Mapillary mapathon

Holding a Mapillary mapathon is in many ways like holding any other mapathon. The only difference is that your primary data source will be Mapillary images as opposed to satellite imagery or field papers. Here are some tips that will help you hold a fun and useful Mapillary mapathon.

1. Choose an area that you would like to map and check the current level of coverage. If it's local, a photo walk is a great way to quickly improve coverage (see our notes on holding a photo walk).
2. Determine a focus for your mapathon. Having two or three objects for the group to focus on will be more efficient as editors will become speedier at adding similar types of information to the map. Examples include building heights, shop info, cycleways, and fire hydrants. Balance the importance of the information with the competence of attendees.
3. Promote the event. Meetup is a good platform to do so but does have costs involved, see if you can get a sponsor (wink wink). The OpenStreetMap wiki is also a good place to share upcoming events. Send us links to whatever platform you decide to use so that we can help promote your event on social media (Twitter and Facebook).
4. Try to estimate the competence of attendees so that you can tailor instructional material accordingly. Our slides are just a guide and targeted towards OpenStreetMap beginners so it’s best to adjust them with your own content.
5. Hold the event. Here are some things to help the day go smoothly:
• Venue - libraries, coworking spaces, company offices and universities all have good meeting spaces for such events.
• Equipment - remind everyone to bring their laptops. And then remind them again. Alternatively, hold the event in a computer lab.
• Food - if you get funds together from a sponsor or small donations from members, arrange some food and drinks for the mapathon. It helps to keep people focused.
• Support - having other attendees with experience in Mapillary and OpenStreetMap will mean that you can provide more support to the newcomers.