National Geographic's Map Maker Atlas is an interactive GIS resource designed to help teachers, students, and National Geographic Explorers understand how the world is connected and develop essential geographic competencies. National Geographic partnered with Blue Raster to enrich the Atlas with new World Water Map layers, providing educators and students with powerful tools to explore global water use and availability.Â
The World Water Map includes over 40 years of historical data and three models projecting future usage through 2050. Our mission was to process and present this data in a way that was engaging, easy to understand, and suitable for classroom learning.Â
What's Inside the World Water Map?Â
The World Water Map focuses on two critical themes:
- Water Demand: Annual data from 1980 to the present, broken down by domestic, industrial, and agricultural consumption.
- Water Gaps: Regions where current demand exceeds renewable supply, with historical data and three forward-looking models predicting water stress through 2050.
Each dataset is available at three scales, water province, regional watershed, and local watershed, offering both global and localized perspectives.
Making Complex Data Classroom-Ready
To prepare these layers for Map Maker Atlas, Blue Raster:
- Automated Data Processing: We built a custom Python workflow to ingest raw data, perform analysis, and calculate additional insights such as average historic demand, dominant consumption type, and projected changes over time.
- Designed for Exploration: After uploading the data to ArcGIS Online, we created a web map, styled the layers, and created interactive pop-ups that provide context and support interpretation for students and educators.
Visualizing Water ChallengesÂ
We symbolized the data in two ways:Â
- Relative Demand and Water Gaps - Compare how resource usage differs across regions for both historic and future scenarios.
- Dominant Consumption Type - Identify whether domestic, industrial, or agricultural use drives water demand in a given area.
These visualizations encourage students to think spatially and explore patterns, challenges, and trends in water availability.Â
Interactive pop-ups dive deeper, featuring charts and tables that answer key questions, such as:Â
- How do demand sources compare in this region?
- How much is the water gap expected to increase by 2050?
GIS for Good: Driving Climate ResilienceÂ
At Blue Raster, we believe in the power of GIS for Good, using geospatial technology to inform communities, support sustainability, and drive meaningful change. By collaborating with mission-driven organizations like National Geographic, we transform complex datasets into accessible, actionable, and impactful tools. Â
In the face of climate change, we are committed to advancing climate resilience through innovative geospatial solutions. Ready to bring your data to life? Partner with Blue Raster to make a difference.