As I reflect on the incredible journey of the Unique Mappers Network of Nigeria and SciStarter’s role in supporting their efforts, I’m filled with gratitude and excitement. The story of our collaboration is one of grassroots empowerment, global citizen science, and a shared commitment to making a measurable difference in the world.
I am unbelievably honored to be speaking virtually at their State of The Map conference on October 9, 2024.
Who are the Unique Mappers?
The Unique Mappers Network was founded in 2017 by Victor Sunday during his PhD studies at the University of Nigeria, Enugu. Initially, the network focused on geographic information systems (GIS) and crowdsourcing through OpenStreetMap, with a goal of mapping streets and buildings.
Over time, it grew into a diverse community of more than 500 citizen scientists across Nigeria. They engage in participatory mapping projects for disaster response, humanitarian action, and research, with a specific focus on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
What sets the Unique Mappers apart is their ability to mobilize volunteers from diverse backgrounds—including students, women, and youth—for impactful mapping projects.
They’ve expanded their scope to include efforts like mapping flood-affected regions, monitoring oil spills, and even mapping stalled blood vessels in the brain to support Alzheimer’s research through the Stall Catchers project.
How did SciStarter and the Unique Mappers Start Working Together?
I knew of the Unique Mappers as early as 2018. They were global citizen science legends already, with their prowress during Stall Catchers catch-a-thons!
Then, in 2020, I started working with the Land Loss Lookout project. Developed by Cartoscope, a technology nonprofit, in partnership with Healthy Gulf, a nonprofit that serves the Gulf Coast of the United States, and Northeastern University, Land Loss Lookout is a citizen science project aimed at monitoring and documenting wetland loss on the Mississippi River Delta. Volunteers from around the world can classify images of wetlands to help identify how they’re being lost.
When I was Miss Louisiana Earth in the Miss Earth USA pageant, I focused on galvanzing participation in the Land Loss Lookout project with my “Citizen Science Empowers Resiliency” platform, encouraging people worldwide to participate – including the Unique Mappers in Nigeria, who participated more than any other group. They classified over 6,000 images themesleves!
The Land Loss Lookout project has already had impressive research results, including the identification of 19 oil spills in Mississippi following Hurricane Ida. Journal publications are forthcoming.
Because they were so impressed with the Unique Mappers’ contributions to the Land Loss Lookout project, Cartoscope and Healthy Gulf collaborated with Unique Mappers Nigeria to create environmentally-focused citizen science projects benefiting Nigeria. I actually donated my pageant winnings to help them establish this project!
Together, they launched Land Pollution Lookout in April 2022, engaging over 250 people in a week to assess oil spills in 3 protected areas of the Niger Delta.
The Niger Delta is a wetland located in southern Nigeria, where the Niger River empties into the Gulf of Guinea. The Delta is rich in oil and gas reserves, making it a significant hub for Nigeria’s oil industry.
In the Niger Delta, more than 900 oil spills have occurred in the last two years. Surprisingly, there hasn’t been a comprehensive study of their impacts yet. The Land Pollution Lookout project is dedicated to monitoring oil spills in this region, and the findings from this would play a crucial role in shaping regulations for this rapidly developing area.
By gathering information about oil spill locations, identifying oil pipelines, and documenting damage to vegetation, farmlands, rivers, and creeks, volunteers help to identify oil spill locations in the Niger Delta.
Over 300 passionate volunteers have actively participated, mapping more than 1,500 images in the environmentally sensitive Niger Delta region, as reported via the project’s SciStarter credit form.
SciStarter has been honored to be a promotional partner for this project, leading events and media campaigns to catalyze participation.
The Unique Mappers, Citizen Science Month, and One Million Acts of Science
Since the inception of Citizen Science Month in April 2020, the Unique Mappers have been an important part of it, planning events and inspiring others around the world.
In this most recent Citizen Science Month, as part of the One Million Acts of Science Campaign, more than 100 volunteers from Unique Mappers helped government and international humanitarian organizations respond to vulnerable flood communities by filling in data gaps using Open Map Data. This effort resulted in 19,000 Acts of Science in April!
Who knows what they’ll accomplish in April 2025? The sky is the limit!
What is the State of the Map Nigeria?
Now, we look forward to the next milestone: State of the Map Nigeria 2024, which will be held in Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria on October 9 and 10. This conference brings together OpenStreetMap enthusiasts from academia, private companies, humanitarian organizations, and government agencies.
The event will feature a broad range of discussions, from cutting-edge mapping technology to community engagement strategies that advance the use of open data for development.
I’m thrilled to be presenting at this conference, alongside the Unique Mappers, to share our journey and reflect on the global impact of citizen science. State of the Map is not only a platform for celebrating achievements but also a space for learning, collaboration, and fostering new partnerships to advance open mapping and citizen science initiatives.
Why I love the Unique Mappers
The Unique Mappers Network is more than just a group of mappers—they’re a community of passionate volunteers driven by a desire to make the world better through science and technology.
One of the network’s members, Ezinne Kalu, shared her experience in a past blog post:
“Unique Mappers and Citizen Science have given me an opportunity to participate in a lot of projects, which has, in a way, given me a sense of fulfillment, knowing that I’m contributing to the betterment of the world.”
Victor Sunday, the founder of Unique Mappers, summed up the mission beautifully when he said in a past blog post, referencing the Stall Catchers project:
“The concept of mapping is usually about tracing buildings and routes, but now I’m introducing them to a new idea, and it’s all about mapping the brain!”
This quote reflects the diversity of projects they’ve taken on, from mapping flooded streets in Nigeria to mapping blood vessels in the brain for Alzheimer’s research. Victor is not afraid to think big! He is the perfect leader for such a passionate group.
How can you support the Unique Mappers?
Join them! Anyone can be a member (and join their dynamic WhatsApp group), no matter where you live. Learn more on their website.
It has been a true privelege to work with the Unique Mappers through my role at SciStarter, and I hope that other international organizations follow suit and support the Unique Mappers to do their important work. Hop on a call with Victor and his inspiring team, and learn how you can jump in.
When you partner with the Unique Mappers, you are making an investment in a better global future.
