Mapping projects
Mapping places and connections
Below is a summary of the main mapping projects that led to development of the Exploring EC1 initiative.
Maps for exploring EC1 Footways
The London Footways project has plotted quiet and interesting routes for walking, and several pass through EC1. I've created maps showing associated places of interest using Google Maps, Maphub and Layers of London. More here about Footways.
All main data for the maps is held in Airtable. I've also create additional information sheets for locations. That make it easy to update related content, without having to edit the main map. More here on how that works.
Maphub
Maphub is a free/low cost system that offers improvements on marker-based Google My Maps. Click map above to open the EC1 example. More here on Maphub pricing.
Google My Maps
Google provides a free mapping solution that is easy to use. Click here or on the image above.
Google Earth virtual tour
Daniel Wilcox has used Google Earth web to create a virtual tour of the Footway from Angel to St Paul's. At each point you can zoom down to a streetview
Layers of London collection
I've used the Layers of London platform - which is based on Humap - to add the same records used on other maps.
Culture Mile
Culture Mile is the City of London’s new cultural district, stretching from Farringdon to Moorgate. Led by the City of London Corporation, with the Barbican, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London Symphony Orchestra and Museum of London, the five partners are together creating a vibrant, creative area in the north-west corner of the Square Mile. More here about Culture Mile.
Culture Mile venues and locations
In 2020 I first used Esri Storymaps to create
a map of the Culture Mile venues used in the Sound Unbound programme
and then a different style of map for Culture Mile locations.
I experimented with adding 360 photos to the venue locations - which means you can easily scroll to see the surroundings.
Click images to open this map and the others
Developing a new Culture Mile map
In 2022 I discovered the Prague-based Mapotic system. It has several advantages:
The category system makes it easy for people to choose their particular interest
It is possible to add comments and ratings to points on the map
People can register to become part of an online community for the map, and then add posts. You can see that in operation in this Swimplaces map.
I used the static map on the Culture Mile website as the basis for a Mapotic map of the main sites around Culture Mile .
It would now be possible to add more sites from the research I did for the maps, above.
In addition I know that the Culture Mile team are discussing how to invite local workers and residents to contribute favourite places and "hidden gems" in the area, as part of a new marketing campaign associated with the proposed Business Improvement District. As part of that process, maybe they could use something like the Create Streets map that I promoted with EC1Echo. More here and below.
The static map on the Culture Mile website, and an interactive map using Mapotic. Sites from past research and crowdsourcing of ideas could be used to build the new map. Update: this map was created with a free plan that is no longer available.
Earlier mapping projects
Since 2015 I've explored, with Drew Mackie and Barbara Brayshay, the use of geographic and network maps to help residents and others find out more about what's happening in their area, share ideas and information, and collaborate on improvements.
Overall the aim has been to experiment with different tools for gathering and displaying information about places, organisations and people. Put more grandly, it's about revealing the physical and social ecosystems of neighbourhoods. More here on that.
From 2015-2019 work was partly through the Networked City initiative, and partly through two local projects, one in Clerkenwell, and one in Thames Ward, Barking. I later developed maps in Clerkenwell, Farringdon and Smithfield. More on EC1 below.
Clerkenwell Commons
The idea of developing maps for EC1 started with some work in 2018 for the Clerkenwell Peel Institute, where Drew Mackie and I explored the use of both network and geographic maps to support what later became the Connecting Clerkenwell initiative. I also met up with Mike Franks, who I had helped, back in 1977, secure funding for a heritage trail. More here, in the EC1 Echo, together with the idea of Clerkenwell Commons.
Clerkenwell Commons site and maps
Inspired by Mike’s ideas for Clerkenwell Commons, I set up this site, which includes:
A version of the Clerkenwell Commons trail, with 360 photos, using an Esri classic storymap - see below
A Google Earth flyover, created by my son Dan
A gallery of trail content, using Airtable - below
I've also used the Humap system to create a map - see left. Humap is a sophisticated storymapping system used for the Layers of London project. Click map on the left to open the EC1 example. More here for Humap examples.
Mapping Urban Wild Places
Further north in Islington, in 2020 Drew Mackie and I worked with Octopus Communities, a network of community centres, to develop maps and stories about their Urban Wild Places and We Can Grow projects to support community gardens. The aim was to show, for an evaluation report, how work on the projects had yielded both environmental benefits and new networks of social connections.
We set up a simple Google sites website to host:
Stories about gardens, using photos, audio and video
Create Streets interactive maps
In 2020 I worked with Create Streets in Thames Ward and EC1 to set up versions of their mapping system which enabled people, very simply, to highlight problems or opportunities for improvement (Thames Ward) or favourite places (EC1).