As HOT’s inaugural Asia–Pacific Regional Director, Nama Budhathoki reflects on five years of building a regional open mapping hub from the ground up as he prepares to step down in January 2026. When the role began, the hub model was largely conceptual, with no established teams or templates. Today, the Asia–Pacific Hub has grown into a vibrant ecosystem of mappers, communities, and partners united by a shared belief in the power of open map data to strengthen resilience and improve lives across the region.
Over this period, the Hub supported more than a dozen community- and inclusion-focused initiatives and trained over 4,000 people, including more than 700 learners through women-led programmes. New OpenStreetMap communities emerged in diverse locations, from North East India and Mindanao in the Philippines to early-stage groups in Myanmar, Laos, and Afghanistan. Partnerships with NGOs, universities, governments, and social enterprises enabled open mapping to contribute to practical outcomes such as evacuation planning, environmental conservation, and disease prevention.
Looking beyond the Hub’s five-year journey, a broader analysis of open mapping trends in Asia–Pacific from 2015 to 2025 shows a movement that is energetic but still fragile in many countries. Contributions often surge around disasters or short-term projects, while sustaining long-term engagement remains a challenge. Many communities continue to face difficulties with volunteer retention, governance, and demonstrating real-world use of mapped data, a gap that can weaken motivation and limit institutional adoption.
Despite these challenges, the region shows clear signs of maturation, including stronger university networks, emerging local champions, and more deliberate partnerships. Budhathoki emphasizes the need to shift from simply increasing mapping activity to focusing on meaningful mapping, where data is actively used, maintained, and trusted. OpenStreetMap’s role as an enabling infrastructure extends beyond disaster response, offering potential value for livelihoods, local economies, and development planning.
The reflection also highlights the importance of recognizing long-term contributors and strengthening community leadership structures that can outlast individual projects or roles. As Budhathoki transitions out, Paul Uithol will step in as interim Asia–Pacific Hub Director, bringing extensive experience in digital mapping and capacity-building. With new leadership and a strong foundation, the Asia–Pacific open mapping community is positioned to continue growing and shaping its next chapter.
