Missing Maps May Mapathon!

Throughout the month of May, Maptime chapters across the world are joining forces to host mapathons for a wonderful cause: Missing Maps (http://www.missingmaps.org/). MaptimeMileHigh, in partnership with OSM Colorado, will host our mapathon on Thursday, May 19th from 6-8pm at the CU Denver Auraria Campus. Map lovers of all skill-levels are encouraged to join the party.

About Missing Maps

Each year, disasters around the world kill nearly 100,000 and affect or displace 200 million people. Many of the places where these disasters occur are literally 'missing' from any map and first responders lack the information to make valuable decisions regarding relief efforts. Missing Maps is an open, collaborative project in which you can help to map areas where humanitarian organizations are trying to meet the needs of vulnerable people.

What's a Mapathon?

Mapathons bring people together to improve data in OpenStreetMap (http://www.openstreetmap.org/) together. Our mapathon will focus on key areas abroad, chosen by Missing Maps, that are in need to better data coverage in OSM to help humanitarian organizations prepare for disasters before them happen. We'll use the HOT Task Manager (http://tasks.hotosm.org/) to track our progress.

Our Focus: Fighting Malaria in Africa

We'll be focused on a task to fight malaria in Africa (http://tasks.hotosm.org/project/1489). Data created from this mapping effort will help Indoor Residual Spraying programs in Mozambique plan for the upcoming spray campaign. After the base map is completed by remote mappers, Peace Corps Volunteers in Zambezia Province will work with their Mozambican counterparts to complete Field Papers in key villages and towns and add local knowledge to OSM.

Do I need to know anything before I arrive?

Nope! Mike Thompson of OSM Colorado will offer an introduction to editing OSM and using the Task Manager. Then we'll help each other figure it out. Even if you add just one road to OSM, you can make a difference! The more you know ahead of time, the more you can contribute. You can check out these video tutorials (http://www.missingmaps.org/contribute/) to ahead of time to hit the ground running.

What should I bring?

All you need is a laptop and a positive attitude. We'll bring pizza and refreshments to keep you going! Also, we hope you'll join us afterwards for a celebratory beer at the nearby Tivoli student center.

Parking

There are a number of reasonable paid parking options on campus that you can explore with this map: http://www.ahec.edu/files/general/Parking-Map.pdf

Redwood Lot is closest to our building – North (NC) – and is $2 per hour. Tivoli lot is also a popular option and pretty close.