Explore how OpenStreetMap supports learning, academic research, and innovation—empowering students, educators, and researchers with open geospatial data.
In classrooms, laboratories, and research institutions worldwide, accurate geospatial data is essential for analysis, experimentation, and problem-solving. OpenStreetMap provides freely accessible, community-driven map data that supports academic projects, spatial analysis, environmental studies, urban planning research, and innovative geospatial applications. It enables learners and researchers to contribute, collaborate, and build real-world solutions using open data.
The Disastermappers Heidelberg, hosted at Heidelberg University's GIScience Research Group, trains geography students in OSM-based humanitarian mapping for disaster preparedness and relief. The group organizes regular mapathons, contributes to Missing Maps, and conducts science-driven research on identifying poorly mapped vulnerable regions, embedding open mapping directly into university geoscience education.
Missing Maps published a 2022 guide on how universities and research institutions can go beyond hosting mapathons to build deeper collaborations with humanitarian organizations using OSM. It highlights how academic research into OSM contributor behavior, data quality, and community engagement has directly improved humanitarian mapping workflows and outcomes for organizations like HOT and MSF.
Central European University's GeoHub hosted a 2022 hybrid Missing Maps mapathon for International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, gathering nearly 60 students and academics from CEU Vienna and AUCA Bishkek alongside online OSUN members. Participants received OSM training from a University of Maryland instructor and mapped vulnerable communities in the Dominican Republic, integrating disaster risk education with hands-on OSM contribution.
YouthMappers chapters in Sri Lanka used OpenStreetMap workshops, curriculum integration, a mapping helpdesk, and a research unit to advance climate education. The project strengthened student capacity for open mapping, climate activism, disaster awareness, and locally relevant geospatial research at Eastern University and partner communities nationwide through collaboration and public service.
Founded in 2022, the YouthMappers chapter at Technical University of Munich organized a 2024 mapathon in response to the Turkey-Syria earthquake, partnering with the German Red Cross and Geoawesome. In a single session, 25 contributors produced 1,312 map edits and 1,198 building footprints for at-risk regions in Paraguay, demonstrating how university chapters build student OSM capacity for real-world disaster response.
Youth Mappers network, a global student mapping movement using OpenStreetMap to support international development projects. University students from places like the U.S. and Bangladesh collaborate to create basemaps of under-mapped regions. These maps are used by USAID for planning food security, disease prevention, disaster response, and more, while students gain GIS and real-world problem-solving experience.
University of Malawi YouthMappers partnered with World Bicycle Relief on the Bicycles for Growth project to improve rural mobility. Students mapped local bicycle infrastructure in Zomba district – logging bike shops, repair centers, and commonly used village pathways on OpenStreetMap.
TeachOSM provides curriculum modules that enable teachers to incorporate OpenStreetMap into geography classes. AP Human Geography students participate in “mapathon” projects that tie into their coursework one class mapped farm-to-market roads in Guatemala on OSM to learn about rural economies.
The Red Cross initiative invited volunteers to contribute to OpenStreetMap from home to help humanitarian response. Through the Missing Maps project, volunteers used OSM’s Tasking Manager to trace buildings and roads in under-mapped regions, improving disaster preparedness, vaccine campaigns, and emergency planning by providing open geographic data to responders.
You don't need a cape or a degree to save lives—just a mouse and a little heart .❤️
Help map areas in crisis and support real-time response.
Step-by-step guides for beginner to expert.
Support mapping for disaster response worldwide.