How To Use Maps to Track Progress and Engage Action

Maps are a treasure trove of potential to influence people and do it in ever more technically advanced ways.  Everything climate and sustainability relates to a geographical place, making location data a powerful tool to leverage gamification and inspire action.

Google Earth Outreach, a team at Google, specializes in empowering environmental and social causes through mapping technology. By combining data with gamification principles, maps can become transformative tools for change.

What Can We Do with Maps?

Here are some impactful ways maps can be used to catalyze environmental action:

• Heat Maps of Waste Data: Visualize garbage truck collection data to target specific areas for zero-waste training.
• Pollution Color-Coding: Highlight lakes and rivers by pollution levels to encourage regional competition for cleaner waterways.
• Solar Potential Mapping: Map the rooftop solar potential of districts, color-coding them for clarity and action.
• Energy Efficiency Overlays: Show the energy usage of office buildings with gradient color-coding to incentivize upgrades.
• Thermal Sensor Mapping: Overlay thermal imagery on Google Maps to identify urban heat sinks.
• Compost Collection Tracking: Create intensity maps of cities with or without municipal compost programs to motivate policy changes.
• Air Quality Visualization: Color-code properties based on air pollution levels.
• City Comparisons: Compare datasets between competing cities, such as recycling rates or energy consumption.

For a detailed tutorial on gamifying maps with Bay Area waste data, check out my online course, Save the World with Gamification.

Why Gamification Works on Maps

Gamification taps into human psychology, particularly the law of social competition. People want to know their city, neighborhood, or street is outperforming others. Leveraging this competitive drive can motivate communities to tackle significant challenges.

Maps also make data trends visible, and the simple act of disclosure can drive change. For example, the EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory decreased America’s total toxic chemical load by 45% in just a few years, simply by requiring businesses to disclose their chemical usage. Adding this type of data to maps can amplify its impact.

Rebecca Moore from Google Earth stated in an interview with Time Magazine: “Google Earth actually elicits emotion and compassion and makes people angry and drives action.”

The Role of Competition Among Cities

City officials are often highly competitive, wanting to outperform neighboring municipalities in recycling rates, energy efficiency, or other metrics. For example, Oklahoma City’s “1 Million Pounds Campaign” is a powerful demonstration of how city pride can drive change. By harnessing this natural competitiveness, maps can act as a catalyst for environmental improvement.

Collaboration vs. Competition

A common critique of gamification is whether competition might negatively affect participants, fostering hostility or demotivation for those lagging behind. While these risks exist, most behavioral studies show that gamification improves performance. The key is to frame gamification around transparency and disclosure, focusing on shared goals rather than divisive rivalries.

Gamification isn’t just about competition; it’s about making data accessible and actionable. Color-coding, leaderboards, and points simplify complex information, encouraging people to engage and take action.

Tips for Creating Impactful Maps

• Link Data to Behavior: Use the “Russian Dolls” strategy to ensure your map supports specific, actionable behaviors.
• Include a Call to Action: Your map should drive engagement and inspire change.
• Provide Context: Supplement your map with tables of data points to enhance understanding.
• Focus on Design: Use Google Maps APIs to adjust colors and make your map visually appealing.
• Make It Part of a Campaign: Don’t just create a map and leave it online; integrate it into a larger advocacy effort.

More Public Data, Fewer Rules

Research from Archon Fung’s team at the Kennedy School at Harvard highlights a new approach to governance: letting public data do the heavy lifting. Instead of prescribing rigid rules, governments can mandate the disclosure of useful data, allowing natural social and market dynamics to drive smarter, faster, and more innovative solutions.

By gamifying maps, we can transform raw data into a powerful tool for change, fostering competition, collaboration, and community-driven action. Let’s put this incredible resource to work for a more sustainable future.

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