Geospatial 7 min read
From pretty maps to decisions: designing useful GIS
Alva GeospatialDecember 9, 2024
Geospatial work has a seductive failure mode: the map looks impressive, everyone nods, and nothing changes. A useful map is one that ends an argument or triggers a decision.
Start from the decision
We work backwards from the choice the user needs to make — where to build, who to target, what to monitor — and design the layers and interactions around that, ruthlessly cutting the rest.
If a layer doesn't change a decision, it's noise.
Performance is a feature
Vector tiles, smart aggregation and progressive loading keep the map fast even with millions of features — because a tool people wait on is a tool people abandon.
Start a project
Let's build something that lasts.
Tell us about the system you need — and the team you want running it. We'll show you what's possible.