OpenStreetMap Basic Training at Satu Dunia

OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a collaborative project to create a free map where everyone can contribute and edit. The advantages of OSM besides it is easy to be used, the map can also be used and exploited by various organizations, even for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). Unfortunately not many CSOs are already able to use this freely available tools. Most of them still think that to use OSM requires the IT knowledge and high IT skill. Whereas OSM can be used to support their works such as to create distribution map of cases that they handle.

Based on the above background, on December 5th, 2013, Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) again had the opportunity to provide training to civil society organizations. This second training in December was held by Satu Dunia in collaboration with HOT and took place at Satu Dunia’s Office. The participants were activists from several CSOs, they are from JATAMKNCVPamfletPNPM MandiriKOPELLatin BogorTerangi, and HuMa.

The materials provided during training were mostly similar as the materials in OpenStreetMap Basic Training for Civil Society Organization on December 3rd, 2013. Although there only 9 participants, but the training went very well and they were very enthusiastic in doing it. It start with the concept of map digitization, where the participants were asked to draw maps of their area on a piece of paper and then they will learn how to convert these maps into digital format. It is then continued with the introduction of OpenStreetMap.

(atas) Pengenalan OpenStreetMap. (kiri bawah) Peserta menggambar peta derah masih-masing di selembar kertas, (kanan bawah) Salah satu hasil peta yang digambar.

(top) The introduction of OpenStreetMap. (bottom left) Participants drew maps of their respective areas on a piece of paper, (bottom right) One of the results drawn maps.

The weather during the day was very sunny, thus make it possible to do the field survey practice to collect data using GPS and Fieldpapers for ± 1 hour.  Some of the participants are already accustomed to using GPS even one of them use the GPS application for smartphone, namely OruxMaps. Besides collecting data, participants also did  validation such as correcting the name of the street where the street name on the OSM map is still wrong.

(atas) Mengumpulkan data dengan GPS. (bawah) Contoh pengumpulan data dengan Fieldpapers

(top) Collecting data with GPS. (bottom) Example of collecting data with Fieldpapers.

After survey, the data that has been collected can be inputted and changed on OpenStreetMap website using iD Editor. Most of mapped objects were object which exist along Jalan Tebet Utara, there are many distribution outlets and eating places.

(kanan) Input data survei. (kiri) Hasil dari input data yang dilakukan peserta

(right) Input survey data. (left) Results of data input by the participants.

At the end of the training session, several participants asked how they can use OSM to map the distribution of social cases that they handled. Then we gave examples that they can use a hosted crowdmap service like Crowdmap or a web-based Geographical Information Systems (GIS) like GIS Cloud to display the case distribution data. In Crowdmap, users can share not only location, but also share photos, videos and even stories related to the case.

One more question from the participant is what if the data they collected is private, or only their organizations who can access it. To store private data, HOT provides Separate Data Store (SDS) facility. SDS allows you to upload / input your private data that will stored separately in server HOT datastore where only certain people or organizations who can access it, while the public data will be stored in OpenStreetMap database so that it can be accessed by everyone.

You can download the module and training presentations here: Module & Slide Presentation.