On October 27, 2023, our YouthMappers Mapathon event took place at the Geography Building, Geo 2-3, from 14:00 to 17:00. The objective was to familiarize participants with the mapping process, with a specific emphasis on creating Tasking Manager projects on the OpenStreetMap online platform. We were fortunate to have Mr Dewald Jansen van Vuuren and Mr Daniel Jooste from TomTom lead us through the Tasking Manager US.

During the event, participants engaged in two key activities. Firstly, Dewald provided a comprehensive tutorial on setting up a Tasking Manager project, a crucial step in effectively organizing our mapping efforts. Secondly, the task for students was to map buildings, gaining valuable insights into contributing to data improvement.

The Mapathon yielded significant achievements. Participants deepened their understanding of mapping techniques, gained hands-on experience with editing platforms, and experienced enhanced collaboration and teamwork in the pursuit of improving data about buildings in Gauteng.

Looking ahead, we plan to host more Mapathon events, workshops, and information sessions, further refining existing geospatial data in the region, engaging with the local communities, and contributing to projects with meaningful impacts on navigation and location-based services.

We extend our sincere thanks to Dewald and Daniel from TomTom for their invaluable guidance and expertise. Additionally, we are grateful to the Department of Geography, Geoinformatics, and Meteorology for providing snacks, and to Daniel and Dewald for generously supplying water and additional snacks for the students.

The October 27, 2023 Mapathon was a fruitful and educational session, leaving participants with enhanced mapping skills and a deeper appreciation for the importance of quality geospatial data. We eagerly anticipate more such events and remain dedicated to contributing positively to geospatial data production in our country.