May 2015 Summaries

The Spanish Regional and Municipal Elections: CartoDB Powers Real-Time Results` Maps are used to visualize and analyze poll predictions and real-time election results, providing insights into political differences between regions and possible coalitions. CartoDB was chosen by prominent media outlets in Spain to create interactive maps for election coverage, including a map showing the quantitative and geographical outreach of conversations around different parties on Twitter. The company's platform was used by television stations such as Antena 3 to build real-time updatable maps of Twitter conversations and analyze voter activity based on people's tweets. Additionally, a digital daily newspaper, El Español, conducted a comprehensive analysis of election results using CartoDB maps to explain the impact of the election and show political changes at the local level. The company is grateful for its contribution to understanding the national event and invites users to contact them if they have any map requests.

We're excited to welcome Jorge Sanz, our new team member based in the Madrid office, who will help users on complex projects as a solution architect. Jorge comes from Valencia with a background in surveying geodesy and cartography engineering, having worked on research before transitioning into software development for an Open Source GIS desktop tool called gvSIG. He's been involved with OSGeo since 2006, serving as a Foundation Charter Member and Board of Directors member, contributing to the administration of systems and helping coordinate local geospatial activities in Valencia. Jorge is also part of Geoinquietos Valencia, a group that organizes mapathons, workshops, and other events for geographers and enthusiasts. In his free time, he enjoys sailing and hopes to change his computer keyboard into a helm or rope soon.

CartoDB has agreed with the General Services Administration (GSA) on "federal-friendly" Terms of Use for US Federal Government users, allowing agencies to use CartoDB without individual arrangements. This simplifies mapping activities that rely on location-based data across various federal government levels and departments. The new terms enable faster account creation and mapping by federal staff, including those at the National Park Service and New York City government.

Connects teachers and students to powerful mapping technology, making it easier for educational communities to utilize geospatial visualization and analysis tools. CartoDB now allows students to link their Google Apps-based university email accounts directly into the platform, streamlining the sign-up process and increasing data storage space and student resources. The new feature is designed to help professors reduce class time spent on getting students started with CartoDB, making it easier for them to focus on teaching and learning.