This text, part of the #ODDStories series, tells a story of Open Data Day‘s grassroots impact directly from the community’s voices.
On March 4, 2025, the YouthMappers Chapter at the Institute of Remote Sensing and GIS (IRS), Jahangirnagar University, proudly celebrated Open Data Day 2025 with an impactful event titled “Mapping Resilience: Harnessing Open Data for Flood Preparedness in Sunamganj.” This celebration united over 50 students in a full-day program dedicated to open data, disaster resilience, and community engagement.
Why Sunamganj? Sunamganj, a flood-prone region of Bangladesh, served as the focal point of our mapping efforts. By leveraging the power of OpenStreetMap (OSM), participants explored how open data can be harnessed to mitigate flood risks and support emergency response planning.
A Day of Learning, Mapping, and Impact
The event kicked off with registration and morning refreshments, followed by an inaugural ceremony featuring a welcome address, the significance of Open Data Day, and a group photo session capturing the community spirit.
A highlight of the event was the keynote speech by expert guest speaker Toma Rani Saha, Lecturer at IRS, who shared insights on “OpenStreetMap for Disaster Resilience: Lessons from Sunamganj’s Flood-Prone Areas.” The engaging session included a Q&A, sparking thoughtful discussions around open data and disaster management.
Hands-On OSM Workshop
The hands-on OpenStreetMap (OSM) workshop was a key highlight of the day, conducted by Zobaer Rahman, President of YouthMappers at IRS and OM Guru at Open Mapping Hub Asia-Pacific, alongside Krishna Proshad Mondol, Officer of YouthMappers at IRS and fellow OM Guru.
Participants engaged in an interactive session where they explored the fundamentals of OSM using tools like iD Editor and JOSM. Guided by the facilitators, students worked in teams to map flood-vulnerable areas in Sunamganj, tagging key features such as roads, waterways, and infrastructure.
The workshop also included a case study discussion to analyze existing data gaps in Sunamganj and brainstorm community-driven strategies for improving data accuracy and validation. The session empowered students with practical mapping skills while emphasizing the critical role of open data in disaster preparedness.
Competition: Innovate to Mitigate
In the afternoon, participants joined an on-the-spot competition themed “Innovate to Mitigate.” Teams of 3–4 competed to:
- Map flood-prone areas using OSM tools within an hour, and
- Propose creative, data-driven solutions for flood preparedness.
Entries were judged on accuracy, innovation, teamwork, and presentation by a panel of faculty members and OSM experts. The top 3 teams received certificates and OSM-themed prizes.
Closing
The event concluded with a closing ceremony and Iftar, where participants shared feedback, received awards, and reflected on the day’s achievements. The Chapter Advisor delivered closing remarks, emphasizing the importance of sustaining open data contributions beyond the event.
By connecting global open data advocacy with local action, this Open Data Day 2025 celebration was more than an event—it was a movement toward resilience. Through mapping, learning, and collaboration, the participants demonstrated how open data can empower communities like Sunamganj to better prepare for climate challenges.
Stay tuned for future YouthMappers activities as we continue turning data into action!
About Open Data Day
Open Data Day (ODD) is an annual celebration of open data all over the world. Groups from many countries create local events on the day where they will use open data in their communities. ODD is led by the Open Knowledge Foundation (OKFN) and the Open Knowledge Network.
As a way to increase the representation of different cultures, since 2023 we offer the opportunity for organisations to host an Open Data Day event on the best date over one week. In 2025, a total of 189 events happened all over the world between March 1st and 7th, in 57 countries using 15+ different languages. All outputs are open for everyone to use and re-use.
For more information, you can reach out to the Open Knowledge Foundation team by emailing opendataday@okfn.org. You can also join the Open Data Day Google Group or join the Open Data Day Slack channel to ask for advice, share tips and get connected with others.
