Mapping Saves Lives

When MSF teams arrive in a disaster-stricken area, they face many challenges. One of the difficulties that people don’t think about is the lack of maps showing relevant information, such as roads, sources of drinking water, or important buildings. However, to provide an appropriate and effective response, MSF teams need accurate maps.

The mapathons organized by MSF offer a unique opportunity to support our teams working on humanitarian and medical projects without leaving Luxembourg. These participatory mapping workshops allow volunteers to trace roads, waterways, and building outlines on satellite images.

The maps created in this way are essential for logistics planning, decision-making, and the coordination of operations, particularly in areas affected by disasters.

Missing Maps brings together a large community of volunteers around the world who use OpenStreetMap, an open and free geographic database collectively built by these volunteers, with validation and quality control procedures. We start with an aerial photograph or satellite image and draw buildings, waterways, land use—anything we want to map. Once an object has been vectorized, we can enter its detailed attributes («commercial area,» «village,» «paved road,» etc.).

By mapping areas that are often overlooked by traditional maps, Missing Maps volunteers provide crucial information that helps humanitarian organizations plan and carry out their responses more effectively and quickly.

Participating in a mapathon is not only a way to help MSF, but also an opportunity to develop new skills and raise awareness of social and environmental issues. In addition to their direct impact on MSF’s operations, these events offer a friendly atmosphere and hands-on learning opportunities in the fields of mapping and data analysis.

On site, a team of volunteers and MSF staff members will be there to assist you through every step of the mapping process and answer your questions.

We recommend that participants be at least 15 years old to take part in a mapathon. Mapathons can be held in French or English.