April 2015 Summaries

You can create live data tables in CartoDB updated on your own schedule from private data using the `ogr2ogr` tool from the open source GDAL library. The process involves loading a fresh table into CartoDB, refreshing and updating the data, and appending new records to the existing data. This approach allows you to manage private data without relying on public URLs or overwriting existing data. To refresh the data, you can use the `TRUNCATE` command to remove existing data and then load new data in append mode. Additionally, you can add a timestamp column to track when data was loaded, allowing for scheduled deletion of older records. By using this approach, you can keep your CartoDB tables up-to-date with your private data without sacrificing control over the data.

CartoDB is organizing a lunch event series called CartoChat Lunches, where they invite attendees to share their personal passions or professional specialties over lunch. The events will take place every other Friday at the Madrid office starting from May 8th. CartoDB aims to create a platform for informal talks and connections among people with diverse backgrounds and interests.

This past Saturday an epic earthquake devastated Nepal resulting in a profound death toll and a significant response from the humanitarian community. The crisis-mapping community has been actively involved in creating visualizations of search and rescue efforts, earthquake magnitude, and humanitarian responses. Multiple users have built maps using CartoDB and other platforms, providing valuable information on the impact of the disaster. Satellite imagery is being made available to track recovery and rescue efforts, and there are opportunities for individuals to contribute to mapping campaigns and share their own stories through embed codes. The response has been impressive, with multiple organizations and communities coming together to provide support and assistance.

As baseball fans eagerly await the start of a new season, CartoDB collaborated with Major League Baseball to create a series of Twitter maps for each opening day game. The project involved mapping tweets for each team's hashtag during their game, revealing interesting stories and fan engagement patterns. The maps showcased the excitement of fans, including bursts of activity during key moments in the games, such as home runs and rain delays. CartoDB used CartoCSS to create the maps, employing various techniques like Torque aggregation function and frame-offset rules to visualize the data. The project not only provided a unique visual representation of fan engagement but also uncovered interesting stories behind the tweets, highlighting the power of cartography in uncovering hidden insights.

Our favorite Earth Day maps showcase various initiatives that utilize maps to understand and protect the environment. The CartoDB team has been involved in several projects, including NYC Tree maps, Global Forest Watch, and InfoAmazonia, which provide interactive tools for exploring deforestation, forest change, and supply chain connections. Additionally, LifeWatch INBO's animal tracking maps are a great example of how scientific data can be presented in an engaging way, while also highlighting the impact of pollution through maps produced by Yale's Environmental Performance Index. These projects demonstrate the power of maps in promoting environmental awareness and action, making them perfect for celebrating Earth Day.

A CartoDB Platform app can be created with multiple layers, which are actually datasets stored in tables within the PostgreSQL/PostGIS database, allowing for a large number of layers to be supported. However, visualizations made through the CartoDB Editor have a limit of 4-6 sublayers due to performance constraints. To overcome this limitation, custom apps can be built using the CartoDB APIs and platform, providing full control over visualization choices and user experience. A template for creating multi-layer geoportal sites is available, which allows users to easily create their own app with a scrollable list of layers and toggle them on and off independently. The app uses the SQL API to retrieve layer metadata and visualize multiple datasets simultaneously.

The new MailChimp Connector for CartoDB allows users to aggregate marketing data from their MailChimp account, providing insights into client outreach and campaign performance. By mapping campaigns, users can visualize the global distribution of their user base, identify areas for improvement, and develop efficient target marketing strategies. The connector enables real-time monitoring of campaign performance and offers a simple, streamlined process for uploading and visualizing data. With this feature, users can create beautiful maps and datasets in just a few clicks, saving time and effort, and gaining a competitive edge in their marketing efforts.

At CartoDB, the company loves its mapping communities and celebrates Maptime, a gathering that has elevated cartographic culture worldwide. For March, CartoDB sponsored pizza for map-builders from Los Angeles to New York City, making it a huge success. The team at CartoDB values their connections with fellow mappers, aiming to elevate them through creative means. They encourage sharing maps and staying tuned for more co-creation opportunities. Thanks are extended to the Maptime community for their contributions to cartographic culture.

CartoDB nominated for the 2015 Webby Awards` CartoDB is honored to announce its nomination for a Webby Award, one of the most prestigious awards in web culture. The Webby Awards, which received over 12,000 entries from across the US and globally, recognize innovation and excellence in web services and applications. CartoDB's selection as a nominee alongside four other prominent websites is a testament to its exceptional geospatial service, which has captured the attention of judges and users alike. To further cement its reputation, CartoDB is now counting on user votes to secure its win, with voting open until April 23rd.

The author, Chris Reed, is a CartoDB collaborator and developer who created an interactive map using OdysseyJS to learn about Mexico's Santiago River. The map provides a narrative approach to understanding the river's context and watershed wisdom. Inspired by his interest in environmental issues, Chris used CartoDB to create a linear map of the river from its source to the Pacific Ocean, highlighting key points along the way. He also explored the potential for using OdysseyJS plugins to integrate media sources and crowd-sourcing workflows. The project showcases the power of interactive mapping for storytelling and awareness-raising about environmental issues in Latin America.

Magical PostGIS in three brief movements' is a presentation by Paul Ramsey, focusing on advanced features of PostGIS and PostgreSQL to accomplish surprising results. The event will take place at CartoDBeers in Madrid next Wednesday from 7pm, where attendees can learn about these features and ask questions during a Q&A session. Following the event, participants are invited to join for a chat over beers with Paul Ramsey and other attendees.

Firebase is an awesome platform for making real-time applications allowing developers to push and receive updates from multiple clients easily, while CartoDB is a platform for designers and developers to create beautiful maps and apps. Combining the two creates a powerful tool for producing maps of real-time data that update instantly across all devices, web or mobile. This combination has been showcased in a guest post at the Firebase blog and demonstrated through a working application.

Fishers, members of the weasel family, have made their way into urban areas along the East Coast, including suburbs like Albany, NY, and Boston. Using GPS-tracking data from Roland Kays' studies, Laura Allen created a map with CartoDB to visualize Phineas, a fisher's movements in forest fragments near a major mall subdivision and six lanes of I-87 outside of Albany. The map shows Phineas' territory and places where he spent much time, revealing that the darkest spots are not dense but rather trees or brush piles used for shelter on cold days. To add interactivity, Allen added notable moments to the map, highlighting Phineas's journey with timestamps, details, and levels of importance. The visualization also shows how fishers' range has changed over time, with a comparison between the current range and the species' refugia range in the 1800s.