UNESCO and partners hold ‘mapathon’ to identify buildings vulnerable to climate change in Dominican Republic

On 20 June 2024, UNESCO's Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) and its partners held a virtual mapathon which brought together over 150 participants from Paris, Delft, Antwerp, Ghent and elsewhereto map buildings in Small Island Developing States, which are particularly vulnerable to climate change.

Participants mapped the buildings in the Monte Cristi West zone of the Dominican Republic. The use of the Hot Task Manager platform facilitated this process, as did the support of the collective known as Missing Maps. More than 5,500 buildings have now been mapped in the target area of the Dominican Republic.

The event was organized by UNESCO IHP, the International Institute for Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering-IHE Delft in the Netherlands, Antea Group Belgium and the Red Cross as a contribution to improving the world map of areas vulnerable to climate change.

By identifying the locations of buildings, roads, water sources, health facilities and other essential infrastructure, this type of mapping exercise helps governments and aid organizations like the Red Cross to provide vital services in emergencies. It can also support Small Island Developing States' long-term strategies for climate adaptation and sustainable development.

The mapathon supported key objectives of UNESCO's Operational Strategy for SIDS 2023-2029. It also aligned with the principles of the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, which aims to make scientific knowledge openly available, accessible and reusable.