collaboration by Dr Caroline Nickerson
• The Transformative Power of Youth led data collection in improving health care facilities through electricity planning by Anuoluwapo Kuye
• Unlocking Geospatial Insights with Open Source Tools: A QGIS and OSM Tutorial by Ezekiel Ogungbemi The activities for the day came to an end by 6:00pm

Day 3

The programme started by 9:15am with an opening prayer followed by the introduction of guests to the high table. Key activities for day 3 1. The lead keynote speaker (Prof. Kamorudeen Folorunso Aleem) made a presentation on Open Geospatial, AI Technologies and Geospatial Data Policies in Nigeria: Implications for SDGs. 2. Keynote speaker Adeola Akinwale: Empowering Communities through Drone-Assisted Mapping: A Pathway to Women - Inclusivity and Sustainable Development 3. Keynote speaker ProfAndrew A. Obafemi: The Availability, Quality and Currency of Maps and its Implications for Achieving SDGs in Nigeria

WORKSHOP SESSION

It was an exciting moment as I had the privilege of holding a workshop session with the participants on Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) change detection, modeling and prediction using QGIS and Modules for Land Use Change Simulations (MOLUSCE). The workshop entailed practical demonstration that included: i. Change detection/identification between two epochs ii. Change detection map production between two epochs iii. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) learning curve training iv. Future LULC prediction and simulation v. Question and answer session Data and video tutorial was provided to participants for them to practice at their convenient time.

Other workshop session for the day include;

i. AFRIGIST: Practical session on Downloading and streaming data from DE Africa sandbox to QGIS ii. Hajar El Ouafi: Mapping with Maproullete iii. Caroline Nickerson: Scistarter

Other activities for the day include; Academic paper presentation on Pavement Condition Analysis by Sterling Umoren and Panel Discussion with views on the theme of the conference and the take home

The conference came to an end with Vote of thanks from Dr. Victor Sunday and closing prayer

Departure

The following day many participants started their journey back home. I rested for a day before moving to Abuja and from Abuja back to Zaria my base. It was an amazing conference

A while back I had taken a look comparing my local OGL to others in our area that were approved and listed on the wiki. Noting the similarities to existing documents I added our local cities as well per their attribution requirements.

Were thrilled to announce that our OpenStreetMap Kerala Annual Community Meetup 2024 has now been officially branded as State of the Map Kerala 2024! Heartfelt thanks to the OpenStreetMap Foundation for swiftly approving the license—this may be the f…

If you have some expertise the problem of correct rendering of border disputes and some spare time, then your help is welcome. If not, than of course you are welcome too!

Just been out this morning and surveyed Arran Road on foot. Around 40 businesses to add, plus two burger vans (oh, yes). When I was a youngster, the whole place was approx. 10 large factories, now it’s been much extended and the old factories have been subdivided into many small units. Should keep me busy for a while.

OpenStreetMap is a map of the world, created by people like you and free to use under an open license.

Attending the recent hack weekend in Berlin, I got inspired to work on a neat feature in overpass turbo. Honestly speaking, in the past few years, the tool did not the amount of attention from the developers (my) side that it deserves.

the arch of September has its feral grip slapped free from the gators grip of October, I’m holding fast to turkeys and dipping my head in the gravy

Botanical Explorations in Buru Island, Maluku Archipelago

I recently had the privilege of attending the State of the Map (SOTM) Nigeria 2024 conference in Ile-Ife, Osun State, and I am deeply grateful for the experience and the opportunities it provided. I was fortunate to receive a partial grant that covered my transportation, accommodation, and meals, allowing me to participate fully, and I am truly appreciative of this support.

The conference, centered around AI-assisted mapping, drone technology, and open geospatial tools for advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), was an incredible learning experience. The sessions led by professors, doctors, and online hosts highlighted the potential of these technologies in addressing real-world challenges.

I am especially thankful to Dr. Victor Sunday, the National Coordinator of Unique Mappers Network, for his encouragement and support in making this experience possible. The distinguished speakers greatly enriched the conference. Prof. Kamorudeen Folorunso Aleem kicked off the event with an insightful session on Open Geospatial, AI Technologies, and Geospatial Data Policies in Nigeria, which set the stage for critical discussions on data governance. Prof. Lazarus Mustapha Ojigi, the Executive Director/Professor of Geomatics at the African Regional Institute for Geospatial Information Science & Technology (AFRIGIST), shared his expertise on Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Geospatial Mapping and Modelling Techniques for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Africa, providing valuable insights into the integration of AI in geospatial analysis.

Prof. Andrew A. Obafemi addressed the vital issue of the Availability, Quality, and Currency of Maps and its Implications for Achieving SDGs in Nigeria, emphasizing the need for reliable geospatial data. Madam Adeola Akinwal presented on Empowering Communities through Drone-Assisted Mapping: A Pathway to Women Inclusivity and Sustainable Development, showcasing how technology can drive social change. Additionally, Sena G. Adimou and Hubert O. Yadjemi led a practical session on Downloading and Streaming Data from the DE Africa Sandbox to QGIS, which enhanced our technical skills. Hajar El Ouafi introduced us to mapping with MapRoulette, a tool for tasking and improving OpenStreetMap data, which broadened our mapping capabilities. Lastly, Emmanuel PeterJay’s practical demonstrations of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) Change Detection, Modeling, and Prediction provided hands-on experience that was particularly impactful for my research interests.

One of the highlights of the event was the opportunity to network. I got the opportunity of meeting professors who are fellow Alumni and great lions of The University of Nigeria, Prof. Aleem, and Prof. Oluwadare Olutayo MNIS of OAU who were elated, welcoming me with open arms, picking genuine interest in my research project, and giving me corrections and valuable guidelines. I also connected with other professionals and students alike, forming friendships and building contacts that I know will be valuable in my career journey. Among these were some incredible individuals who made my stay memorable. Mummy Mary Marcellonus was exceptionally accommodating and served as both encouragement and a spiritual anchor throughout the conference. Agness, who traveled from her institution in Oyo State, was the perfect companion, ensuring that my experience was anything but solitary. Henry Unchenna became a great and concerned acquaintance toward the end of the conference, enhancing my overall experience. I also met Aliou Konaré, a French-speaking student from Senegal studying at AFRIGIST, who added unique insights and fun to my stay. So, apart from the fun in gaining educational and career impacts, my stay was so far from boring.

I was also honored to present my work on Pavement Condition Analysis at the conference. This presentation allowed me to receive valuable feedback from experts, helping me refine my research approach and understand how mapping technologies, particularly drones and AI-driven analysis, could improve the accuracy and efficiency of projects like mine. I am incredibly grateful for the enlightenment and encouragement I received throughout the conference. This experience has given me both knowledge and a renewed sense of direction in my career, and I look forward to applying what I learned in future projects.

Thanks to everyone who made this experience possible, and to the organizers and speakers for a truly memorable and impactful event. Thank you, SotMNigeria2024, for a groovy experience. #SotM #SotMNigeria #SotMNigeria2024 #UniqueMappersNetwork #AFRIGIST #TomTom #SpatialMatrix #SciStarters #OSMNigeria #OSM #OSMWeekly

Cashless payments have increased dramatically lately, specially during COVID-19 main years. Still, paying in cash can be crucial as a resilience method (think internet, power, banking system outages).

The State of the Map Nigeria Conference was indeed a unique one. Packed with a lot of excitement. When I said it was fun I really mean it. All the guest speakers both online and in person did very well and I personally learnt a lot from the conference. The conference was held from 8th to 11st of October 2024.