Hi everyone,

I’m Paula Villar, from Paraguay with a degree in architecture from the National University of Asunción. I completed my final graduation project as an internship at the Research, Development, and Innovation Center (CIDi) of FADA-UNA, where I participated in open mapping projects, territorial analysis, and the production of geospatial data. I also served as president of YouthMappers UNA (2022–2025), promoting student engagement in collaborative mapping activities.

What does HOT mean to me? HOT represents a community that brings open mapping and geospatial data closer to the people who need them to make informed decisions about their territories. Through projects like Atlas Urbano Paraguay (AUPy) and YouthMappers activities, I’ve seen how collaborative tools and open data help make underrepresented urban and rural realities visible.

I particularly value the spirit of collective work and the opportunity to contribute from different disciplines while learning and sharing with people from diverse backgrounds. Beyond technology, HOT provides a network of support and learning that strengthens territorial management, planning, and responses to local challenges.

How did I get involved in HOT? My introduction to HOT came through my involvement with YouthMappers UNA, where I led mapping activities with students from various fields. That experience, along with my graduation project at CIDi, allowed me to contribute to initiatives like AUPy and other efforts within the YouthMappers network, where open mapping played a central role.

During the internship, I engaged in the production of cartography and territorial analysis for municipalities in both national and cross-border contexts (with Brazil), applying open mapping methodologies and free and open source tools. I coordinated field-mapping campaigns, ran mapping workshops and urban characterizations, and integrated data on buildings, vegetation, and bodies of water.

Additional work included developing thematic maps and platforms for data visualization and download, prioritizing accessible, low-cost tools. I also led project outreach and trained volunteers in using OSM, JOSM, and Mapillary.

Through an institutional agreement between CIDi and KU Leuven (Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium), I supported master’s students in joint activities and academic-technical exchanges. In 2024, I was selected for the YouthMappers Leadership Fellowship in Thailand, where I further strengthened my open mapping and leadership skills.

These experiences have deepened my understanding of the value of open mapping, the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, and the need to strengthen local and regional capacities.

Why do I want to become a voting member? I hope to bring a practical perspective grounded in the reality of those working with open data in contexts similar to Paraguay. Along this journey, I’ve witnessed how important it is for HOT’s decisions to reflect the real challenges faced by local teams. My goal is to help ensure that the community remains inclusive and that both technical and collaborative efforts translate into useful tools for people managing, planning, or simply trying to better understand their environment.

Main responsibility as a voting member HOT’s strategic decisions must prioritize the practical use and long-term sustainability of open data, ensuring that they remain effective tools for urban management and risk reduction in vulnerable communities.

It is of my interest to contribute to the Community and Training Working Groups, where I can share my experience in technical training, participatory methodologies, and the application of open data in urban and territorial projects.

HOT’s challenge and my contribution One of HOT’s key challenges is ensuring that the open data it generates remains useful and up to date for local teams and decision-makers. From my experience as both architect and mapper, I see three concrete ways to contribute:

Supporting the integration of data into local management: Helping ensure that open mapping outputs are clear and usable for municipal or community-level projects—particularly through basic geospatial analysis and straightforward technical guidance. Facilitating initial technical training: Organizing and supporting workshops, mapathons, and hands-on activities for local teams and new volunteers learning to use tools like OpenStreetMap, QGIS, or web-based map viewers. Documenting accessible workflows: Creating guides and step-by-step documentation for data management and publishing processes, enabling other teams to replicate and adapt them—even without prior experience.

My focus is on ensuring that the information we produce doesn’t get lost, but instead remains available and meaningful for those who need it—empowering others to adopt and apply it in their own contexts.

Thank you for your consideration, Kind regards,

Paula Villar Arch. Paula Villar Duré YouthMappers Volunteer Regional Ambassador | America Faculty of Architecture, Design, and Art | National University of Asunción