Geographers unique insights showcased in our Geovisualisation series

^{Nitrogren dioxide distribution in Europe on the UK's hottest day of 2019 © James Cheshire}

Geovisualisations is a new series of images and articles that explore the power of maps and geographical data visualisations for telling stories about our world.

Geographers bring a critical perspective and approach to interpreting and presenting data, using their focus on space and holistic world view to present data in innovative and understandable ways. In Geovisualisations we will be exploring the ways in which connecting data on people, places and environments underpins good decision-making and improves communication and understanding. And we’ll also be showcasing the skills, data sources, techniques and tools used to tell these stories.

The first visualisation (shown above) from James Cheshire, Professor in Geographic Information and Cartography at University College London, shows the distribution of nitrogen dioxide across Europe on the UK’s hottest day of 2019. Maps such as this allow us to better monitor air pollution levels and understand how heatwaves affect air quality, making future forecasts more accurate.

You can find out more about James’ visualisation from watching the video below. If you’re interested in trying this out for yourself, read James’s tips on recreating this map.

If you would like to suggest an image for the series, or would like to take part, get in touch at policy@rgs.org.