Mapping a fairer future: The open-source movement that's mobilising for climate resilience

Huge swathes of the planet barely appear on commercial maps, leaving open-source maps – built and updated by volunteers around the world – to fill in the gaps. Now, the nonprofit Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team wants to get the software and knowhow to would-be mappers everywhere, so they can better prepare for and respond to climate-related disasters – and make a living by deploying their new skills.

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Nakuru, a city in the Rift Valley region of Kenya, is growing fast. Its population is around half a million people and is expected to surpass 1m residents by 2030. Around 35% of the population lives in informal settlements.

An extinct volcano, the Menengai Crater, sits to the city’s north, while to the south is Lake Nakuru. Both these geological features are linked to disaster risks, such as landslides and frequent flooding.

In 2022 HOT used funding from Microsoft to launch the Satellite Imagery for Social Good project in Nakuru. Using satellite imagery, AI-assisted mapping and on-the-ground participatory mapping, HOT helped city planners assess Nakuru’s drainage systems.

The geospatial data gathered by HOT showed the urgent need for a better drainage system to reduce the damage and displacement of residents caused by floods. Nakuru city authorities used that data to secure funding from the World Bank to improve infrastructure in informal settlements.

Now, HOT is supporting Nakuru city authorities to decongest the city. This includes mapping for traffic management and identifying suitable locations for creating green spaces, among other urban planning strategies.

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