Welcome to my contributions to the 2024 #30DayMapChallenge!
The 30-Day Map Challenge is a challenge initiated by Topi Tjukanov that invites map makers to create and share maps based on daily themes. This is my very first time joining the challenge and it has been an exciting and rewarding experience for me. Although it was originally scheduled for November 2024, I started in early January 2025 and proudly completed all 30 maps by the end of the month!
It’s been a tough yet enjoyable journey that pushed me to try new mapping techniques and explore new data sources. Throughout this challenge, I focused on the areas I’m most passionate about: 🌍climate, 🌱environment, ♻️sustainability, and ⚡energy.
You can explore my map contributions covering a variety of themes such as Points, Lines, Polygons, Hexagons, A Journey, Raster, Vintage Style, Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX), AI Only, Pen & Paper, Arctic, Time and Space, A New Tool, A World Map, My Data, Choropleth, Collaborative Map, 3D, Typography, OpenStreetMap, Conflict, Two Colours, Memory, Only Circular Shapes, Heat, Map Projections, Micromapping, The Blue Planet, Overture, and The Final Map. Scroll through to explore all 30 maps!
| Tools | Map Count |
|---|---|
| Python | 11 |
| R | 5 |
| ArcGIS | 5 |
| Tableau | 5 |
| Google Earth Engine | 3 |
| Carto | 1 |
| DALL-E | 1 |
| Pen & Paper | 1 |
North America Renewable Energy Plants
This map marks the exciting start of my first-ever 30-Day Map Challenge experience. I explored the distribution of renewable energy power plants across North America that highlights key energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro. The data used for this visualization comes from Esri Canada. It’s nice to kick off this challenge with such an interesting topic! Check out the interactive map here: North America Renewable Energy Plants
Kalimantan River Network
I have always been fascinated by the intricate river systems that sustain life and connect remote areas. This map traces the river networks of Borneo/Kalimantan (Indonesia side) using HydroSheds by Spatial Thoughts. Rivers of the same color indicate those that originate from a common main river.
Bivariate Map of Energy Use Intensity and Water Use Intensity in NYC
Understanding the relationship between energy and water consumption is crucial for sustainable urban planning. I created this bivariate map to visualize how these two essential resources are utilized across NYC neighborhoods. By combining energy use intensity and water use intensity, this map helps to identify areas where conservation efforts can be optimized and where infrastructure improvements might be needed.
Hex Map of NYC Trees
This time, I visualized the distribution of street trees across New York City using a hexagonal grid. The data, sourced from NYC Open Data, provides insights into areas with high and low tree density. This hex map helps reveal patterns of urban greenery, showcasing how tree coverage varies across different boroughs.
Migration Patterns in the U.S
I explored migration patterns in the U.S. Using IRS county-to-county migration data, this map visualizes where people are moving across the country. Migration trends are shaped by economic opportunities, housing affordability, climate risks, and lifestyle changes, factors that continue to redefine urban and rural landscapes. Explore interactive visualization here
South Sumatra Forest Loss
Having seen the alarming deforestation rates in South Sumatra, I wanted to shed light on this pressing issue. Using data from Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, this map highlights deforestation patterns and serves as a call to action for sustainable land management. Thanks to Milos Popovic for the wonderful tutorial!
Indonesia Ring of Fire
Indonesia’s volcanic activity has always intrigued me, and I wanted to present it in a vintage cartographic style. This map captures the seismic activity of the region while paying homage to classic cartography techniques. Explore the interactive visualization here: Indonesia Ring of Fire.
Access to Electricity
For this theme, I revisited a visualization I created years ago. This map illustrates global access to electricity and highlights disparities across countries. It tracks progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) by mapping the proportion of populations with access to electricity from 2000 to 2016. Check out the interactive visualization here: Access to Electricty
What if Public Transport Connected All US National Parks?
I often wish for an easier way to visit national parks without the hassle of long drives. This AI-generated map imagines a future where eco-friendly buses, high-speed trains, and scenic routes connect all US national parks to make traveling more accessible and sustainable. Creating this map was challenging. I struggled to refine the AI prompt to remove unnecessary text and accurately place park locations. Despite the hurdles, it’s exciting to think about a greener future. Until then, I’ll keep driving and dreaming!
Alaska by Hand
It's Day 10, so I had to pull out my pen and paper for this one. I drew Alaska, the land of glaciers, permafrost, and energy shifts, where climate change reshapes landscapes. From melting ice to renewable energy, Alaska stands at the crossroads of environmental challenges and sustainability efforts. Pardon my bad calligraphy. I tried! 😆
Map Arctic Ice Extent Changes Over Time
For day 11, I created an animated map showcasing the changes in Arctic ice extent from 1980 to 2020 at 10-year intervals. Inspired by John Nelson's cartographic techniques, I aimed to visualize the changes of Arctic ice changes in a compelling and informative way.
Land Cover Change in Jakarta and Surroundings Area
Having grown up near Jakarta, I’ve always been aware of how rapidly the city has expanded, with once lush green areas gradually turning into concrete landscapes. This visualization captures the transformation of the Jabodetabek region over the past three decades, showing the relentless urban sprawl and shrinking natural green coverage.
California Power Plant Risk to Climate
Trying out new tools has been one of the best parts of this challenge! I built a real-time climate risk dashboard in CARTO, integrating live weather alerts to assess threats to power plants in California. With wildfires, extreme heat, and storms impacting energy infrastructure, proactive risk mapping is essential for a more resilient power grid. This was my first time working with CARTO, and I was impressed by how low-code spatial automation can generate real-time insights. The final dashboard provides live alerts on how many and which power plants are at risk. Thanks to Gideon Singer and Helen McKenzie's tutorials!
World Temperature Anomaly 2024 vs 1900-2000
Using data from NASA GISS, I tried to illustrate the reality of climate change by comparing global temperature average between 2024 and the 1900-2000 baseline. This map reveals that the north region stands out as the most affected area, with temperature anomalies surpassing 4°C. Credits to Himalaya.
Mapping My Running Journey
I picked up a new habit in 2024: jogging! For Day 15 (My Data), I mapped my running routes across NYC. The heatmap reveals my favorite spots, and no surprise, parks are my go-to! Hudson River Greenway, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Central Park, Prospect Park, and Astoria Park have been my top running destinations. I hate running in the middle of the city. Too many intersections, too many stops, and it totally kills the rhythm. Looking at this map, I’m wondering… should I switch things up and explore new routes? Any suggestions?
Disaster Risks Across U.S. Counties
This visualization breaks down disaster risks across the U.S., highlighting where counties are most vulnerable to heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, hurricanes, floods, and winter weather. Each map shows the geographic distribution of these hazards, helping to identify regions that face the greatest threats. Explore interactive visualization here
NYC Walkability Map
For the collaborative map, I created the NYC Walkability Index with my colleague, Ismail Rashad. The Walkability Index is formed from five key indices: Land Use Diversity Index (LUDI), Intersection Density Index (IDI), Public Transportation Accessibility Index (PTAI), Population Density Index (PDI), and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). These indices leverage geospatial data to provide a comprehensive perspective on walkability and its impact on urban sustainability and overall livability.
3D Tambora Volcano
I created a 3D visualization of Mount Tambora, one of Indonesia's most famous volcanoes, using topographic data derived from Digital Elevation Models (DEM) and Landsat satellite imagery. Inspired by Tyler Morgan-Wall's tutorial, this map highlights the caldera and surrounding terrain that shows insights into the volcano's structure and historical significance.
Word Cloud Map of NY State Climate Action Council Scoping Plan
This word cloud visualizes key words from the New York State Climate Action Council Scoping Plan 2022. Using a typographic approach, it highlights the most frequently mentioned terms, such as “program”, “support”, “ghg emissions”, and “climate act”, that reflects the state’s focus on sustainability, emissions reduction, and community engagement. The varying font sizes represent the frequency of words in the document that provide insights into the policy’s emphasis on disadvantaged communities, energy efficiency, and greenhouse gas reductions.
Jakarta Circular Map
This minimalist circular map of Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, showcases the city's road network, waterways, and green spaces using OpenStreetMap data. With subtle colors and precise lines, it offers a fresh, modern perspective on Jakarta’s urban layout, complemented by geographic coordinates for added context.
Orangutan vs Deforestation
This map is inspired by Christina Shintani's work and my desire to recreate it. Utilizing deforestation data from GLAD Laboratory and Orangutan ranges from IUCN, this map highlights the critical overlap between orangutan habitats and deforestation activities, including palm oil plantations and logging.
Jakarta Road Circular Map Black and White
For Day 22, I created this minimalist black-and-white circular map of Jakarta’s roads to showcase the city’s road network in a clean, modern style. Using data from OpenStreetMap (OSM) and tools in R, this map highlights the connectivity of Jakarta's roadways while maintaining a visually striking yet simple aesthetic.
Memories of Lake Powell
Some places just stay with you. For Day 23 (Memory), I mapped Lake Powell, one of the stops from my best-ever road trip last spring break. Driving through Utah and Arizona, visiting national parks, and witnessing breathtaking landscapes made for an incredible journey, and this lake was a standout. I visualized NDVI (vegetation), NDWI (water), True Color (RGB), False Color (NIR, Red, Green), and SWIR False Color. The NDWI highlights the water extent in blue, NDVI shows vegetation in green, and the false-color composites reveal hidden patterns in the landscape. It’s fascinating for me to see how remote sensing unveils different aspects of this iconic reservoir! See the map here:
https://ee-juniomata.projects.earthengine.app/view/lakepowell
Manhattan Boundary Formed by a Circle
This was probably one of the toughest topics. I had to really think outside the box since the challenge was to make a map using only circular shapes. I ended up creating a visualization of Manhattan's boundary entirely out of circles and even using a font made of dots/circle. Honestly, I’m a bit shocked at how creative I can be, and I absolutely love how it turned out!
Jakarta Land Surface Temperature (LST) Over Time
For Day 25, I mapped Jakarta's land surface temperature using Landsat data processed in Google Earth Engine. The map presents the average temperature distribution for the periods 1999-2000, 2009-2010, and 2022-2023, highlighting urban heat phenonmenon effects over time. Warmer areas in red represent densely built regions, while cooler zones in blue indicate green spaces and water bodies.
Global Temperature Anomalies with Pre-Industrial as Baseline (with Different Map Projections)
Using the same data source as Day 14, I mapped global temperature anomalies by comparing average temperatures from the past 20 years (2004-2024) with the pre-industrial era (1880–1900). This time, I broke it down by seasons and applied different map projections for each one with the help of the Cartopy Python library. The maps reveal that temperatures across all seasons in the last 20 years mostly show a rise compared to the pre-industrial era, which may reflect the impact of industrial activities.
3D Buildings of Belle Isle, Miami Beach (Sea Level Rise Impact)
Day 27 is here, and I decided to zoom in on Belle Isle in Miami Beach, Florida.
Using ArcGIS Pro, I put together detailed 3D visualizations of the island’s buildings to capture a small area with high accuracy.
To make things more interesting, I explored the potential impacts of sea level rise, using data from NOAA and ArcGIS Living Atlas.
I mapped out sea level rise scenarios for 2030, 2050, and 2090 to provide useful insights for future planning in this coastal community.
To create this map, I followed the ESRI Academy GIS for Climate Action MOOC.
Mississippi River Relative Elevation Model (REM)
For Day 28 of Blue Planet, I chose to visualize a river. I explored the Mississippi River that crosses Arkansas using a Relative Elevation Model (REM) to visualize its topography and surrounding landscapes. This is my first time creating this kind of visualization, and I followed Daniel Jahn's notebook. It was challenging but fun to try!
Jakarta 3D Buildings
Again, this is my first time using Overture data. I used R to create a 3D visualization of Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. This project allowed me to explore the complexities of Jakarta's urban landscape. This map reveals how high-rise buildings are densely concentrated in the SCBD (Sudirman Central Business District) area, one of the city's most prominent financial hubs. While I noticed that some high-rise buildings may be missing from the dataset, Overture provides a valuable resource for capturing building heights, particularly in Global South cities where such data can be scarce. Let’s wait for the next data update to see how it evolves! Special thanks to Kyle Walker for his easy-to-follow guide. Check out the interactive map here: Jakarta Overture Buildings
Compilations of Where I Finished Each Map
For the final day of #30DayMapChallenge, I mapped where I created each map: mostly at campus, cafés, and libraries! These spots fueled my creativity, whether I was deep in focus at a study space or switching things up at a cozy café. 🔗 Check out the interactive map here
A huge thank you to all map makers who inspired me throughout this journey! And If you’ve scrolled this far... Thank you very much! 🙌 Feedback, thoughts, and collaboration ideas are always welcome. Let’s connect and keep the mapping journey going!
Feel free to connect with me:
- Email: [email protected]
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/juniomata
- Website: juniomata.github.io