Maps can show “the big picture” to lots and lots of people in an engaging and colourful way.
The world’s remaining wilderness. Dark blue = terrestrial. Light blue = marine.
Modified with permission from Protect the last of the wild, Watson et al, Nature (2018)
Today, many Australian urbanites see rivers as little more than picturesque places for a paddle. But in the colonial era, rivers served as highways, drinking sources, sewers, and routes to discovery.
Story maps like this one can help policymakers better understand and respond to the needs of recently resettled refugees.
S. Juneja
From resettling Syrian refugees to mitigating climate change in Ecuador, interactive ‘story maps’ harvest communities’ stories to help policymakers and neighbors better understand complex problems.
Maasai women on a conservation project in Kenya.
Joan de la Malla
A new map shows that more than 25% of all land outside Antarctica is held and managed by Indigenous peoples. This makes these communities vital allies in the global conservation effort.
Sea ice off of East Antarctica’s Princess Astrid Coast.
NASA
Maps can be an invaluable tool in a natural disaster or humanitarian crisis. A pilot project trained Syrian refugees at a Jordan camp to create their own.
Dust storms in the Gulf of Alaska, captured by NASA’s Aqua satellite.
NASA
There are more satellites than ever before, orbiting Earth and collecting data that’s crucial for scientists. Why do some nations choose not to share that data openly?
People stroll along Moshoeshoe Street in Emfuleni.
Darya Maslova
By expanding our understanding of streets and enhancing their design, every street corner could become a space to socialise, to exercise, to play, or to trade.
Growing numbers of people are using food banks to feed themselves and their families. But many areas where residents face a high risk of food poverty are under-serviced.
Where we’ve been in 2017.
rawpixel.com/shutterstock.com
How do diverse movies fare in the international box office? What time do trolls like to post their comments? We look back on some of this year’s most intriguing graphs and maps.