Make Your Own Scrambled Maps

Introducing:

• Scrambled Maps Studio
• Scrambled Maps Challenge

Are You Ready to Create Your Own Scrambled Maps Games?

Scrambled Maps is probably my all-time favorite map game. I may be a little biased - since I wrote the original game - but TripGeo has taken my small creation and transformed it from a fun little puzzle into an amazing global challenge.

Today, Scrambled Maps has become even better with the release of Scrambled Maps Challenge & Scrambled Maps Studio!

Scrambled Maps Studio

Scrambled Maps Studio allows you to design your own custom Scrambled Maps games for any location in the world. This means you can create a Scrambled Maps game for your own neighborhood or any of your other favorite places. Games you can then share and play with others.

Create Your Own Challenges:

• Global Map Selection: Choose any location in the world at any zoom level
• Customizable Difficulty: Adjust grid sizes for easier or more challenging puzzles
• Themed Collections: Build multi-map challenges around travel destinations, historical sites, or any theme you choose
• Sharing Capabilities: Generate links to share your creations with friends

Scrambled Maps Studio opens up endless possibilities for customization. Whether you want to create puzzles featuring your hometown, dream vacation destinations, or the world’s most recognizable landmarks, you now have the tools to make it happen.

Scrambled Maps Challenge

Alongside the release of Scrambled Maps Studio, TripGeo has also overhauled the main Scrambled Maps page under a new banner - Scrambled Maps Challenge. This major revamp introduces a host of exciting new features, including a revamped Daily Challenge and a new global leaderboard.

Each Daily Scrambled Maps Challenge features carefully selected locations from around the world, with varying difficulty levels to keep you engaged. The daily challenge typically includes three city maps with a 6×3 grid size, optimized for both desktop and mobile play. Complete these challenges and compare your results with players worldwide on the daily leaderboard.

• Daily Challenges: New puzzles every day
• Competitive Leaderboards: See how your completion times stack up against other players
• Performance Tracking: Compare your times with the community average
• Multi-Map Games: Complete series of maps in sequence for a greater challenge

All the cities you complete in daily challenges automatically unlock in your Scrambled World map, helping you conquer the world faster than ever before!

So, why not test your skills right now? Play today’s Daily Scrambled Maps Challenge and see how you rank on the global leaderboard! 🚀🌍

The Fentanyl Supply Chain

In How a New Drug Trafficking Landscape Fuels Violence in Latin America, the International Crisis Group (ICG) maps the supply chains transporting cocaine and fentanyl from Latin America to consumers in Europe and North America. The map reveals how decades of failed prohibitionist policies, shifting demand, and increasingly fragmented criminal networks have transformed drug trafficking into a hyper-violent, adaptable industry. An industry which is wreaking havoc on communities throughout Latin America.

The ICG’s findings are presented in an interactive Mapbox storymap, allowing readers to trace these drugs’ journeys - from raw material extraction and production to final street distribution. This sprawling system relies on a transnational network of criminal groups operating across continents.

Each drug’s production and distribution involve numerous gangs, creating a hierarchy where profits flow upward to cartels, financiers, and international traffickers. Meanwhile, violence festers at the grassroots level as gangs fight for territorial control, devastating communities across Latin America.

Despite decades of militarized crackdowns, criminal groups have only multiplied. U.S. pressure for heavy-handed responses has often backfired - fragmenting cartels into more violent networks, deepening institutional corruption, and displacing trafficking routes into previously unaffected regions like Ecuador and Costa Rica.

The Russian Sabotage Map

During 2024, a number of undersea cables around Europe were sabotaged by Russia. These attacks were only a small part of a larger Russian campaign to disrupt European democracy and undermine its support for Ukraine. Alongside the destruction of undersea cables, Russia has been involved in cyberattacks, social media misinformation, attempted murders, arson, sabotage, and coordinated espionage against countries across Europe.

In Western officials say Russia is behind a campaign of sabotage across Europe the Associated Press has mapped out 59 acts of Russian espionage against European countries since the invasion of Ukraine. These attacks include plots to plant bombs on cargo planes, explosions at shipping facilities, and an attempt to assassinate a major German arms manufacturer. Only incidents with "a clear link to Russia, pro-Russian groups, or ally Belarus" have been included in the map.

GPS jamming is another form of active sabotage against the West, orchestrated by Russia. In 2022, Space reported that Russia was jamming GPS signals during its invasion of Ukraine. In addition to GPS jamming in Ukraine, the Baltic region has experienced a marked increase in GPS interference since Finland and Norway joined NATO - an escalation widely attributed to Russian activity.

SkAI Data Services' Live GPS Spoofing and Jamming Tracker Map is an interactive map that uses live ADS-B data from the OpenSky Network to detect spoofed aircraft positions and GPS jamming in real-time across the globe. As shown in the screenshot above, the map consistently displays high levels of GPS spoofing and jamming activity in the Eastern Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, and the Baltics.

Exploring the Amazon

National Geographic's Into the Amazon takes you on an impressive virtual tour of one of the world's most breathtaking and ecologically vital regions. From its source high in the Andes, the Amazon River carves its way through dense rainforests, winding past diverse ecosystems teeming with life, before finally reaching the Atlantic Ocean. 

For two years, 16 scientists journeyed along the Amazon - from the Andes to the Atlantic - as part of the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Amazon Expedition. They were accompanied by photographer Thomas Peschak and his assistant Otto Whitehead, who documented the expedition. The mission was to study the Amazon’s waters and learn more about how to protect them.

Into the Amazon features an interactive map with markers that allow you to jump between different chapters of the expedition. However, despite my love of maps, I recommend following National Geographic’s guided 'Explore' path instead. This route mirrors the Amazon’s journey from its source to the Atlantic, offering a more chronological and immersive experience.

This Explore path enhances the storytelling, allowing you to fully appreciate National Geographic’s stunning visualizations - such as a breathtaking 3D flyover of the Andes and an incredible LIDAR-assisted rainforest tour. These immersive features bring the Amazon to life, offering a rare perspective on this vast, interconnected ecosystem while emphasizing the urgent need for its protection.

Via: Webcurios

How to Learn the Countries of the World

Learn the World Map is a fun online game which requires you to identify countries on an interactive map - and which helps you to learn while you play.

How to Play

Learn the World Map is simple to play. You are given a series of country names and must correctly identify their locations on a world map. If you get a country wrong, the game shows you its correct location and asks you to try again.

To prevent lucky guesses, the game also adjusts zoom levels and map positioning, ensuring that you genuinely recognize the locations rather than relying on memorized patterns.

There is a Daily Challenge featuring a new set of countries each day. However, you can also play the standard mode for as long as you like. If you're curious about your progress, you can check your personal statistics (although I'm not entirely clear as to what 'stability' and 'difficulty' mean in this context). 

How to Learn

The game uses a Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler (FSRS) algorithm, meaning you’ll notice frequent repetition of certain countries. Spaced repetition is a learning technique that optimizes review intervals, helping players retain information more effectively. Instead of cramming, the system schedules reviews at increasing intervals. As you correctly recall the information, the system increases the time before the next review. 

A Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler algorithm uses 'intelligent' spaced repetition. An optimal algorithm will adapt dynamically based on your play history. It will be used to determine when to show you questions again, ensuring you review locations on the map at the optimal time, based on your answers so far.

Room for Improvement

Learn the World Map has a lot of potential as a tool for learning geography. Unfortunately the game does have a few inaccuracies. For example, it incorrectly uses a map of the United Kingdom to represent England.

Billboard Ads on Maps

Sofia Cannale has been experimenting with displaying virtual billboards on top of an interactive map. In their latest digital advertising campaign for LUXE EVERYWHERE they have added a number of advertising billboards to a Google/Cesium 3D map.

The Luxe Everywhere map features seven virtual advertisements, featuring different models wearing Sofia Cannale sunglasses, all displayed along the edge of Central Park in New York. The digital ad campaign for Sofia Cannale also allowed fans of the product to 'star on a real billboard in Times Square'.

Until very recently I would probably have been vehemently opposed to the idea of polluting maps with billboard ads. That position now seems a little hypocritical - mainly because I have been experimenting with the same idea myself.

My little experimental map Video on Map with Sidebar overlays a 3d video player on top of a Maplibre map. These video overlays are created using a custom 3D layer that integrates THREE.js with MapLibre GL. When a user clicks on a location from the sidebar, the updateVideoLayer function is triggered, zooming the map to the corresponding latitude, longitude for the selected video. The idea being that each video appears to be embedded directly into the landscape at their respective real-world locations.

I have had in mind a number of possible uses for the idea, for example as virtual road signs - either pointing the correct direction on a route finding map, or for pointing out the route to local tourist landmarks. However I do have to admit that we have tentatively discussed the idea of using the code to add 3D advertising billboards to some of the games on TripGeo. 

In fact, if you are interested in advertising via a virtual billboard on a TripGeo game, you can contact us through the Support Messenger button on the site. I'm sure we could work out a special introductory deal for the earliest, pioneering supporter of 3D map advertising billboards.

State of the Global Climate 2024

MET Office visualization of near surface temperatures since 1970

2024's Climate in Crisis

The World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) annual flagship report was published yesterday, and it makes for deeply concerning reading. Each year, the WMO releases its State of the Global Climate Report, providing an authoritative scientific summary of global climate trends and extreme weather events.

The 2024 State of the Global Climate Report from the World Meteorological Organization paints a worrying picture. Temperatures in 2024 appear to have been more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, making it the warmest year in the 175-year observational record. The report also states that the 18 lowest Arctic sea-ice extents were all recorded within the past 18 years. Additionally, a new record for ocean heat has been set in each of the last eight years, and the rate of sea level rise has doubled since satellite measurements began.

State of the Climate 2024 Story Map 

You can view an interactive map summarising some of the report's main findings. The State of the Climate 2024 interactive map is organised into seven sections: 'Atmosphere, Land, Ocean, Cryosphere,

Extreme Events, Risks & Impacts, What can we do?' 

Each section examines how different aspects of the climate were affected by global heating in 2024. The concluding What Can We Do? section calls for "immediate and deep greenhouse gas emissions reductions," a transition to renewable energy, and an increase in climate finance investments. The WMO has also urged governments to ensure that "every person on Earth is protected by early warning systems within five years."

Extreme Weather Events

Members of the World Meteorological Organization have also contributed to an Extreme Events 2024 interactive map. Global heating is driving an increase in the frequency and intensity of severe weather events worldwide. Each year, the WMO collects data on extreme events from national meteorological services. The map highlights the locations of the most severe weather events reported in 2024, categorized by event type.

Open Access, Open Source: OpenTimes

OpenTimes is an interactive travel-time map of the United States. Click on any location, and instantly view an isochrone map that shows how far you can travel from that spot within different time frames and via various modes of transport.

But OpenTimes is more than just an interactive isochrone map. It’s also an open-source platform offering free, pre-computed travel times between United States Census geographies.

What is OpenTimes?

OpenTimes is a comprehensive database of point-to-point travel times calculated between Census geographies across the United States. Unlike proprietary services that charge for access to similar data, OpenTimes is completely free and open-source. All the data is pre-computed and available for bulk download, making it an invaluable resource for anyone needing to analyze spatial accessibility.

The project leverages open-source software and publicly available data to calculate travel times. From the data pipelines to the infrastructure and even the website, every component of OpenTimes is open-source and hosted on GitHub. 

How OpenTimes Works

OpenTimes uses publicly available data and open-source tools to compute travel times between Census geographies. The data is pre-processed and made available for bulk download, allowing users to integrate it into their own analyses seamlessly. The project’s GitHub repository includes detailed documentation on how to access and use the data, making it accessible even to those with limited technical expertise.

OpenTimes was inspired by the OpenFreeMap project. Together, with mapping libraries such as Maplibre, these initiatives are helping to build a robust, free and open-source ecosystem for creating interactive mapping applications.

The Invasion of America

In recent years, the United States has been overrun by the twin menaces of illegal extraterrestrial aliens and hairy Sasquatches. This is the reality that the American public now faces - an invasion of little green men and ape-like creatures who show no regard for borders or the American way of life.

The BFRO Bigfoot Sightings Interactive Map reveals that no part of the United States remains untouched by the Sasquatch invasion. During his first term, Donald Trump famously promised to build a wall around Oregon and Washington to halt the march of these illegal Bigfoots into the country. Now, Trump is threatening to invade Oregon and Washington to make them America's 51st state.

Meanwhile, America's UFO Hotspots Map, which tracks reported UFO sightings submitted to the National UFO Reporting Center, highlights the extent of extraterrestrial activity. The President has expressed regret that some Trump voters were inadvertently caught up in the administration's crackdown on extraterrestrials. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged that several Republican voters were mistakenly deported after being misidentified as beings from another planet.

Democrats argue that the United States has become the laughingstock of the world. However, these two maps shed light on how the country ended up with Donald Trump as President. Thankfully, the United States has now turned its back on vaccines, the funding of medical & scientific research, and the tyranny of facts.

Air Tours of the World

TripGeo's new Air Tours app is an engaging and immersive way to virtually explore cities around the world. This interactive web application combines Google Maps' 3D imagery, Street View, and aerial perspectives to provide you with four different perspectives of some of the world's most iconic locations. Whether you're a travel enthusiast, an urban explorer, or simply someone looking to get a new perspective on global destinations, Air Tours delivers an exciting way to navigate the world's major cities.

A Multi-Layered View of Iconic Cities

Air Tours allows users to virtually visit renowned cities such as London, Paris, and San Francisco, among many others. By combining multiple mapping technologies, Air Tours gives you a number of different perspectives of each featured location. You can fly over city skylines, orbit around landmarks, or dive down to street level for a more detailed view of urban landscapes. The smooth transitions between aerial and ground perspectives create a fluid and natural navigation experience that enhances the sense of immersion.

Famous Landmarks

The numbered buttons at the top of each city's Air Tour allow you to easily navigate between some of the most iconic locations in each city. Hover over these buttons to view labels for each destination. Click a button and the four map views will automatically pan to your chosen location, which you can then explore in 3D from the air, or from the ground using Google Maps Street View.

Fly Free

One of the standout features of Air Tours is its 'Fly' mode. This flight-sim mode allows you to take control and explore your city from the air. The ability to switch seamlessly between different perspectives - whether an expansive bird's-eye view or an up-close Street View experience - sets Air Tours apart from conventional mapping applications.

Air Tours is an innovative and exciting way to experience cities from multiple perspectives. Whether you're preparing for an upcoming trip, reminiscing about past travels, or simply indulging your wanderlust from home, this application provides a captivating way to interact with the world's urban landscapes. 

Air Tours is best suited for desktop users. The level of detail and the fluidity of navigation are best experienced on a larger screen. If you're looking for a new way to see the world, Air Tours is well worth exploring.

Travel Cat

If you enjoy the Flight mode in Air Tours then you will probably love Travel Cat, TripGeo's playful flight-sim exploration game. Travel Cat allows you to explore over 11,000 cities worldwide from the comfort of a feline piloted golden monoplane.