a atlas which does not show what is expected, but which makes data visible. “For centuries, atlases have depicted what people could see with the naked eye: roads, rivers, mountains. But today we need different maps, which include the invisible phenomena that shape our lives, starting with climate change ». James Cheshire, a 35-year-old English geographer from University College London, tells a Republic his book made with Oliver Uberti: Atlas of the invisible, Atlas of the Invisible.
They are maps, texts and graphics that show the changing geography, the human one, that of pollution and climate change. In four years of work, the authors collected data and created maps using also the European Space Agency’s monitors on the levels of nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter in the atmosphere. To the eyes it is not visible, but there is a road in the sky, made of pollution, between Amsterdam and London, there is the population density shown with the light emissions in the neighborhoods of the cities on the coasts of the Mediterranean. There is the level of happiness of countries according to the United Nations, there is the concentration of wealth, there is access to the Internet and the presence of smartphones.
Congratulations to @spatialanalysis and @oliveruberti for winning this year’s overall @bcsmaps award for their Atlas of the Invisible.
More details of all our winners and commended entries are available now on our website https://t.co/qZav1WOtHi #carto21 #awards #excellence pic.twitter.com/E368WrB3pe— British Cartographic Society (@bcsmaps) September 9, 2021
“Much of the inspiration behind the book comes from some nineteenth-century and twentieth-century maps,” explained the geographer to the newspaper, «With the industrial revolution the need arose to photograph a world that was undergoing strong transformation. If I have to think of a work that represents this evolution, the first that comes to mind is Kosmos, the work of the naturalist Alexander von Humboldt published in 1845 ».
With the thousands of data we have today, the obvious evolution is being able to see the invisible. “Using data often means to be able to see the unexpected. I was surprised for example by the map on sea level rise. I thought it was uniform. Instead, for a series of reasons that include physics such as currents and temperatures, in some areas such as the Marshall Islands, the level has risen twice as high as the average ».
The cartography which is based on data also looks at the causes. “It often leads to asking more questions than answers. And so it gives you an idea of the complexity of what you are looking at. Maps have always been used for this: to help navigate a complex world ».
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
