Andrew Hill is a data scientist at mapping software company CartoDB.
What is CartoDB and whom is it for?
We built CartoDB to help democratize map-making online. It is a tool for anyone who wants to create a map. We think everyone has the ability to create interesting visualizations and tell important stories with data. We created CartoDB to make it easier, faster, and less expensive.
What are the broad goals of CartoDB?
First is to allow anyone to make beautiful maps from their data. Second is to help people tell stories from data that wasn’t possible before. Finally, it’s our goal to push the boundaries of mapping online through innovative technology and beautiful design. CartoDB is being built to enable the future of maps online.
Why should the world be excited about data mapping?
There are a lot of reasons to be excited about data journalism. I am by no means an expert, but I’d say I’m more a passionate fan. If you start at the outside and work inwards, I think the field is doing a lot to increase data literacy and public perception of what data is and what it can tell us about the world. It has transformed the way that we are able to consume what used to be a very complex topic, by giving us approachable and often beautiful insights into the data that exist. I think that when done correctly, data journalism can be some of the most honest and impactful pieces of news.
Maps are a small piece of that but I often make the argument that they are one of the best tools for telling stories with data. I would argue that, on average, the public is more prepared to interact with a map than they are to interact with other common forms of data visualization.
What is the best thing about CartoDB?
That someone who has never mapped data before can spend five minutes with the tool and already be tweeting me really interesting maps they created. As a bonus, they are excited by that and the power it gives them.
Are there any things you wish CartoDB could do that it currently doesn’t?
I’m anxiously awaiting our public map gallery. Right now, so many people are making great maps online, but we don’t have any automated way to show them in a public gallery. When that happens, I’ll probably have to spend 2 hours a day just looking at them all.
What is the most challenging aspect of creating a data mapping service?
In the early days I wrote a lot more code for CartoDB but I do it a lot less now that we have much better software engineers on the team. So for me, the most challenging part is connecting with all the people that could benefit from the service. Every time I demo CartoDB someone is completely shocked that they didn’t know about the service before, I need to reach those people more efficiently.
What does the job of a data scientist entail?
A lot. I do everything from developer advocacy and outreach to exploring new technologies for CartoDB. One of my favorite things I get to do is play with data and try to find stories to tell with visualizations. Storytelling with maps has been my big focus lately, especially trying to communicate how that can be done with all different types of data and working with the team to make that easier with our platform.
What do you think makes a good data map?
It totally depends on your goals and audience. It always takes design. Whether that comes early or late in your process of thinking about a map, it has to be in there. Second, it takes some understanding of your data – without understanding the data it is going to be hard to figure out if your map is telling the right story. That is why the filter wizard and the full SQL access in CartoDB help me so much: it allows me really to dig into datasets and see the result right on my map.
Are there any areas of CartoDB that you feel are under-utilised by its users?
I’m the biggest SQL fan there is but we try to reduce how much our users need to use it. In fact, you don’t even need to know what SQL is to start making beautiful maps. But all my favorite maps that I’ve created have come from a little to a lot of SQL use. I’m going to be teaching spatial SQL in the Map Academy (cartodb.com/academy) and can’t wait to see people start using it more for their maps.
Professional unpaid journalist. Would like to be paid.
Posts about Data, Social Media and anything that takes my fancy
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