Screenshot of Fahlo app.Your sense of place starts early. Think about your childhood neighborhood. Scale isn’t important at that age, and concepts of near and far evolve as you grow. When recalling your neighborhood, what locations or landmarks stand out? How do you give directions to a friend – by landmarks or using street names and cardinal directions? Does the address matter, or is it just about finding the destination?
During a recent visit to my local zoo, I noticed a geospatial product available in the gift shop – an elegant bracelet adorned with a carved animal charm that claims to track an individual animal. A friend of mine owns one featuring a giraffe that she monitors. The giraffe, named Bilan, provides daily location updates to support conservation efforts. It is remarkable to observe the extensive distances covered by a single giraffe. Naturally, this made me think, other than your steps via your watch or NORAD keeping a close eye on Santa on December 24th, “How many things are tracked?”
Screenshot of a Moveback map of the Eastern Wild Turkey in Alabama.For the animal enthusiasts, consider exploring Movebank. They offer a collection of data and map interfaces tailored for tracking animals. This site provides data on various species, such as the northern bald ibis in Africa or the eastern wild turkey in Alabama. Each point, when clicked, displays the movement path of that bird or animal. The collection is replete with research, tracks, and downloadable data. Although the interface is minimalistic and could be improved with enhanced imagery, it effectively allows users to explore information before integrating it into their own projects. There’s much to explore. It’s like Geo-Alice saw a screen that said, “Click me!”
Perhaps space and the stars capture your attention. Check out SkyLive’s planetarium to track where you are compared to the sky above. While not radically new, it does help us connect to spaces and science beyond our visual scope. They also have a ton of other space-based content to explore and track.
Care about trees? Organizations like Veritree, Greenstand, Trees That Feed and others are helping to plant trees globally by partnering with businesses and individuals. Veritree is using some of our favorite geospatial technology (LiDAR, satellite imagery, and drone data) to track progress and share that data on dashboards. Like many great ideas, they share how a cool idea to connect clothing and planting trees led to their work today.
Feeling grounded and connected to a place gives us some significance, maybe even comfort. This might explain the shame linked to homelessness, the unease of being between homes, or living out of a suitcase. There’s no place like home.
The environments we create and curate within our homes reflect our identities and values. They become an extension of who we are, a canvas where our tastes, passions, and histories are displayed. The shared experiences within its walls and beyond weave a tapestry of connection and community, enriching our lives in immeasurable ways.
Ultimately, the true value of a home lies not in its size or its grandeur, but in the love and care that fill its spaces. It is the feeling of being welcomed and cherished, of having a refuge from the outside world where we can be our most authentic selves. In this sense, a happy home is more than just a place – it’s a state of being, an essential ingredient for a fulfilling and balanced life.
If you need me, I’ll be at the firepit enjoying some marshmallows, gazing into the night sky, and contemplating, “How many more trees I can plant in the yard without my husband noticing?” It’s for a good cause!
Barbaree Duke
Geospatial Crusader
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