📅 Date: November 30th - December 1st, 2024
🌍 Location: Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
🏷️ Hashtags: #SotM2024 #OMGuru #YouthMappers #EasternUniversity #OSM #MappingForChange #GeospatialRevolution
🌍 𝔸 𝕁𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕖𝕪 𝕠𝕗 𝕀𝕟𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟, ℂ𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕟𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟
The…
𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆, 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆, 𝑰𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒆: 𝑴𝒚 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑱𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒕 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒑 𝑨𝒔𝒊𝒂 2024

Greetings, fellow mappers! I am thrilled to share my journey as an Open Mapping Guru Validation Fellow. This fellowship, organized by the Open Mapping Hub Asia-Pacific, has been an enriching experience filled with learning, collaboration, and significant contributions to the OpenStreetMap (OSM) community.

My OSM Journey From Beginner to Advanced Mapper

My journey with OpenStreetMap began back in December 2021 during a training organized by the Geomatics Engineering Students’ Association of Nepal (GESAN). The collaborative spirit of OSM and its mission to create free, up-to-date maps for everyone instantly captivated me. Unlike other mapping services, OSM is a community-driven platform that offers unrestricted use, much like Wikipedia. Till then, I’ve started mapping my way around different parts of Nepal and have since expanded my efforts to encompass the global landscape. Over time, I became an active mapper, regularly contributing to the platform. The more I mapped, the more I realized the importance of accurate and up-to-date data, which led me to the Open Mapping Guru Fellowship. Last December, I learned about the Open Mapping Hub AP’s OMGuru Fellowship from a fellow colleague and luckly I got selected for the Validation track. It’s been an incredible journey so far, and I am thrilled to have made a significant and tangible impact on the broader OSM community.

Becoming a Validation Fellow

In early 2024, I enrolled in the Guru Program of the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) and learned about the OM Guru Fellowship. Intrigued by the Validation track, I applied and was fortunate to be selected. The Validation track focuses on ensuring the accuracy and reliability of map data, which is crucial for disaster response, humanitarian efforts, and other vital uses. The sense of purpose that comes from knowing my work helps create dependable maps for these causes has been deeply fulfilling.

Fellowship Experience

The OM Guru Fellowship was a transformative journey. I learned to use powerful validation tools such as OSMCha, Osmose, OSM Inspector and MapRoulette. These tools helped me conduct thorough quality checks and address errors precisely. Each task presented new challenges, keeping me engaged and continuously improving my skills as a validator. One of the most rewarding aspects of the fellowship was the collaborative environment. Working alongside other passionate mappers and validators from around the world was inspiring. The guidance and support from mentors like Mikko, Dinar, and Honey were invaluable, helping me navigate challenges and grow as a mapper.

Learnings and Achievements

The fellowship reinforced the power of collaboration in open mapping. Every validation task and discussion highlighted the collective effort needed to create high-quality maps. It’s humbling to be part of a global network of dedicated individuals working towards the same goal—an accurate and accessible map for everyone. My most significant achievement during the fellowship was improving the reliability and trustworthiness of OpenStreetMap. Every error I corrected and every validated data point contributes to making OSM a valuable tool for communities in need. This journey has taught me the importance of attention to detail, patience, and continuous learning.

Impact and Future Directions

The fellowship has had a profound impact on my perspective on open mapping. The skills I gained in problem-solving and critical thinking will be invaluable as I continue my mapping journey. Moreover, the fellowship opened doors to future collaborations with OSM communities worldwide. The connections I made and the knowledge I gained will help foster a more inclusive and comprehensive mapping community.

Lastly, this Fellowship has been an incredible experience, and I am deeply grateful to the Open Mapping Hub Asia-Pacific team for this opportunity. As I continue my journey with OSM, I am committed to using my validation skills to support communities and contribute to a more resilient future for all. This is just the beginning of my story with OpenStreetMap. Happy mapping!

Tags: #OpenMapping #ValidationFellow #HumanitarianMapping #OSM #OpenMappingGuruFellowship #OpenStreetMap #HOT #OMHAP #OMGuru #OSMNepal #GESAN #YouthMappers
Ashim Paudel's Diary | My OMGuru Fellowship Journey Under Validation Track

Introduction

Hello, fellow mappers! I’m excited to share my experiences as a part of the Open Mapping Guru Fellowship program for 2024. This journey has been an amazing mix of learning, challenges, and making a real impact in the world of open mapping.

From OSM Beginner to Validation Fellow

My OpenStreetMap (OSM) journey began in October 2021 during a training organized by the Geomatics Engineering Students’ Association of Nepal (GESAN). I was immediately drawn to the collaborative nature of OSM and its ability to create free, up-to-date maps for everyone. I wanted to do more than just make edits. That’s when I found out about the OM Guru Fellowship, which has tracks for Mapping, Training, and Validation. The Validation track really interested me, and I was lucky to be selected for it. Knowing that my work helps create reliable maps for disaster response, humanitarian efforts, and other important uses gives me a strong sense of purpose. It feels good to know that behind every useful map, there are contributors working hard to make sure it’s right.

Fellowship Experience:

Being a part of OM Guru Fellowship was more than just learning new skills; it was a transformative experience. The fellowship made me think critically about data quality and gave me more knowledge of powerful validation tools. From OSMCha and Osmose for thorough quality checks to MapRoulette for fun task completion, I learned to find and fix errors precisely. Each task was a new challenge, keeping me engaged and helping me improve as a validator.

My Learnings:

The biggest lesson I learned from the fellowship is the power of collaboration in open mapping. Every validation task, every discussion and every challenge shows the collective effort that goes into creating high-quality maps. It’s humbling to be part of this global network of passionate individuals, all working towards the same goal – a more accurate and accessible map for everyone.

My Achievement

My biggest achievement through this fellowship is knowing that my validation efforts have made OpenStreetMap more reliable and trustworthy. Every error I fixed and every improved highway crossing is a step towards making these maps valuable tools for communities in need. This journey with the OM Guru Fellowship has been incredible. I’m very grateful to the entire team at Open Mapping Hub Asia-Pacific, especially Mikko and Dinar, for their guidance and support. As I continue my mapping journey, I’m committed to using my validation skills to help communities and contribute to a more resilient future for all. This is just the beginning of my OSM story. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Happy mapping!

Tags: #OpenMapping #DataValidation #HumanitarianMapping #OSM #MappingGuruFellowship #OpenStreetMap #GESAN #OMHAP #OMGuru
AayushChand123's Diary | My OSM Guru Fellowship Journey: Validating the Maps That Matter | OpenStreetMap

Introduction

Hey, I am Mohammad Azharul Islam, an OMGuru fellow from the OMGuru Fellowship Program. During my tenure as a fellow in the validation track of the OMGuru Fellowship, I refined my abilities to assess and verify the precision of data.

Challenges and Responsibilities

As a fellow within the OMGuru Fellowship Program’s validation track, I refined my abilities to assess and verify data precision. This experience allowed me to: i. It had precise validation procedures which were designed and executed to evaluate the quality and consistency of the data. ii. Analyzing and identifying discrepancies within datasets, ensuring their accuracy and adherence to established standards. iii. Collaboration with the OMGuru’s to learn precise validation process and resolve inconsistencies. iv. Had to communicate with the data providers and stakeholders regarding data quality issues and solutions to the problems.

Challenges and Learnings

Participating in data validation proved to be a challenging yet fulfilling endeavor. The complex process required a thorough examination of each structure, road, and even street view, which was not consistently available. Obstructed elements such as the overcast sky or dense foliage further hindered the operation. During these obstacles, I refined my problem-solving abilities and gained vital insights at each stage.

Acknowledgment

During the whole journey, all the GURUs were very supportive and positive. I want to mention about Mikko, Dinar, and Melai, with whom I have interacted directly and they are very generous people I have met. And also the GURUs around the region.

Finally, thanks to OpenMappingHub Asia Pacific and HOT for the opportunity. It’s encouraging for the community and the mappers around our region. I wish for the betterment of our region.

#OMGuru #HOT #OSMBD #youthmappersatbsmrmu #youthmappers #APHub #openmappinghubasiapacific
Mohammad Azharul Islam MSc in Oceanography, BSMRMU
Azharul Islam Anik's Diary | My Experience with OMGuru Fellowship program | OpenStreetMap