June 2014 Summaries

Announcing Twitter Maps, access Twitter data directly from CartoDB` Twitter has announced its new Twitter Maps solution, which allows users to consume Twitter data (geotagged tweets) directly from the CartoDB interface, providing an easy-to-use platform for creating animated maps of Twitter activity around a brand or event. This integration enables users to visualize tweet data on a map, filter as desired, and create visualizations using standard CartoDB tools. The solution has been featured in over 100 media outlets and is now available in beta, allowing anyone to sign up and access the platform.

Altran Spain has joined as a new partner of CartoDB, bringing its expertise in technology and engineering consultancy services for over 20 years, with a focus on mobile solutions and data analysis. They chose CartoDB for its cloud platform's ease of integration, scalability, and geospatial visualization capabilities, which will help them develop projects for clients across various sectors without worrying about scalability issues. With the growing demand for CartoDB-powered projects from prominent clients like Twitter, NASA, and the United Nations, this partnership aims to strengthen CartoDB's network of partners to absorb this increasing demand. As a partner, Altran Spain will benefit from CartoDB's geospatial technology and collaborate with other partners to develop innovative projects, while also offering corporate clients a managed on-premise service.

The CartoDB team created a Map Gallery as a showcase of users' creations, highlighting the platform's capabilities for data visualization and geo applications. The gallery features a curated selection of maps and visualizations, with more to be added in the future. Users who have created content with CartoDB can submit their work for consideration to be featured in the gallery, providing an opportunity for them to share their projects with others.

The NGO Aid Map project, powered by CartoDB, aims to increase the availability of data on international development and humanitarian response through interactive maps and data visualizations. The map showcases data from nearly 3,000 projects and over 80 organizations globally, covering various sectors such as health, agriculture, and economic development. This initiative is built upon InterAction's historical use of online maps to communicate their members' stories, with the new global map offering a platform for education, transparency, and decision-making across all countries and sectors. CartoDB plays a crucial role in enabling NGOs to develop similar projects by providing a powerful mapping tool and platform with DIY mapping capabilities, seamless data import, customization, segmentation, and public or private sharing, as well as APIs for easy integration of visualizations into web apps.

Øyvind Bye Skille, a web reporter for NRK (the Norwegian Broadcasting Corp.), used GIS data from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) to create interactive maps showing areas prone to flooding in central Norway. He filtered the large datasets to minimize file size and only included relevant polygons for municipalities affected by floods. By reviewing the dataset descriptions, contacting NVE officials, and making manual adjustments, Øyvind created two sets of map visualizations: one for areas hit by flooding at different flood levels predicted by the government, and another for cities waiting for flood barriers. He styled the maps using CartoDB and added background layers with aerial imagery to improve user experience. The maps were published on NRK's website, providing visually engaging information about the floods in central Norway.

Earth Observation for a better world - See you at ESA Space Industry Days` The use of earth observation is becoming increasingly important for protecting our planet, with new technologies such as satellites and drones making imagery more accessible and affordable than ever before. This has led to significant advances in fields such as environmental monitoring and disaster response, with applications including the tracking of forests and the detection of floods. However, the ability to leverage this data has been hindered by challenges related to its size and complexity. Recent developments, such as the work of companies like DigitalGlobe and Google, have improved access to high-quality data products, but new challenges have emerged in terms of how to integrate this data into decision-making processes. This is where tools like CartoDB come in, providing a platform for visualizing, analyzing, and sharing earth observation data. Specifically, projects such as Global Forest Watch have demonstrated the potential of cartography and visualization in addressing global challenges, with CartoDB serving as the backend infrastructure for storing and displaying this data.