Un Mapatón para Recordar con YouthMappers UNA y TU Munich

Agradecimiento: Esta publicación se retrasó y podría contener información desactualizada. Agradecemos su comprensión.

El 22 de julio, YouthMappers UNA participó como colaborador en un Mapatón organizado por el capítulo de YouthMappers en TU Munich, junto con Geoawesome, la Cruz Roja Alemana y Runder Tisch E.V. Este evento se centró en mapear regiones vulnerables, con la colaboración especial de Isabel Klipper, de la Cruz Roja Alemana, quien proporcionó capacitación en mapeo humanitario. Contó con la participación de 25 personas, de las cuales 21 asistieron presencialmente.

En este Mapatón, YouthMappers UNA compartió su experiencia en proyectos clave, como la cartografía de zonas propensas a inundaciones en Paraguay. Destacamos cómo OpenStreetMap ha sido una herramienta fundamental para crear mapas detallados que apoyan la planificación de evacuaciones y la gestión de recursos durante emergencias. También presentamos proyectos como el "Atlas Urbano Paraguay (AUPy)" y el "Study of Microfilling, Urban Fabric and Dump Site, Asunción, Paraguay", que utilizan fotomapeo y creación de mapas temáticos.

Esta actividad se centró en mapear ciudades seleccionadas debido a su vulnerabilidad a desastres naturales. La información recopilada será crucial para que las organizaciones locales mejoren sus estrategias de preparación y respuesta ante emergencias, proporcionando una protección más efectiva a las comunidades. Además, se realizó un concurso de mapeo, premiando a los mejores mapeadores.

El Mapatón con TU Munich fue una experiencia enriquecedora para YouthMappers UNA, reforzando nuestra conexión con la red internacional de YouthMappers. El evento resaltó la importancia del mapeo colaborativo y el uso de OpenStreetMap para proyectos humanitarios y de desarrollo urbano. En adelante, consideramos la posibilidad de futuras actividades conjuntas. Agradecemos a TU Munich y a todos los participantes por su apoyo y colaboración.

¡Mantente atento a más actualizaciones y únete a nosotros en nuestro camino de mapear por un mundo mejor!

About the Authors

Paula Villar is an architecture student set to graduate in February 2025 and president of the YouthMappers chapter at the National University of Asunción (YouthMappers UNA). As a fellow of the YouthMappers Leadership Fellowship 2024, she participated in a program in Thailand, where she enhanced her skills in geospatial data analysis and collaborative leadership.

For her Final Degree Project, she worked on the Urban Atlas Paraguay (AUPy) project at CIDi FADA-UNA, contributing to the mapping of key municipalities such as Juan León Mallorquín, Yguazú, and Ypejhú-Paranhos. She used tools like OpenStreetMap and QGIS to generate accurate geospatial data essential for territorial development strategies. She also developed the Guide for the Creation of a Geospatial Information Management Platform to optimize geospatial data management in urban and community projects.

She has been a speaker at the XIX Pan-American Course on Voluntary Geographic Information (VGI) in Ecuador and has trained students and volunteers in collaborative mapping and open-source technologies.

José Arce is an architect in training with a strong background in the use of geospatial tools and the management of projects related to territorial development. He currently serves as Vice President of the YouthMappers UNA Paraguay chapter, which is part of the Research, Development, and Innovation Center (CIDi) at the Faculty of Architecture, Design, and Art of the National University of Asunción (FADA-UNA).

Since joining the chapter in September 2022, José has led a variety of projects and fieldwork activities, training students, technicians, and municipal officials in FOSS tools, such as OpenStreetMap (OSM), JOSM, Mapillary, and QGIS. He has actively promoted the use of open-source software to improve the management and accessibility of geospatial data in Paraguay. His work has been instrumental in projects such as the Urban Atlas Paraguay (AUPy) and the development of the Sustainable Multipurpose Cadastre Guide for Municipalities in Paraguay, initiatives aimed at addressing the scarcity of cartographic data in the country and promoting sustainable territorial development.

As a member of YouthMappers, he was a recipient of the 2024 Leadership Fellowship, where he enhanced his skills in digital cartography, risk management, and leadership. Through this fellowship, he established networks of collaboration with chapters from different parts of the world and fostered inter-institutional agreements. This platform allows José Arce to advance his professional vision, which combines his architectural training with a multidisciplinary approach, guided by the premise that sustainable urban and territorial development can only be achieved through cooperation, access to open technologies, and active community participation.