Modern Mapping and New Data Visualizations

With emerging open source web technologies, it's become much easier to create custom maps and visualizations using your own data. This month we'll look at mapping tools, and how nonprofits can use maps to better communicate about their work, track operations, and connect people. Most importantly, we'll show you how to get started today without breaking your budget.

Nate Smith from Development Seed (http://www.developmentseed.org (http://www.developmentseed.org/)) will talk about the landscape of web mapping tools, specifically open source solutions like the map design studio TileMill (http://tilemill.com (http://tilemill.com/)) and baselayer maps from OpenStreetMap. He'll also show examples of how DC nonprofits are using maps to better tell stories ( http://map.peoplesdistrict.com/ ), map their operations ( http://data.awidercircle.org/ ), and map emerging crisis on the ground around the world ( http://one.org/us/actnow/horn.html ).

Additionally InterAction ( http://www.interaction.org ), a membership organization of U.S-based NGOs, will present NGO Aid Map ( http://ngoaidmap.org ), and online tool that shows who is doing what, where and increases coordination and transparency within the NGO community.

NetSquared DC is a vibrant local community thriving at the intersection of social change and technology. We’re part of a global NetSquared movement that focuses on the exponential impact we can have when we combine our hunger for change with powerful new technologies.

We’re proud to be one of the largest and longest-running NetSquared groups around, and thank our amazing members who come out in force each month to share what they’ve learned and get to know each other better.

You can make sure you’re the first to hear about upcoming events by joining our Meetup. We usually meet at 7pm on the third Tuesday of each month at the Affinity Lab on U Street NW, DC’s greatest entrepreneurial launch space.

A full archive of our past events is available here on our Meetup page at https://www.meetup.com/net2dc .