Humanitarian Examples

This page attempts to list a range of cases where OpenStreetMap data has been used for humanitarian or development purposes.

This list is by no means comprehensive, please feel free to add any examples that you come across.

Humanitarian and Development Examples of OSM Data Use

Last updated 3 April 2023

OrganisationLocationDateHow OSM was usedLink
IFRCGlobal2017-01IFRC GO Aims to make all disaster information universally accessible and useful to IFRC responders for better decision making. Uses OSM as base map and 'Risk Watch' uses OSM building data to determine at risk populations.Platform
CrossCutGlobal2017-04Generate health catchment areas using OSM data.Website
MSFBurundi2021-04Malarial spraying in Burundi - updated building footprints allowed the field teams to go everywhere door-to-door and to verify that no habitation was forgotten.Blog
MetaGlobal2021-04Relative Wealth Index constructed using OSM for road density and "...satellites, mobile phone networks, social media, and other geospatial data. These “big” data sources are matched to the “traditional” survey data using geographic markers present in both datasets."Blog
VariousDRC2021-05Analysis of houses affected byt the Niragongo explosion in DRC using OSM data.Dashboard
AcademiaGlobal2021-09Research paper on the use of OSM during COVID-19.Paper
Resilience MappersUganda2021-09Mapping buildings and roads in informal settlements in Kampala for identifying treatment, immunization and evacuation sites in case of pandemics as well as identifying and cleaning up illegal waste dumpsites.Storymap
UNESCOMadagascar2021-11Mapping roads in Madagascar to advance educational microplanning.Blog
Nigerian Red Cross and British Red CrossNigeria2021-11Using OSM to digitize towns (buildings, schools, healthcare) in Nigeria for Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments.Medium post
Operation FitsulaMadagascar2021-12Mapping settlements in Madagascar to enable access for fistula treatment.Blog
NOSSASBrazil2022-03Mapping public services, safety, health and the social assistance network for women in Brazil.OSM Diary
MapMalawiMalawi2022-04Mapping Dzaleka refugee camp to highlight basic population needs.Medium post
SiPetaniDKIIndonesia2022-04OpenStreetMap used to share information about urban farming activities in Jakarta and distribute free plant seeds.Indonesian Article English Translation
HealthsitesSenegal2022-06COVIDaction - Mapping emergency health data in Saint Louis Senegal.Blog
Open Cities AfricaMali2022-06Raising awareness of flooding, collection and use of flood risk data in Bamako.Blog
MSFMadagascar2022-07South of Madagascar malnutrition crisis - data improved navigation and rural community reach for the MSF field teams, communities’ improved access to water, food, and health care.Video
YouthMappersMexico2022-07Mapping safe places for women in Mexico City.Blog
AKUT Search and Rescue Association and AFADTurkey2023-02OpenStreetMap data used to support rescue coordination in response to Turkey/Syria Earthquake.Tweet
World Bank Turkey 2023-02 Used OSM as an input for infrastructure modeling to give context to satellite-detected damage in Turkey in their report: Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE). Estimated $34.2 billion in direct physical damages. Report
MSF Turkey and Syria 2023-03 MSF used HeiGIT's openrouteservice to log 'avoid areas' and calculate routes in earthquake affected territory. Openrouteservice uses OpenStreetMap as a primary dataset. Blog
Türkiye Ministry of Health Turkey 2023-03 Surgeon Dr. Çevik shared a message on how Organic Maps and the OSM data that feeds it were essential for him and his colleagues to get to the people that needed medical attention and save lives in the Hattay region. YouTube video
Türkiye Ministry of Health Turkey 2023-03 Dr. Mehmet Faruk Uçum shared a message on how OSM data were used to support public health programming in the Kahramanmaraş tent city, where people are living after being displaced by the earthquakes. OSM map data were subsequently used by local authorities to support planning and infrastructure. YouTube video
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