Maps for Emergency Services
2026-03-06
In emergencies, an up-to-date map of the area can save lives. OpenStreetMap often contains more detailed information than official maps: footpaths, passages between buildings, fire hydrants, building entrances — everything that matters for rescue operations.
Use cases
- Search and rescue operations — maps of woodland with trails and clearings.
- Firefighting — the location of hydrants, access roads and gas mains.
- Evacuation — evacuation routes, shelter locations and road passability.
- Floods — hydrography, relief and flood zones.
- Coordination — a single map for everyone involved in the operation.
Recommended formats
| Task | Format | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Printing for the command post | PDF (A3/A1) | Instant printing, no internet needed |
| GPS navigation | Garmin IMG, GPX | Works without cellular coverage |
| Mobile devices | OsmAnd OBF | Offline maps on a phone |
| Situation centre | GeoJSON | Real-time overlay on a web map |
| Emergency-zone analytics | Shapefile | Calculation of areas, distances and zones |
Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team
HOT is an international organisation that coordinates volunteer mapping during disasters. If an emergency area is poorly covered in OSM, thousands of volunteers around the world add buildings and roads from satellite imagery within hours.
Offline access
In an emergency zone, the internet may be unavailable. Prepare in advance:
- PDF maps of areas of responsibility (printed and laminated).
- Garmin IMG for field teams with GPS units.
- OsmAnd OBF for smartphones (offline navigation).
- GeoJSON on a laptop for situational analysis without internet.