LexisNexis Holds a Mapathon Event
**LexisNexis Risk Solutions Maps Over 30,000 Buildings for Humanitarian Efforts**
In a commendable display of corporate social responsibility, the LexisNexis Risk Solutions team has once again taken part in the Mapathon, a global initiative aimed at mapping vulnerable regions using satellite imagery and other tools. This year, the volunteers focused on the N'Djamena region of Chad, a location that has been experiencing severe annual flooding since 2020, causing significant damage and displacing thousands of families.
The Mapathon, now in its seventh year, is an annual event organised by LexisNexis Risk Solutions as part of its global community program, LexisNexis Risk Solutions Cares. The initiative encourages employee volunteering and giving, and is open to all employees, regardless of mapping experience. The event took place in the Dublin office, with 15 to 30 volunteers from the organisation participating.
The primary purpose of the Mapathon is twofold: to provide humanitarian support and to foster employee engagement. By mapping these areas before disasters strike, the initiative helps humanitarian organisations such as Médecins Sans Frontières access detailed, up-to-date geographical information, which is crucial for planning and delivering relief to those most in need.
The volunteers used satellite images to trace roads, buildings, and other features into OpenStreetMap, a free, editable world map. Local community members are adding further details, such as street names and landmarks, to ensure the maps are as accurate and useful as possible. The resulting maps are used by aid organisations to navigate and deliver assistance more effectively during crises.
Over the years, LexisNexis Risk Solutions has contributed over 30,000 mapped buildings through its Mapathon initiatives, providing significant support to humanitarian efforts. These maps help reduce the risks faced by vulnerable communities and improve the effectiveness of disaster response, ensuring that help reaches those in need as quickly and accurately as possible.
The Mapathon is just one example of LexisNexis Risk Solutions' commitment to making a positive impact on the world. The company's participation in the Mapathon forms part of LexisNexis Risk Solutions Cares, a global program that encourages employees to engage in meaningful, community-driven activities that align with the company’s mission to reduce risk and improve decision-making.
[1] Missing Maps: https://www.missingmaps.org/ [2] LexisNexis Risk Solutions Cares: https://www.lexisnexisrisk.com/en-us/about/responsibility/community-engagement.page [4] LexisNexis Risk Solutions: https://www.lexisnexisrisk.com/en-us/home.page
*Heikki Vesanto, GIS manager, insurance, at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, has led the annual Mapathon for the past four years.*
*The number of buildings mapped during this specific Mapathon event is not provided.*
*The Missing Maps project aims to change that - one map at a time.*
*Humanitarian organisations are using the maps to plan and execute relief efforts.*
*Remote volunteers are tracing satellite imagery into OpenStreetMap.*
*The maps created during the Mapathon have not been mentioned to aid the work of any specific humanitarian organisation.*
*New mappers are guided through a simple learning process, making it easy to contribute in just an afternoon.*
*The participation in the Mapathon is not linked to any recent natural disaster in a specific region.*
*Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, storms, and droughts, result in approximately 100,000 deaths each year and over 200 million people experience displacement, loss of livelihoods, or other forms of hardship.*
- Despite not participating in the Mapathon event this year, LexisNexis Risk Solutions' technology expertise in data-and-cloud-computing could potentially aid humanitarian organizations in analyzing and utilizing the vast amount of data generated during the mapping process.
- The knowledge and skills gained from participating in the Mapathon's education-and-self-development component, such as learning how to use satellite imagery and OpenStreetMap, could be applicable to participants' general-news roles, enabling them to better interpret and report on environmental events and disasters.
- As part of its continuous efforts to enhance its underwriting processes, LexisNexis Risk Solutions could leverage the detailed geographical information and maps generated during the Mapathon to better analyze and assess risks associated with natural disasters in vulnerable regions, ultimately leading to more accurate and effective risk mitigation strategies.
