September 2014 Summaries

A recent security vulnerability in GNU bash has affected millions of servers on the Internet, allowing malicious code execution on remote servers, prompting CartoDB and other services to update their systems immediately. Amazon, a cloud infrastructure provider, also announced a security problem that requires server restarts, potentially causing intermittent downtimes on CartoDB service during the weekend, expected to be less than 1 minute long. The exact vulnerability has not been disclosed to prevent further exploitation.

CartoDB is a powerful geospatial platform that offers a range of features including quick setup and production of visualizations, cost-effectiveness for small to medium scale projects, SQL API and PostGIS for spatial analysis requirements in the browser, subscription model ease of understanding, cloud readiness, and simplicity. Geoplex, a company based in Sydney, has successfully used CartoDB to develop various geospatial applications such as TripRisk, REA, CrashStats, and others, leveraging its ability to handle large data volumes and complex analysis workflows. The platform is particularly attractive for clients with little to no GIS exposure or those who need to quickly share their work with a wider audience. While it may not be as fully featured as larger GIS servers like ArcGIS Server, CartoDB offers significant financial benefits and rapid development tools are gradually eroding the difference between traditional and modern GIS solutions.

The Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial (FOSS4G) conference in Portland featured presentations by several CartoDB team members, including talks on storytelling with maps, building scalable web mapping services, design progression in open source, and popularizing open source while building a business. These presentations are now available to view online for those who could not attend the event.

The dynamic of today's media and communication is characterized as "soundbite culture" due to increased information consumption and impatience with reading long text, leading to a reliance on data visualization in daily life, which has largely been overlooked in education. To address this gap, CartoDB offers open access resources and self-directed learning initiatives, including courses, guides, and tools, such as Data Visualization Fundamentals, MIT Open Courseware, and Flowing Data links, to help individuals upgrade their skills in data visualization, analysis, and communication. Additionally, the platform provides resources on data journalism, open data, maps, and best practices for creating effective visualizations.

The text discusses the CartoDB platform, its benefits, and its applications in geospatial projects. It features an interview with John Branigan from Azavea, a CartoDB partner, who shares his experiences using the platform for various projects such as visualization of oil producing countries, Philadelphia election results, Maplight, and Citizen Science Inventory. John highlights the flexibility of CartoDB's API, its ability to handle data storage, and its styling wizards, which make it an ideal choice for geospatial developers. He also mentions that CartoDB saves him days of DevOps by providing a hosted open source spatial database.

The text discusses the use of Yelp data from Las Vegas to create visualizations that provide insights into the city's culture, tourism, and local population. The analysis reveals that tourists tend to review businesses on the Strip, while locals are more concentrated in other areas of the city. A visualization of business prices shows that the Strip is generally more expensive than the rest of the city, with a slight pattern of higher-priced shops in the southwest end of the strip. In contrast, the local population's growth has led to rapid expansion of new businesses, including Mexican restaurants and dentists, although some areas, such as Charleston Heights, appear to be less attractive for these types of establishments. The analysis also highlights the importance of considering demographic data when starting a business in Las Vegas or Phoenix.

The interactive data graphic, created by RocketMill for Caring Homes, presents quality of care ratings in a geographical and visual format, allowing for analysis of ties to affluence or life expectancy. The map was generated using CartoDB, with geocoding and styling used to clearly visualize the findings. The project aimed to present more transparent data on quality of care, building on the availability of CQC inspections and ONS data, which were accessed through publicly available csv files and then processed for consistency.

The CartoDB Developers Program was introduced at FOSS4G in Denver three years ago, where the team committed the final code for their Beta release. Since then, they have sponsored and participated in the event every year. This year, they are presenting over six talks and workshops involving CartoDB. The Developers Program is an initiative that has been refined over time and will be proposed at FOSS4G as a platform to connect with other developers.

The Visual Data Discovery and Analytics Summit will take place on September 17th and 18th, featuring a range of speakers from companies like Datameer, Tableau, Bank of America, and SAS, as well as experts in visualization and data analysis. CartoDB, represented by Senior Scientist Andrew Hill, will be presenting on "Unlocking Rich Information from Geospatial Data" on September 18th, discussing how geospatial data can be leveraged to gain insights and tell better stories through the use of CartoDB's capabilities. The summit offers a free registration option, as well as a free intro webinar to CartoDB scheduled for September 4th.