Imperfect Iteration [Part 2]

The #30DayMapChallenge 2023 Recap

Wahyu Ramadhan

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9 min readJan 23, 2024

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Halo semuanya,

This content is the second part of the #30DayMapChallenge recap for the year 2023; you can find the previous part here.

As I mentioned in the previous part, since I’m currently pursuing a master’s degree, completing this year’s challenge has become more challenging. It turns out that studies are quite demanding (compared to working), especially in November, which is the period leading up to the final exams. Consequently, I could only complete a portion of the challenge.

Dividing my focus between completing the challenge and my studies is certainly not easy; it’s truly hard. As a result, I experienced more writer’s block or art block than in the previous year. Even though the methods for brainstorming ideas remain the same and references are more abundant (now with various AI-based platforms), it doesn’t seem to be enough to aid in the execution.

To facilitate the idea-generation process, I even purchased a book that serves as a collection of spatial data visualizations. Did it help? Well, it’s a mix of yes and no, as some of them turned out to be things I had already done in challenges from previous years. This might also be something I’ve noticed because over the years, I’ve been seeking unique and more specific topics that I haven’t executed in challenges before.

The continuously rising level from year to year creates a kind of dilemma for me. On the one hand, it’s good because it keeps producing something new, but on the other hand, I feel it’s just repetitive. Moreover, the idea-generation process becomes even more challenging, time-consuming, and a constant pursuit of perfection.

Encouraging oneself not to fuss about unnecessary perfection, emphasizing that getting it done is more crucial, must be acknowledged as challenging. It’s a bit ironic because I once wrote about this 😁. With higher levels, responsibilities also increase, and I hope to be better in the next challenge. Moreover, I believe that quantity (carefully considered), will lead us to quality sooner or later.

Day 8 — Africa

Africa is the second most populous continent in the world (1.4 billion) after Asia, comprising about 17% of the global population. Moreover, besides its rich cultural and natural wealth, Africa is estimated to be the birthplace of the first ‘humans’ around 200,000 years ago in Ethiopia.

This map visualizes the population density based on countries in the African continent. It originates from the Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) data, displaying the population count per square kilometer. Red indicates a population density of over 1000 individuals, while green to blue shades represent decreasing population densities.

You can compare various countries by clicking on one point or area on the map, and then clicking another point in a different country. This action generates a chart displaying statistical differences between those countries. Upon a quick visual observation, it appears that fewer inhabitants are residing in the central African area. This seems to be related to the extreme environmental conditions, specifically the Sahara Desert.

Day 8 — Africa

Interactive map

Source:

Day 10 — North America

The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is a spectral index derived from calculations using two bands of satellite imagery: Near Infra-Red and Red. Generally, NDVI provides information about vegetation density and conditions in specific areas. NDVI values range from -1 to 1, with values approaching 1 indicating denser vegetation conditions.

In reality, we can incorporate a temporal aspect, making it a spatio-temporal analysis. This enables us to extract deeper insights such as vegetation dynamics (damage or stress), crop cycles in agriculture, and serve as an early warning signal for droughts or pest infestations. This could assist farmers and stakeholders in formulating preventive policies.

The map I created shows the vegetation density levels across the United States throughout the year 2022. Clicking a point on the map displays a vegetation level chart in the left panel. If we select a visually apparent agricultural area, the assumption is that if the NDVI is high, it might indicate the harvest season. Each region could have a different harvest cycle based on the type of crops and the local climate.

In my view, interpreting NDVI can become quite tricky when applied to highly heterogeneous land cover types, such as in Indonesia, especially on Java Island. This is because the same NDVI value could represent different types of vegetation. Other factors, like satellite sensor capabilities affecting atmospheric effects, spectral resolution, spatial resolution, etc., also play a role.

Ideally, interpreting NDVI on a smaller regional scale would be more effective rather than on a wider scale. This is because each area possesses its unique characteristics, making it challenging to determine a universal NDVI threshold.

Day 10 — North America

Interactive map

Source:

Day 12 — South America

Aboveground biomass carbon (AGBC) is the term used to describe the carbon stored in plants that are visible above the soil surface. This includes the stems and leaves of trees, shrubs, grasses, and crops. AGBC is a key component of the global carbon cycle, as it affects how much carbon dioxide is absorbed or released by the land surface. So, in other words, AGBC has many benefits for both the environment and humans.

By capturing and storing carbon from the air, AGBC helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change. AGBC also improves soil quality and stability, which prevents erosion and enhances water retention. Furthermore, AGBC supports various life forms and ecosystem services, such as biodiversity, pollination, and nutrient cycling. Lastly, AGBC provides valuable products and services for human use, such as food, fuel, medicine, and ecotourism.

This map shows AGBC for 2010 at 300-m resolution, based on two previous datasets from UNEP-WCMC and NASA/ORNL, which have different time and space features. It also combines different sources of remotely sensed maps of biomass for different land cover types, such as forests, grasslands, croplands, and tundras. The color of the map indicates the amount of AGBC, with darker green showing higher values and lighter green showing lower values.

We can guest that the Amazon forest has more AGBC than its surrounding areas. This map can be useful for studying the carbon cycle and the effects of land use change on the environment. One possible application is to compare this map with the data on forest cover loss to see how deforestation affects carbon storage.

Day 12 — South America

Interactive Map

Sources:

Day 14 & 24 — Europe and Black & White

The view of Earth at night from space is captivating. It unveils the intricate patterns of human activity and settlements worldwide. Visible are the artificial lights emanating from diverse sources like cities, towns, roads, industries, and fires, commonly referred to as night-time lights. Satellites capture these lights within the visible and near-infrared spectrum.

The satellite images depict the average radiance of lights in nanoWatts per square centimeter per steradian (nW/cm²/sr), a unit measuring the brightness of light sources. This data aids in comprehending the spatial dynamics of human activities, as well as their environmental and socio-economic impacts. For instance, the map illustrates the average radiance of lights in Europe in 2022. Variances in the distribution and intensity of lights between urban and suburban areas are clearly discernible.

Day 14 & 24 — Europe and Black & White

Interactive Map

Sources:

Day 15 & 26 — OpenStreetMap & Minimal

There isn’t much I can say about this data — minimal map, minimal caption as well 😁. Although it looks simple, due to the vast number of building polygons in the city of Bandung, the processing stage is quite demanding on my computer.

The fact that Bandung is situated in a highland area with relatively cool temperatures is accurate. However, it’s worth noting that the southern and eastern regions of the city, with lower elevations compared to the northern part, might offer a different impression when visited in person.

Tools:

Figma
QGIS

Sources:

OpenStreetMap exported from https://export.hotosm.org/
SRTM DEM

Day 16 & 23 — Oceania & Raster

On December 9, 2019, Whakaari, a popular volcanic island in New Zealand, erupted, killing 22 and injuring 25, most of whom were tourists. The eruption, triggered by a buildup of pressure in the volcano’s hydrothermal system, led to challenging rescue efforts due to seismic activity, poor visibility, and toxic gases. The event sparked debate over New Zealand’s adventure tourism industry’s safety and regulation, leading to charges against the island’s owners, tour operators, and government and scientific agencies for failing to ensure safety.

So, this is a false-color composite display, Near-Infrared (NIR), Red, and Green from PlanetScope satellite data taken on 5 January 2020, and 12 November 2023, to compare the post-eruption and current conditions of Whakaari Island. This false-color display is a composite option that accommodates the human eye’s inability to see or differentiate objects in the visible wavelength. Visually, for almost 4 years, there’s been no significant difference in the island’s landscape and vegetation, depicted in red. The only visible change is the disappearance of the island in the middle of the crater, although this might also be due to the increased water level in the crater. So, what’s your thought?

To be honest, in today’s challenge, I use the privilege of being a master’s student. Why? Because Planet allows access to their data (up to 5000km2 monthly) for educational and research purposes. This becomes an advantage when, for instance, studying a relatively small area like Whakaari, which is only about 325 hectares. FYI, satellite imagery data from Planet has a relatively high spatial resolution of 3 meters.

Day 16 & 23 — Oceania & Raster

Interactive Map

Sources:

Day 17 — Flow

Global data traffic, including communication and the internet, predominantly relies on submarine cable technology connecting countries worldwide. These cables, laid on the seabed between land-based stations, use fiber-optic technology to rapidly transmit data via lasers through thin glass fibers. They offer advantages over satellites, being cheaper, faster, and more reliable with higher bandwidth and less interference. However, challenges include complex and costly maintenance, vulnerability to natural disasters and human activities, and limited capacity.

The comparison between submarine cables and satellites in connecting the world reveals the pros and cons crucial to our daily lives. Submarine cables outpace satellites in data transmission speed, especially in internet, phone, and TV communication, due to their immunity to weather and lower latency, making them more cost-effective.

Responsible for 99% of global data traffic, submarine cables serve as the internet’s backbone, facilitating crucial connections between continents for global communication, financial transactions, and medical cooperation. Yet, they face challenges like damage vulnerability, limited coverage, and finite capacity. Continuous innovation for alternative technologies remains crucial to complement or replace submarine cables.

Day 17 — Flow

Interactive Map

Sources: