Building on the success of HOT's Tasking Manager, a tool for coordinating remote digitization of map features, the FMTM was conceived with the purpose of tagging the features with field-verified information.
While there are many excellent applications for tagging map features already, the FMTM aims to solve the problem of coordinating field mapping campaigns.
More details can be found here: overview, timeline, docs page, and the FAQ.
- Project is created in an area with three things:
- Data extract: the features you want to map, say building polygons.
- ODK XLSForm: the survey for mappers on the ground to fill out for each feature.
- Task areas divided by feature count and linear features (e.g. rivers, roads).
- Users assign a task area for themselves, and generate a QR code that is opened in ODK Collect.
- User navigates to the feature and fills out the XLSForm survey, then submits.
- The submissions are collected by ODK Central, which feeds the data back into FMTM, for cleaning, conflation with existing data, and pushing back to OSM.
This project relies heavily on the ODK ecosystem underneath:
- XLSForms are used for the underlying data collection survey. The fields in this survey can be mapped to OpenStreetMap tags.
- ODK Central is used to store the XLSForm and receive data submissions from users.
- ODK Collect is a mobile app that the user submits data from.
In the wake of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, volunteer developers created the Tasking Manager after seeing a similar coordination challenge for mapping areas without existing data.
Now with over 500,000 volunteer mappers, the Tasking Manager is a go-to resource for volunteers to map collaboratively.
To aid future disaster response, we would really welcome contributions for:
- Backend Python development
- Frontend Typescript development
- Documentation writers
- UI / UX designers
- Testers!
- XLSForm creators
- Mobile developers
Please take a look at our Documentation and contributor guidance for more details!
Reach out to us if any questions!
To install for a quick test, or on a production instance, use the convenience script:
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://get.fmtm.dev | bash
Alternatively see the docs for various deployment guides.
Status | Feature | Release |
---|---|---|
β | π₯οΈ project area splitting avoiding roads, rivers, railways | Since v2024.4.0 |
β | π₯οΈ XLSForm survey generation in ODK Central | Since v2024.4.0 |
β | π± mapping of project via survey in ODK Collect mobile app | Since v2024.4.0 |
β | π± locking & unlocking of tasks to coordinate mapping | Since v2024.4.0 |
β | π± download base imagery & geolocation for in the field | Since v2024.4.0 |
β | π₯οΈ view mapper submissions in the FMTM dashboard | Since v2024.4.0 |
β | π’ Beta Release | Since v2024.4.0 |
β | π₯οΈ & π± basic user tutorials and usage guides | Since v2024.4.0 |
β | π± open ODK Collect with feature already selected | Since v2024.4.0 |
β | π± live updates during mapping (if online) | Since v2024.5.0 |
β | π± features turn green once mapped | Since v2024.5.0 |
β | π± navigation and capability for routing to map features | Since v2024.5.0 |
β | π₯οΈ organization creation and management | Since v2024.5.0 |
β | π± better support for mapping new points, lines, polygons | Since v2025.1.0 |
β | π± integrate ODK Web Forms (to avoid switching apps) | Expected v2025.2.0 |
β | π₯οΈ user role management per project | Expected v2025.2.0 |
π | π± fully offline field mapping (local-first design) | β |
π | π₯οΈ simplify project creation with basic / advanced workflows | β |
π | π₯οΈ pre-defined OpenStreetMap forms for easy OSM mapping | β |
π | π₯οΈ integration with other mobile apps: EveryDoor, StreetComplete | β |
π | π₯οΈ integration with other ODK server types: Ona.io, Kobo | β |
π | π₯οΈ multiple approaches to task splitting algorithm | β |
π | π₯οΈ improvements to the validation criteria and workflow | β |
π | π₯οΈ export (+merge) the final data to OpenStreetMap | β |
π | π₯οΈ better data visualisation and export options | β |
π | π₯οΈ Field Admin role | β |
Note
π± for mobile / mappers
π₯οΈ for desktop / managers / validators
A more developer-facing roadmap can be found here.
Here's how you can contribute:
- Open an issue if you believe you've encountered a bug.
- Make a pull request to add new features or fix bugs.
Thanks goes to these wonderful people: