A MapUp is an event in which a group of people come together to improve the places they know and like seeing it on Google Maps by using Google Map Maker. MapUps can focus on the map of a neighborhood, region, popular visitor/tourist locations or even for a particular feature such as university premises, organizational premises, personal areas, hiking trails or cycling routes. MapUps can also serve to teach new mappers how to use Google Map Maker, bring together experienced mappers, and everything in between.

MapUps are community run events where we work extensively on using / adding / contributing geographic information near us in Google Maps with Google Map Maker tool. Such contribution will help millions of Google Maps users, developers, travelers, tourists and government in the long run.

During MapUps mappers shouldn't add info directly from print/published maps as that might be copyrighted info belonging to the map publisher. Instead, the info should be added based on mappers' personal knowledge of their neighborhoods / towns. The more you know about your area the more details / accurate geographic information you can contribute to Google Maps.

MapUp in Kathmandu

GDG Kathmandu organized MapUp in Kathmandu on Dec. 8th 2012. The event was first of its kind in Nepal. It was our pleasure working with Google Maps Team & Mapping Nepal (नेपाल ) Community for the MapUp event.

Date: December 8th 2012, Saturday (2069/8/23 B.S.), 10AM-5PM
Venue: Local Developement Training Academy, Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, Nepal
Participation: 58, Active Mappers, Developers, Students, Graduates

MapUp Kathmandu Agendas

• 10AM-10:15AM - Registration/Tea
• 10:15AM-11:00AM- GDG Kathmandu Intro, Google MapUps Intro
• 11:00AM-12:00AM - Location Based Android Apps Development with Google Maps (Speaker Session)
• 12:00PM-1:30PM - Training on Google Map Maker
• 1:30PM-2:30PM - Refreshment/Snacks
• 2:30PM - 4:00PM - Hands on Contribution to Google Map Maker
• 4:00PM - Tea
• 4:00PM - Onwards - Hands on Contribution to Google Map Maker
• 5:00PM - Wrapup & Swags Giveaway

As the organizer we were initially worried about how the event will go because we haven't had experience organizing mapping event before, but it became gradually interesting as we started contributing to Map Maker in live. The review process, mapping pulse of local contribution were exciting. The sessions were designed to help new mappers get started using map maker tool. Also, Google maps based application development speaker session was interesting for active mappers, as they said – they got ideas on how their contribution to Google Maps are being used by Developers Community.

The event began slowly covering all technical aspects of how Google Maps actually works. It's to all of our surprise that it's actually us, the people of Kathmandu whose active contribution makes Google Maps of Kathmandu better. Contributing to Google Maps was in-deed a great experience. Getting to know fellow mappers in the community and learning/sharing environment the event created was motivating.

We'd like to thank all the participants, Google, Mapping Nepal Community, WorldLink & Semicolon Developers for making this event possible.

Check our G+ Kathmandu MapUp Event page for more pictures and event discussions.

Also from this event on GDG Kathmandu will be publishing constructive & deserving feedback received after event in it's G+ Page. Don't forget to check what our participants said about the Kathmandu MapUp here: Kathmandu MapUp Feedback

MapUp events may sound uninteresting at first to developers and others who are familiar with Google Maps just as the end users, but for starting / active contributors who are using Google Map Maker tool the feeling of making maps of our places better is awesome. If you missed this event we are so inspired by the acceptance of the event that we'll be working on bringing in series of MapUps in future. Stay updated via our Google Group, GDG Kathmandu Google+ Page or via our GDG Kathmandu G+ Community.

Mapping Nepal (नेपाल ) Community warmly welcomes all the passionate mappers of Nepal. People who are interested in Google Map Making, discussing about common interests on the maps, and map maker, planning to develop their neighborhood, meeting new mappers across the country and to all those who always wanted to see a developed Nepalese-Google Map, there is the forum made just for you. Join in. Let's talk, Map and Share!

(You can send review requests to Mapping Nepal Community any time.)

Mapping Nepal Community (Google Group)
Mapping Nepal Community G+ community (just created after this event, join in)
Mapping Nepal Website

Are you mapping ? See it live here:
Real-time Mapping Pulse of Nepal

On December 15th, we are organizing MapUp in Pokhara.
If you are from Pokhara please register to participate: Pokhara MapUp

Let's improve our Google Map.

Note: This post will be updated with slides of speaker sessions.