New Bing Maps Application: Global Action Atlas

The newest addition to the Bing Maps library of applications is the Global Action Atlas by National Geographic. The application allows users to peer into areas where our planet needs help. National Geographic and Bing Maps invite you to support efforts across the globe to help people in need, protect plants and animals, preserve diverse cultures, and more. Join thousands of others who are donating, volunteering, and sharing knowledge on behalf of community-based projects working to solve global challenges.

The application interface is quite simple – just check on and off boxes for efforts of interest. The actionable themes include Conservation, Humanitarian Affairs, Cultures, Exploration, Climate Change and Energy and are further described as such:  

• Conservation: Includes categories on animals and plants; fresh water; landscapes; migrations and corridors; and oceans and coastal areas.
• Climate Change: Focuses on projects having to do with forest conservation and management; renewable energy; reforestation; and ocean impacts.
• Cultures: Features projects focusing on preserving endangered languages; cultural preservation; archeology; and indigenous rights.
• Energy: Focuses on technology; energy efficiency; and energy investment.
• Exploration: Focuses on taking action to help preserve our planet; to explore its mysteries through sustainable travel; and to raise awareness about cultures and environments, and science and adventure projects.
• Humanitarian Affairs: Includes projects focusing on water and sanitation; emergency relief; health; education; empowering women; and poverty and hunger.

Each category also comes with sub-categories for more specific visualizations of aid efforts. Alternatively, users can simply click “Select/Deselect All” to turn on or off all layers of data, respectively. National Geographic is offering you the opportunity to really make a difference in the world and see places first-hand where you can take action to help. Just find the location where you’d like to help or the theme you’d like to help with, click the respective and icon and in the popup click the “Read More” link. Donations made to projects and organizations on the Atlas go through the GlobalGiving Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 organization. For more information about National Geographic’s Global Action Atlas, visit the National Geographic site.

CP – Follow me on Twitter @ChrisPendleton