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Openstreetmap - Sierra Leone

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We have the mission of creating and using open data to address environmental and socioeconomic challenges and capacitating individuals and institutions with relevant geospatial skills.

29/04/2026

Waterloo Drone Mapping
Overview
The Waterloo Drone Mapping Initiative is a strategic program in Sierra Leone designed to generate high-resolution aerial imagery while building a self-sustaining network of local drone experts. By producing data with a precision of up to 5cm resolution, the project provides critical insights for the Office of National Security (ONS) and the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA). These outputs are essential for enhancing security coordination, disaster management strategies, and both urban and rural development projects led by organizations like CODOHSAPA.

A defining feature of this initiative is its emphasis on national autonomy and inter-agency collaboration. Modeled after the Freetown Drone Mapping campaign but operating without direct on-the-ground international assistance, the project successfully established formal legal frameworks through the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority. To ensure long-term impact, the ONS recruited personnel from the Sierra Leone Police and Air Force, while OpenStreetMap Sierra Leone provided rigorous technical and safety training to transform these recruits into skilled pilots and image processors.

Beyond data collection, the initiative serves as a high-tech showcase for advanced geospatial tools, software. These capabilities were demonstrated to international partners, including JICA and Aero Toyota, highlighting the project's sophisticated approach to remote mapping. By engaging with the Western Area District Council and local stakeholders, the initiative ensures that technological advancement directly translates into tangible benefits for the community’s infrastructure and safety.

22/04/2026

The Freetown City Regeneration Project is a collaborative initiative between OpenStreetMap Sierra Leone, the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT), and the Freetown City Council (FCC) to digitize the city’s Central Business District. By leveraging high-resolution drone imagery and open-source mapping technologies, the project successfully created a comprehensive geospatial database. This resource was designed to bridge critical data gaps in urban planning, revenue generation, and environmental management, providing the city with a reliable foundation for informed decision-making.

The project’s technical ex*****on involved a three-month field operation featuring 25 trained mappers from the council and local communities. This team utilized an advanced, integrated tech stack to document over 4,300 buildings, 1,800 commercial entities, and nearly 200 kilometers of road and drainage networks. Notably, the initiative served as a pilot for integrating mobile mapping tools with task management software, capturing thousands of street-level images to provide a ground-level view of Freetown's infrastructure.

Beyond data collection, the project’s outcomes are already being integrated into municipal services, including disaster management and waste optimization. By documenting essential water points and solid waste sites, the initiative supports the FCC’s broader regeneration strategy and taxation platforms. This successful implementation not only revitalizes the city’s property database but also establishes a scalable methodology for future large-scale mapping efforts across the region.

20/04/2026

Freetown faces significant urban challenges, including weak enforcement of municipal regulations, poor waste management, limited emergency response, and difficulties in climate adaptation. A major obstacle is the unclear delineation of communities, which complicates governance and resource distribution. The city also struggles with access to essential services such as clean water, sanitation, power, transport, and security, hindering equitable development.

To address these issues, the city plans to use high-resolution imagery, a Digital Elevation Model, and 3D Mesh products to improve urban planning and ordinance implementation. These tools will enable precise mapping of Freetown’s 83 km², aiding zoning, infrastructure planning, and efficient service delivery. Pathway accessibility will also be assessed, with emphasis on inclusivity for people with disabilities.

The project involves comprehensive drone mapping of the city. It is funded by GIZ and led by Freetown City Council, with contributions from national and local stakeholders. Key partners include the Ministry of Lands Housing and Country Planning, the Office of National Security, the Civil Aviation Authority, and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities. Civil society groups such as CODOHSAPA, FEDURP, and OSM Sierra Leone also contribute, alongside local residents, to ensure the project meets community needs.

15/05/2025

Happy birthday to one of dedicated community leader Gibril Lans. Your contributions to the growth of the OSM community has been truly inspiring and we look forward to all the amazing things you will accomplish in the future.
Here’s to wishing you an incredible year filled with even greater impact and success.
Cheers!!

10/05/2025

A happy birthday to one the pillars of the OpenStrretMap Sierra Leone community. Amb Ibrahim Abdulai Kargbo . Thanks for all your contributions to the community. We appreciate your efforts to expand and grow the YouthMappers community in Sierra Leone. On your special day, we pray for God's blessings and guidance.

17/04/2025

Happy birthday to one of our hardworking and motivated community members. Geeks Momoh Lamin. We appreciate your efforts and push to make our community stand out.

12/04/2025

As part of the initiative, our team—working in collaboration with Freetown City Council (FCC), the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT), and with funding from the GIZ,German International Cooperation, GIZ—is leading the implementation of the Freetown Drone Mapping Project. This exciting initiative will generate high-resolution, 3D maps of the entire city, providing reliable geospatial data to support urban planning, informal settlement upgrades, and evidence-based decision-making by FCC and other key stakeholders.

We were honored to have the Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr join us for the project’s first field mapping exercise in Crab town, Aberdeen, where she had a hands-on experience flying a drone and engaging with the community.
Over the next three weeks, our team will be working closely with HOT, FCC, the Ministry of Lands, and local community representatives to carry out this comprehensive mapping effort—one that not only enhances our city’s spatial data but also builds capacity through the involvement and training of young people from across Freetown.

11/04/2025

Always a pleasure to have you on board Mayor👌🤗

14/02/2025

The excitement has been overwhelming. Our team through the Sierra Leone Open Mapping Initiative won the first Urban Heat Hackathon that was organized by the Freetown City Council.

We pitched an idea to use GIS and Remote sensing techniques to monitor and address urban heat within informal settlements.

Thanks to the Freetown City Council for the opportunity to showcase our skills and raising the awareness about the use of geospatial information to address societal challenges.

We look forward to the implementation of this initiative in the near future.

Thanks to the team that represented us. You are appreciated.

13/01/2025

A happy new year to all our mapping enthusiasts. We say a big thanks to our sponsors and volunteer mappers for taking us through 2023.

As we resume our work in Kenema, we reflect on one of our most exciting projects which is the mapping of informal settlements in Freetown.

This project showcased the importance of community collaboration and the political will to use geospatial information for development. We seek to expand this to other informal settlements across the country in due time.

30/09/2024

Happy birthday to one of our hardworking and dedicated members. Madam Sia Kamanda .

Your selflessness and contributions towards the growth of the open mapping community in Sierra Leone has been immense and we appreciate you for that.

On your special day, we pray for God's guidance and abundant grace.

Enjoy your day Sia Sia.

Address

GIS Laboratory, Strasser King Building, Fourah Bay College/USL
Freetown

Website

http://osmsierraleone.org/

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