The YouthMappers Validation Hub is formed of experienced student mappers whose goal is to ensure a high standard of data quality on OpenStreetMap (OSM). Established in May 2019, faculty and students at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. facilitate and run the Validation Hub. They validate the OSM contributions for YouthMappers' network projects to guarantee the highest quality data. Aligning with the perspective- "we don’t plan on building just maps or mappers, we also build validators," they also provide feedback to OSM users to improve the technique, habits, and conduct of mappers. Read more about the members of the Validation Hub and their experiences below. Learn more about the YouthMappers Validation Hub and their process at www.youthmappers.org/validation-hub.
Tell us about yourself and why you joined the YouthMappers Validation Hub
Samuel Snider
I am a senior at GW studying Geography with a minor in GIS. I joined the Validation Hub in the summer of 2024 because I wanted to pursue my passion for international development through open-source mapping. I enjoy watching soccer, hiking, playing with his dogs, and reading in his free time.
I first became interested in YouthMappers and OSM after hearing about it during my introductory GIS class at GW. I thought it was a great opportunity to learn more about the OSM software and the wider GIS community. However, I became determined to join the Validation Hub after volunteering at FedGeoDay 2024 after listening to Carrie Stokes talk about YouthMappers and how it encourages its members to share ideas and help each other improve their mapping.
At GW, I started as an International Affairs major with a concentration in International Development. It wasn’t the right fit, but I enjoyed the Geography classes that I took. I changed my major to study Geography with a minor in GIS, and I’m super happy with this switch. I am still interested in international development and I feel like OSM is a great way to pursue this interest because of the many humanitarian aspects of OSM. The Validation Hub is a great way to connect with the YM community and improve my OSM skills. I’m excited to work with the Validation Hub.
Ken Wang
I am a senior, double majoring in Environmental Studies and Geography with a minor in GIS. I joined the YouthMappers Validation Hub at the beginning of this summer and I am thrilled to be part of the team. OpenStreetMap (OSM) is one of my favorite GIS tools. I am passionate about using GIS to improve maps and navigation software to ensure navigation issues and map inaccuracies don't happen to anyone again.
When I first joined YouthMappers, I worked on mapping NYC pedestrian infrastructure for Meta Inc. Our team often received reviews and comments from other mappers about our work, and these interactions kindled my passion for Map Validation. I began to picture myself reviewing and validating maps and was eager to see the world from the perspective of a map validator. When I saw the opportunity to join the Validation Hub, I knew it was the place to start my career.
Ruth Holliday
I am a junior majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in GIS. I joined the validation hub in the Summer of 2024 after attending several Humanitarian Mapping Society (HMS) meetings which sparked my interest in OSM. I hope to get more involved with HMS this year and meet other people interested in mapping with OSM. Outside of mapping, I enjoy thrifting and going to clothing swaps, gardening, yoga/pilates, and trying new coffee shops.
I was first introduced to open-source mapping and OpenStreetMap (OSM) when I took Intro to GIS last fall. I immediately wanted to learn more about it. Our professor recommended checking out the Humanitarian Mapping Society (HMS) to get involved with OSM and the open-source mapping community. At HMS meetings, I contributed geographic data to areas with real-world issues as a beginner mapper working on YouthMappers projects. This experience made me realize the countless potential benefits of OSM’s open data.
When I heard about an opportunity to become a YouthMappers Validator, I thought it would be the perfect next step to deepen my involvement with the open-source mapping community. In my first few weeks with YouthMappers, I contributed to OSM through the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team’s (HOT) Tasking Manager, aiming to become a more experienced mapper capable of validating others' OSM contributions. Learning to use the Java OpenStreetMap Editor (JOSM) and its various efficient tools allowed me to increase my contributions to OSM significantly.
After becoming a more seasoned mapper, I confidently started validating others’ contributions to YouthMappers projects using JOSM. So far, this has been a great experience! Seeing YouthMappers' contributions across the world has been inspiring, and validating their work has been very fulfilling. Thanking people for their contributions and giving them recommendations on how to make more accurate contributions in the future has been my favorite part of the job. It's incredibly rewarding to help ensure the accuracy of data in YouthMappers' projects and to provide humanitarian organizations with the precise information they need to achieve their goals.
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