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Field mapping using instant messaging apps (ex: WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal)

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ChatMap

Field mapping has never been easier!

Export a chat (WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal) and upload it to visualize locations, messages and media.

Try it here! chatmap.hotosm.org

Check this quick video-tutorial (2:47) for more info about how to use it.

Screenshot 2026-01-21 at 9 27 42 AM

Install and run

cd chatmap-ui
yarn install
yarn start

Test with yarn test.

How to use it?

Create a group and ask people to post locations and messages. Each location will be paired with the closest message from the same user.

  1. Export a WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal chat with shared locations
  2. Open the .zip file with ChatMap
  3. It will extract all the locations and display them on a map, together with the paired message (text or media)
  4. You can also download the locations + messages as a .zip file from there

Check docs for each instant messaging app here.

Advanced mode

The advanced mode provides features for user authentication and live updates with linked devices.

User accounts

ChatMap supports two authentication modes:

  • Standalone Mode: Uses its own Hanko instance
  • SSO Mode: Uses login.hotosm.org

Check docs for enabling user authentication.

ChatMap Live

In Live mode, people can link a device to get a live stream of data and update maps in real-time, even with locations coming from direct messages, not only groups, and without the need of manually exporting chats.

Check docs for enabling the Live feature.

Roadmap

✅ Done ⚙️ In progress

Status Feature
Support audio - Thanks Oscar!
Link a device and get a stream of locations + content (live community reporting)
Backend with user authentication and saved maps
Live Stream of Data
Serve data from ChatMap
Website re-design
Map options
User profile
⚙️ Save data directly in ChatMap
⚙️ Content timeline
Form for user content licensing
Attach both image and text to a location
ChatBot for creating automated surveys
Integration for OSM editing
Upload content to Panoramax

Contributors are welcome!

Licensing

This is free software! you may use this project under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

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Field mapping using instant messaging apps (ex: WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal)

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