Leen D'hondt on Building Better Worlds with Open Geodata & AI

In this AI for Good special episode of Digitel Talk, host Ian Ginn speaks with Leen D'hondt, Director of Technology at the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT). From mapping remote, unmapped regions to empowering local communities with open-source tools, Leen shares how geospatial data can transform lives in low- and middle-income countries.

Discover how HOT works with communities to address local challenges—from post-disaster recovery and sanitation planning to disability access and environmental monitoring—using drones, AI-assisted mapping, and peer-to-peer training. Hear inspiring stories like mapping informal settlements in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and why open and responsible AI is key to sustainable impact.

If you’ve ever wondered how maps can change the world, this episode will show you the power of open data, human collaboration, and technology for good.

Links and resources:

• Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT)
• AI for Good Summit (ITU) 

Episode sponsored by IFG Consulting Europe– Supporting telcos with tech strategy, digitisation and growth.

Guest bio:

Leen is the Director of Technology and Data at the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT). Her drive: connecting people through mapping for Social Good. The HOT Technology team she leads co-creates open-source tools that empower communities to create and use geospatial data in a collaborative way.

The democratization of this geospatial technology ensures that communities govern their own data, protect it, and use it to meet local needs. It enables people to actively participate in decision-making and become local change-makers through the use of community-generated data.

Before joining HOT about 3 years ago, she worked at TomTom and Capgemini as Sr Product Manager Maps and Geospatial Consultant and worked in Development Cooperation for the Belgian Development Agency Enabel. She is a Bio-engineer by training, specialized in GIS and Remote Sensing.

Podcast credits:

• Host: Ian Ginn
• Guest: Leen D'hondt
• Editor: Francis Wright
• Designer: Rebecca Ginn
• Project manager: Ivana Duric

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