The article details a method for creating a custom analytics solution using Astro, Vercel Edge Functions, and Neon, as an alternative to Google Analytics, which has retired certain functionalities with its transition from Universal Analytics to GA4. The author explains the need to devise this system due to the removal of geolocation data in GA4, which was previously used to plot visitor locations on a 3D globe. The solution involves setting up a Neon serverless Postgres database, configuring Vercel Edge Functions for geolocation extraction, and implementing client-side requests via the sendBeacon API to log page views. The data collected is securely stored and can be visualized in various ways, ensuring ownership and control over analytics data without relying on third-party platforms like Google. The author also provides insights into setting up the necessary environment and emphasizes the benefits of having a customizable and reliable analytics setup.