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GroupMappers

GroupMappers is a group based in Bangladesh that utilizes geospatial technology for public health issues. Established in 2017, it is led by Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit and the Communicable Disease Control Division of the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in Bangladesh.

Group photo of GroupMappers members
In 2018, GroupMappers, MORU and the National Malaria Elimination Programme organized a village mapping workshop at the Ekata office in Lama upazila, Bandarban district in Bangladesh. During the workshop, GroupMappers volunteers collaborated with local stakeholders to verify village names and boundaries in Lama. Participants included NGO and Government health workers, government officials, and community members with knowledge of the local geography. This collaborative approach ensured accurate mapping and engaged all relevant parties.

The organization’s 14 core members are proficient in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and come from diverse backgrounds in academia and industry. GroupMappers’ work is supported by an extensive network of volunteers.

GroupMapper’s mission statement is “empowering communities through the utilization of crowdsource mapping and data analysis for enhanced public health outcomes”.

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GroupMappers focuses on 4 key areas of support:

Data collection and management

The GroupMappers team has extensive expertise in both collection and management of geospatial data. They utilize a variety of methods to gather information, including key informant interviews, participatory rural appraisals, and surveys using tools such as ODK, Kobo Toolbox, and SMS. They also provide technical support to different communicable disease control programs, including rabies, malaria, aedes-transmitted infections, and soil transmitted helminths. GroupMapper’s database design and development skills encompass data cleaning, quality control, and data transformation, and they use cutting-edge tools to create customizable geo-referencing systems.

Data analysis and modeling

Spatial analysis and modeling are integral to GroupMapper’s work, particularly physical accessibility analysis. Their experience includes utilizing geospatial data to perform spatial interpolation, overlay analysis, and spatial statistics, among other techniques. These capabilities enable them to support public health initiatives by providing data-driven insights and recommendations.

Mapping and visualization

GroupMappers excel in developing interactive web maps and visualizations that convey geospatial information to end-users. Expertise includes building web mapping applications, creating customized map styles, and integrating data from multiple sources to effectively present spatial data. They have applied these skills to a range of public health initiatives, enhancing comprehension and decision-making in the field. Furthermore, they possess extensive knowledge of producing tailored thematic maps for external organizations.

Data dissemination and sharing

GroupMappers provides support for making geospatial data accessible to stakeholders and end-users. This support includes data publishing, sharing, and implementation of data access policies. Through these efforts, GroupMappers aims to facilitate the effective use of geospatial data in public health and related domains.

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