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Open geospatial tools for humanitarian data creation, analysis, and learning through the global lens of YouthMappers

Author

Listed:
  • Patricia Solís

    (Arizona State University)

  • Jennings Anderson

    (University of Colorado Boulder)

  • Sushil Rajagopalan

    (Arizona State University)

Abstract

OpenStreetMap (OSM), often thought of as a technological tool or platform, can be envisioned as a community of communities and informed by a broad understanding of geographical systems. In this article, we explore the community of university students known as YouthMappers, who utilize OSM and related tools for humanitarian data creation, analysis and learning. Students approach OSM simultaneously as aspiring members of the workforce in a global digital economy and as emerging world citizens of a global society. Established in 2014, YouthMappers is a campus-based consortium of more than 200 chapters in approximately 50 countries that networks and supports engagement in humanitarian data with practitioners, government agencies, and other actors. Open geospatial data are contributed to authentic campaigns through OpenStreetMap and an ecosystem of open source and proprietary tools. A 2019 survey of YouthMappers and an analysis of YouthMappers data contributions allow us to explore the following questions: Who are using open geospatial tools, and in what context? Which open geospatial tools are being used and where? How proficient are they as users? How confident do they feel? How prepared does this make them for the future? How do these patterns vary across the global digital divide? Results show evidence of mapping both locally and globally. They also reveal a gendered confidence gap, and tool use patterns hint at a gendered division of geospatial labor in some global contexts. Internships are key to unlocking job opportunities, and are prevalent among YouthMappers members. Findings also reveal that with growing self-reported proficiency, a commitment to the ethic of being a good global citizen increases, underscoring the potential promise for open geospatial tools to support not only workforce capacity, but also meaningful connections to learning about geography, place, people, and the world.

Suggested Citation

  • Patricia Solís & Jennings Anderson & Sushil Rajagopalan, 2021. "Open geospatial tools for humanitarian data creation, analysis, and learning through the global lens of YouthMappers," Journal of Geographical Systems, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 599-625, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:jgeosy:v:23:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s10109-020-00339-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10109-020-00339-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Linda See & Cidália Costa Fonte & Vyron Antoniou & Marco Minghini, 2019. "Volunteered geographic information: looking towards the next 10 years," Journal of Geographical Systems, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-3, March.
    2. José-Pablo Gómez-Barrón & Miguel-Ángel Manso-Callejo & Ramón Alcarria, 2019. "Needs, drivers, participants and engagement actions: a framework for motivating contributions to volunteered geographic information systems," Journal of Geographical Systems, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 5-41, March.
    3. Billy Tusker Haworth, 2018. "Implications of Volunteered Geographic Information for Disaster Management and GIScience: A More Complex World of Volunteered Geography," Annals of the American Association of Geographers, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 108(1), pages 226-240, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Colin Ferster & Trisalyn Nelson & Kevin Manaugh & Jeneva Beairsto & Karen Laberee & Meghan Winters, 2023. "Developing a national dataset of bicycle infrastructure for Canada using open data sources," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 50(9), pages 2543-2559, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    OpenStreetMap; Humanitarian mapping; Geospatial workforce; Digital divide; Gender; Global south;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education
    • O0 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - General
    • J49 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Other

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