CoMaps: The Offline App That Guided Rescuers Without a Signal in Venezuela
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An offline OpenStreetMap app built by volunteers became a key tool for rescuers in Venezuela.
CoMaps is an open-source, non-commercial app built on OpenStreetMap data that works fully offline. During the Venezuela earthquake response, it guided rescuers in zones with no cell coverage. The app's maps are updated weekly, allowing HOT-mapped buildings to appear quickly on the ground. This bridge between data and non-technical users made the app usable by organizations like Techo and the Red Cross. The team aims for 12-hour regional map updates during emergencies.
What commenters are saying
Commenters praised CoMaps for hiking and travel, noting its offline capability and up-to-date OSM data. Several described it as a fork of Organic Maps, which forked from Maps.me. Some compare it to OsmAnd, with commenters characterizing OsmAnd as more powerful but clunkier, while CoMaps is simpler and faster for everyday use. One commenter highlighted the ability to report broken map features from within the app. Dominant sentiment: CoMaps is a great FOSS alternative to commercial map apps, but OsmAnd remains better for power users.