Our work

The OpenStreetMap Community was selected to be beneficiaries for the 2020 Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team Micro grant 

The project is to sustainably revive and expand the community in order to make it capable of executing sustainable development projects. 

The goals of this project include the procurement of computers, internet gadgets, training of existing and new youth mappers and secure an MOU for a permanent space to conduct Mapathons  

In partnership with YouthMappers, Arizona State University researchers, Mapillary and other collaborators, is mapping key spatial features to accelerate the design and installation of mini-grids in rural Sierra Leone. The project focuses on mapping settlement patterns, road networks, and existing electrical infrastructure to address limited and unreliable electricity access in rural areas. Using street-level imagery and OpenStreetMap contributions, the team identifies utility poles and distribution networks to inform mini-grid feasibility studies. This approach not only speeds up electrification but also supports equitable energy access, contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 of affordable and clean energy for all. By providing reliable power, especially through renewable mini-grids, the initiative empowers women and girls, boosts local economies, and enhances healthcare and communication services in remote communities. 

In order to keep our community active while collaborating with institutions that make use of openstreetmap data, we implemented the Mwalai micro grant. This enabled us to collaborate and form partnership with humanitarian organizations and government institutions in Sierra Leone. 

Our project was successfully implemented, and we achieved our objectives. We established relationships with the Bo Innovation Hub in Bo and the STEM Garage in Kenema, both key institutions in the tech space that are essential for future collaborations.

In the second phase, we mapped one of the largest informal settlements in Freetown, Cockle Bay. We utilized tools developed by HOT, including the Drone Tasking Manager, fAIr, the Field Tasking Manager, and OpenAerialMap. During the campaign, we trained three community members to use Vespucci OSM, SWMaps, and field navigation tools. The mapping covered all buildings, schools, places of worship, roads, drainages, toilets/restrooms, and poles within the community. 

Our project was successfully implemented, and we achieved our objectives. We established relationships with the Bo Innovation Hub in Bo and the STEM Garage in Kenema, both key institutions in the tech space that are essential for future collaborations.

In the second phase, we mapped one of the largest informal settlements in Freetown, Cockle Bay. We utilized tools developed by HOT, including the Drone Tasking Manager, fAIr, the Field Tasking Manager, and OpenAerialMap. During the campaign, we trained three community members to use Vespucci OSM, SWMaps, and field navigation tools. The mapping covered all buildings, schools, places of worship, roads, drainages, toilets/restrooms, and poles within the community.