As Africa’s cities grow rapidly, the need for informed planning, accessible transport systems, and smarter infrastructure becomes more urgent. This workshop introduces participants to practical geospatial analysis using Python and OSMnx, a powerful open-source tool that allows anyone to extract, visualize, and analyze street networks directly from OpenStreetMap (OSM).
Participants will learn step-by-step how to download real-world urban road networks, perform routing and network analysis, and generate useful insights that support decision-making in transport, accessibility, and sustainable urban development. By focusing on real examples from Tanzanian cities such as Dar es Salaam or Dodoma, this session turns complex geospatial problems into simple, actionable workflows.
Whether you are a planner, analyst, student, or civic tech enthusiast, this workshop will empower you to use open data and code to map the future of your city.
Overview
In this 90-minute session, OpenGeoCity Tanzania will guide participants through the entire process of performing urban spatial analysis using the Python programming language and OSMnx — a Python library designed to work directly with OSM data.
You will not only learn how to visualize road networks, but also how to measure urban form, model accessibility, and analyze infrastructure gaps using real-time geospatial data. This workshop brings together the power of open data, open-source software, and local knowledge to build smarter and more connected communities.
What You Will Learn:
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:
➤ Access OpenStreetMap Data with Python
Learn how to download roads, buildings, and key features using simple code.
➤ Visualize and Explore Urban Networks
Create basic maps and explore the layout of streets and city structure.
➤ Analyze Connectivity and Accessibility
Measure how well areas are connected and find the shortest routes between places.
➤ Apply Insights to Real Urban Challenges
Use open data to support better planning, transport, and service delivery.
Who Should Attend:
This workshop is designed for:
➤ Urban Planners and Transport Specialists
➤ GIS Analysts and Developers
➤ City Managers and Government Data Units
➤ Students and Researchers in Urban Studies
➤ Community Mappers and OSM Contributors
➤ Anyone interested in building data-driven cities
