Mapathon: Students draw maps that save lives!
20. February 2025On 18 February 2025, the Faculty of Logistics and Crisis Management organised the first Mapathon of the year in collaboration with Doctors Without Borders. Under the guidance of Jakub Trojan, MSc, PhD, students actively engaged in humanitarian cartography and contributed to better availability of geographic data in crisis areas.
The main goal of the Mapathon was to map residential areas in Chad, specifically in the Bahr El Ghazel region, where the lack of up-to-date geographic data makes it difficult to effectively provide humanitarian assistance. The findings of this activity will play a key role in the upcoming vaccination campaign against diphtheria, a serious disease that particularly threatens children and other vulnerable populations. These at-risk groups have a mortality rate of up to 20%, even though regular vaccination is an effective protection.
During the two-hour mapping exercise, the students managed to cover approximately 90% of the target area, equivalent to 30 km². This data will now undergo expert validation and will subsequently be used in the planning and coordination of humanitarian operations.
The Mapathon was met with great interest and positive feedback from the participants. The event not only broadened their awareness of humanitarian cartography, but also showed how modern technology and volunteer efforts can contribute to saving lives.