Fathom is a design agency based in Boston, Massachusetts, that has taken it upon itself to create a series of paved road maps that show just how much tarmac runs through the United States. It has taken away mountain, rivers and place names in order to focus on this specific theme.
The paved road map project was started a few years ago and has since grown to include Chicago, New York City and Pennsylvania. Designer Terrance Fradet says, "We were surprised by how easy it is to distinguish each state, except maybe Alaska which has so few roads. We love that each state has such a unique image." Some parts of the urban landscapes are blank while others are almost entirely black.
Paved Road Maps
Fathom Design Agency Shows How Much of the US is Paved Over
Trend Themes
1. Paved Road Maps - Creating maps that visualize the amount of paved roads in a region can lead to innovative infrastructure planning and management.
2. Urban Mapping - Developing more detailed maps of urban areas can provide insights for businesses in industries such as real estate, logistics, and tourism.
3. Data Visualization - Using creative data visualization techniques can be a valuable tool for conveying complex information to audiences in industries ranging from marketing to science.
Industry Implications
1. Infrastructure - The availability of paved road maps can help governments and companies in the infrastructure industry plan new transportation projects more efficiently.
2. Logistics - Detailed urban maps can help logistics companies better plan and optimize their delivery routes, reducing transportation costs and improving delivery times.
3. Tourism - Tourism companies can use detailed maps of urban areas to develop custom tours, showcasing unique and interesting parts of a city for travelers.