Cartography is experiencing a moment of renewed prominence Thanks to their versatility as a scientific, cultural, and social tool, maps and plans, far from being simple graphic representations, are demonstrating their capacity to transform the management of urban environments, the defense of Indigenous territories, and the recovery of collective historical memory.
In the European urban area, collaborative mapping is opening the debate on how light pollution is perceived and managed in cities. A recent study in Germany, conducted over 22 square kilometers and with citizen participation, has revealed that Most nighttime lighting sources do not come from street lightingCommercial facades, shop windows, private windows, and decorative elements are responsible for much of the urban nighttime glow, a circumstance that was previously little considered in city councils' technical and environmental strategies.
Participants in this study used specific digital applications, which allowed them to classify and geolocate nearly a quarter of a million light sources in 33 German municipalities. The information collected was compared with satellite data, which made it possible to validate the correspondence between maps made from the ground and images obtained from spaceThis innovative approach, which combines technology and citizen science, has made clear the importance of taking into account the private and commercial lighting –beyond public lighting– to design energy efficiency policies and reduce environmental impact in cities.
The study shows that in Germany, there is on average one light source per person switched on after midnight.. Illuminated windows and commercial signs stand out, with streetlights remaining in the minority compared to less efficient and more polluting forms of lighting. Mapping becomes a an essential ally to better understand the interaction between urban planning, technology and the environment.
Indigenous cartography: maps to protect and teach the territory
In Latin America, cartography has ceased to be a purely technical tool and has become an element of cultural and political vindication.The indigenous peoples of the Brazilian state of Acre have been making Maps depicting rivers, lakes, sacred sites, fishing areas, and wildlife refuges in their own languages and with traditional symbols.
The development of the so-called indigenous cartography has represented a shift from the dominant Western view. It not only reflects a physical geography, but incorporates traditional knowledge, proper names and symbolic interpretations of the territoryThese maps are created in a participatory manner, listening to the elders and incorporating collective experience, which strengthens the connection to the land and facilitates the intergenerational transmission of culture.
Indigenous cartography fulfills a vital function: it allows us to delimit, defend, and manage natural resources against threats such as deforestation or land occupation.Through the training of indigenous agroforestry agents, tools for environmental diagnosis and management have been developed, which have been used to negotiate with authorities and prevent land invasions. Furthermore, the integration of GPS technology and the use of satellite images increases the effectiveness and accuracy of these maps.
The value of historical cartography: rescuing the urban past
Not only is the present redefined by cartography: the past also comes to life. through the digitization and dissemination of historical documents. A notable example is the recent high-definition publication of the handwritten map of Algeciras from 1736, produced by the Institute of Statistics and Cartography of Andalusia. This map, drawn up more than two centuries ago, shows the urban layout, military defenses and the main enclaves of the city in the 18th century, as well as the natural environment of the Bay of Gibraltar and the Honey River, which served as a natural border at the time.
Historical cartography allows us to trace the evolution of neighborhoods, streets and squares., and reveals the existence of social centers like the Plaza Alta or little-known marginal neighborhoods. Thanks to its digital publication, both researchers and the public can access these documents with a clarity previously unimaginable, facilitating a rediscovery of urban and social identity of places that have changed radically over time.
The dissemination of this cartographic heritage It opens the door to new lines of research and promotes access to local history., bringing the past closer to a much broader and more diverse audience than just the specialized one.
Cartography and society: innovation, memory and defense of the territory
Cartography is becoming established as a transversal tool in environmental management, the defense of collective rights, and the recovery of cultural memory. Collaboration between citizens, technology, and institutions is fostering the emergence of more accurate, inclusive and useful maps to address the challenges of our time, from urban sustainability to the protection of natural spaces and the visibility of threatened cultures.
In all these facets, Maps allow us to better understand the world we inhabit., redrawing material and symbolic boundaries and contributing to both the quality of life and the conservation of cultural and environmental diversity. Twenty-first-century cartography thus marks a new roadmap, one that is more participatory and connected to current challenges.
