Snow was falling across much of the United States as folks logged on for OpenStreetMap US’s 6th annual virtual conference. Connecting with the OSM community to learn about ongoing mapping projects, new tech, and exciting applications of open data was the perfect way to spend a cold and gray weekend.
This year, Mapping USA featured 20 talks, 4 workshops, and 4 birds of a feather/office hours sessions bringing together mappers, developers, and open data enthusiasts from across the web. We’re especially excited that 62% of those presenters were first-time participants in our virtual conference series!
The Highlights
Learning about the subjects and themes that mappers are most interested in is one of the best things about Mapping USA. This year, mapping transit infrastructure was a key concern for walkers, bikers, bus riders, and drivers alike (see “Speedwalk: More Consistent Sidewalk Tagging” by Dustin Carlino, “Fast Charge: Accelerating EV Accessibility with Better Maps” by Kevin Ratzel, or “Advancing Transit Equity in Phoenix, Arizona” by Veronica Mandasari). Environmental sustainability was another recurring theme, with presentations on mapping wetlands across the United States, tracking invasive species, and a dual talk/birds of a feather session on infrastructure data for wildfire resilience. These sessions highlighted how mappers can support critical environmental efforts and community resilience.
The conversation did not stop when attendees logged off for the weekend. If you’re not on the OpenStreetMap US Slack, you’re missing a big part of Mapping USA! The #mapping-usa channel kept buzzing with questions for speakers, shared slides and additional resources, links to analogous projects, and plenty of enthusiasm for fellow mappers.
Now What?
In case you missed it (or want to revisit your favorite sessions), all available recordings are now up on the OpenStreetMap US Youtube channel in a dedicated playlist.
If you’re missing the Mapping USA vibes, we invite you to check out our annual in-person conference, State of the Map US. This year, we’ll be gathering in Madison, Wisconsin from June 11-13 for a weekend of mapping, networking, and building community.
Thank you to everyone who attended or presented at Mapping USA 2026, and a special thanks to those who included a donation in their event registration. Your support ensures that we can continue providing free events like this one to the OSM community.
