December 2014 Summaries

The Northwest Bushwick Community Map Redesign` is an ongoing project by Chris Henrick to document and provide information on land use, housing, and urban development in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. The map aims to inform NYC residents about indicators that may predict new urban development and help prevent displacement of residents. To improve the map's design and functionality, Chris worked with graduate students from Parsons School of Design, using CartoDB and CartoDB.js libraries to host data on the platform. This allows for interactive layers, styling, and toggling of data, as well as processing of new data in the CartoDB dashboard. The project also features an interactive slideshow showcasing real-world stories about affordable housing stock and displacement, with a toggle between English and Spanish text. Future plans include integrating participatory map data on housing vacancy and development, as well as customizable interactive map content using CartoDB and Odyssey.js libraries.

We're pleased to welcome Eric Bean to the Madrid contingent of the CartoDB team, bringing a mix of financial services data analytics and management skills to customer relations. A native Midwesterner who has lived in both the US West Coast and Spain, Eric joins CartoDB as an Account Manager with experience in analytics consulting and statistical modeling. His background in economics, international law, and cultural exposure have shaped his interests in geographic information and data analysis, which he now applies to his role at CartoDB. With a Master's in International Business from the University of Madrid, Eric is well-equipped to navigate the intersection of business and geography.

MaptimeNYC recently hosted an event at CartoDB's New York office, bringing together mappers from across the city to share ideas and build community around mapping. The group showcased a skill or technique presented by a fellow mapper, then transitioned into problem-solving working sessions that tackled various aspects of developing and mapping technologies. The session featured part 2 of a series on SQL using PostGIS, providing handy queries for connecting dots with lines, finding points within geographic areas, and visualizing differences in data. These queries utilize functions such as ST_Makeline, ST_Contains, CDB_LatLng, and lag(). The event aimed to create a safe space for mappers to experiment, make mistakes, and learn from each other's experiences.

The Startup Institute NYC partnered with CartoDB to host a Strategy Hack workshop, where CartoDB facilitated mapping tools and created life-long learning opportunities for innovators. This event allowed CartoDB to explore how its platform is used in the classroom and pushed the envelope on cloud-based mapping applications. The initiative also announced CartoDB Start-Up Grants, providing resources to emerging companies developing digital tools for social good using the CartoDB platform.

CartoDB has been used by many educators in their courses, and the company is now looking into how it can be improved for teaching with maps. The first Educator's Night was held at CartoDB's Brooklyn offices, where three educators shared their use cases and lesson ideas, and participants discussed needed resources and technologies for future map-based education. The event revealed that students are interested in exploring social media and quantified self data, as well as thematic datasets like global crises data. CartoDB is working on adding features such as a SQL playground, vetted data packages, and modular tutorials to its platform, and is also considering offering free student access to some resources. The event showed the diversity of courses incorporating CartoDB, from GIS to History, Data Journalism to Design.

In exactly one year from today the force will re-awaken with Star Wars: Episode VII. A comprehensive map of the Star Wars galaxy has been created, featuring all planets, hyperspace lanes, sectors, and regions. The map is interactive and includes attributes such as name, location, and other information for easy data searching. The project was inspired by existing maps, including "Map of the Star Wars Galaxy" and "The Essential Atlas", which lacked interactivity. The creator, Henry Bernberg, aimed to combine mapping design and data skills to create a user-friendly portal to search for planets and objects in the Star Wars universe, linking to fan-friendly resources such as Wookieepedia. The map is expected to be updated with specific search and navigation functionality in the future.

Introducing Positron and Dark Matter basemaps from CartoDB` CartoDB has introduced two new basemaps, Positron and Dark Matter, developed in collaboration with Stamen Design. These maps are designed to provide geospatial context while showcasing user data, available in two color themes with customizable labeling options. Built using OpenStreetMap data, the maps offer up-to-date features and allow for direct editing from a browser. The new basemaps aim to enhance data visualization capabilities, making it easier for users to create impressive maps.

Wow, CartoDB is going to Mars? Well kind of. We're looking for an extra special intern that will help the European Space Agency search for a martian landing spot and communicate it to the public through an interactive web map visualization of the ExoMars Rover landing sites. The goal of this project is to design and build an engaging visualisation that facilitates the understanding of key concepts for selecting landing sites, including scientific and engineering constraints. The intern will work with the ESA's Planetary Science Archive Team and CartoDB team to design and prototype the front-end web interface and support the identification and preparation of geospatial data products.

The New York Public Library (NYPL) has developed an open-access tool called MapWarper, which allows users to rectify historical maps from its collections and make them available to the public. The library's developer team has created over 10,000 maps that can be used for various purposes. NYPL's basemap importer makes it easy to borrow these historical maps for use in CartoDB projects. Users can access MapWarper by clicking "Select basemap" in their CartoDB Editor and inputting the URL of a supported historical map. Once the map is added, users can annotate and add features such as points and lines. The NYPL's "Mapping the Past" feature series will share cool historical stories using CartoDB, providing users with opportunities to explore the past through interactive maps.

Santi Saez is joining the CartoDB team, aiming to automate processes within their engines. He brings experience from previous roles at Hostalia and Tuenti, where he successfully automated tasks. Some people question his accomplishments, attributing them to his dog Hodei, but this claim has not been verified. Santi describes himself as a middle-aged individual who enjoys travel and hiking, often greeting others with a "hello".